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- Title
Public Perceptions of Males Working as Nurses in Pediatrics.
- Authors
Deuz, Nick
- Abstract
Background: The nursing profession has historically been predominated by females. This is more prevalent in pediatrics, where female health care workers, including pediatricians, outnumber their male counterparts. Nursing is generally seen as a profession of caring and service, a role normally perceived to be for females. That stereotype is further pronounced in pediatrics where the primary caregiver of the family is typically the mother. Such a stereotype is damaging to men as it discourages them from entering the profession. Purpose: To provide general knowledge and show a timeline on the impact of working as a male nurse, especially in pediatrics, and perceptions of nurses, their patients, families, and the general public. Methods: A literature review was conducted using the key words "male nurse," "men in nursing," "perceptions," and "pediatrics" in Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PubMed. The search was limited to articles published from 2015 to 2021. Results: Male nurses and nursing students continue to be stereotyped to lack emotional intelligence and be less caring than their female counterparts. Male nurses are capable of having compassion just like their female counterparts as suggested by perceptions from nurses' patients and families. Conclusions: The shift to men entering the nursing profession has slowly been on the rise. There are efforts in recruiting men into nursing and support organizations for men entering nursing both in educational and professional institutions. However, the rise of men in pediatrics remains stagnant, with a majority of men choosing professions in adult critical care and emergency medicine.
- Subjects
SOCIAL role; NURSES' attitudes; HISTORY of nursing; CONTINUING education units; FAMILY attitudes; PATIENTS' attitudes; STEREOTYPES; PEDIATRIC nursing; SEX discrimination; CONTINUING education of nurses; NURSE practitioners; PUBLIC opinion; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress
- Publication
Pediatric Nursing, 2023, Vol 49, Issue 3, p118
- ISSN
0097-9805
- Publication type
Article