Because nursing is associated with feminine characteristics, it is mainly considered a woman’s profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Despite the increasing number of men choosing nursing as a profession, they often face discrimination in this predominantly female profession (Roth & Coleman, 2008). When men choose a female-dominated profession like nursing, they are questioned regarding their sexual orientation and are considered inappropriate for bed-side nursing (O’Connor, 2015; Meadus, 2000). Patients’ perceptions of male nurses as sexual aggressors or gay affects their ability to do their job (Evans, 2002). The goal of this literature review is to explore challenges commonly faced by male nurses and understand how these perceptions and stereotypes affect their ability to provide care

Kaur, Jaspinder

English

San Jose State University

McNair Research Journal SJSU
Volume 13 Spring 2017 Article 9
2017
Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Jaspinder Kaur
San Jose State University
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair
Part of the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, and the Other
Nursing Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in McNair Research Journal SJSU by
an authorized editor of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@sjsu.edu.
Recommended Citation
Kaur, Jaspinder (2017) "Male Nurses: A Visible Minority," McNair Research Journal SJSU: Vol. 13 , Article 9.
Available at: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9
Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Cover Page Footnote
Mentors: Arlene Spilker & Susan McNiesh
This article is available in McNair Research Journal SJSU: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9
 69 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jaspinder Kaur 
 
Major:  
Nursing 
 
Mentor: 
Arlene Spilker & 
 Susan McNiesh 
 
Male Nurses: A Visible Minority  
 
  
 
 
Biography 
Jaspinder Kaur is a 2nd year 
nursing student at San José State 
University (SJSU). Jaspinder is 
interested in pursuing a graduate 
degree in nursing in hopes of 
becoming a nurse researcher. 
Jaspinder’s current project 
focuses on men in the nursing 
profession. Her goal is to explore 
commonly faced challenges by 
male nurses/nursing students and 
understand how these perceptions 
and stereotypes affect their ability 
to provide care.  
 
In addition to being a first-
generation college student, she is 
also the first woman in her family 
to go to college. Pursuing higher 
education is very important to 
Jaspinder because it would help 
her develop her potential, lead an 
independent life, and influence 
other female members of her 
family to attain a higher 
education. She hopes to break the 
sociological barrier of education 
in her family and community 
through her educational 
experiences.  
 
1
Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Published by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017
 70 
Male Nurses: A Visible Minority  
 
Abstract 
Because nursing is associated with feminine characteristics, it is mainly 
considered a woman’s profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). 
Despite the increasing number of men choosing nursing as a profession, 
they often face discrimination in this predominantly female profession 
(Roth & Coleman, 2008). When men choose a female-dominated profession 
like nursing, they are questioned regarding their sexual orientation and are 
considered inappropriate for bed-side nursing (O’Connor, 2015; Meadus, 
2000). Patients’ perceptions of male nurses as sexual aggressors or gay 
affects their ability to do their job (Evans, 2002). The goal of this literature 
review is to explore challenges commonly faced by male nurses and 
understand how these perceptions and stereotypes affect their ability to 
provide care.  
 
Introduction 
When people hear the word “nurse,” they immediately think of a 
woman in scrubs, so it’s no surprise that nursing is a female-dominated 
profession (Rajacich et al., 2013). For example, as of 2011, 91% of nurses 
were women and only 9% were men (“Men in nursing,” 2013). Despite 
nursing being a normative career for women, more men are now choosing 
it as a career option (“Men in nursing,” 2013). For example, the rate of men 
in nursing has increased from 2.7% in the 1970s to 9.6% in 2011 (“Men in 
nursing,” 2013). Despite the efforts to increase the number of men in 
nursing, they are still a minority in this profession (“Men in nursing,” 2013).  
Even though historically men provided significant contributions to 
nursing, they have received little to no recognition (Rajacich, Kane, 
Williston, & Cameron, 2013). For example, in the U.S, men served as 
nurses during the Civil War, and they were significant in reducing mortality 
rates among the troops during the wars (Rajacich, et al., 2013). Even 
Mahatma Gandhi was a nurse during his time in Africa (Rajacich et al., 
2013). Lack of recognition of male nurses in history further encourages 
society to associate nursing with women (Rajacich et al., 2013). 
 Although both genders have the ability to care and nurture, these 
characteristics are mostly considered appropriate for women; therefore, 
2
McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9
 71 
men often face issues with gender identity and stereotypes for choosing a 
feminine career (Roth & Coleman, 2008; Rajacich et. al., 2013). Many 
people think that men choose nursing because they are gay, and they face 
discrimination in clinical settings because of this common stereotype 
(Evans, 2002; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Even patients have a difficult time 
considering men as appropriate for a job that requires touching, caring, 
gentleness, and nurturing (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). As men 
challenge gender-defined roles and choose a nontraditional career like 
nursing, they often face discrimination (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 
2008). This is interesting because men are criticized for choosing a female-
dominated profession, but their female counterparts are more likely to be 
praised and gain recognition when they choose a male-dominated 
profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008).  
Regardless of society’s attitudes and perceptions of male nurses, 
research shows that men choose nursing for the same reasons women do, 
which is to care, nurture, and advocate for their patients (Meadus, 2000). 
Therefore, the goal of this literature review is to explore the common 
challenges male nurses face and understand how gender stereotypes affect 
their ability to provide care and build relationships with their patients.  
 
Methods 
I searched multiple databases, including PubMed and Medline, and 
key words included male nurses, stereotypes in nursing, male nursing 
statistics, male nurse recruitment, male nursing students, and clinical 
experience. Studies that were published between 2002 and 2017 were 
considered for my literature review. I reviewed over 25 articles, but only 10 
articles were considered for my literature review. The following is the 
summary of each study. 
 
Schmidt (2016) explored male student nurses’ professional values 
in clinical and classroom settings and how well they adjusted to the hospital 
setting. Open-ended questions regarding participants’ clinical experiences 
were used to facilitate the interviews. They conducted a qualitative and 
phenomenological study. The data was analyzed, categorized, coded, and 
lastly, common themes were identified (Schmidt, 2016).  
 
3
Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Published by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017
 72 
Nine male nursing students in their third or fourth year of nursing 
school participated in this study. Four students were third-year students and 
five were fourth-year students. Twenty-two percent of the participants were 
over the age of 30 and 78% identified themselves as Caucasian. Because 
being certified as a nursing assistant was an admission requirement for this 
particular school, most of the participants had experience working in a 
healthcare setting as a nursing assistant (Schmidt, 2016).  
 
 Evans (2002) conducted his study on 8 male registered nurses (RNs) 
from Nova Scotia, Canada; their ages ranged from 20 to 50 years. The 
participants had between 7 and 32 years of experience working as nurses in 
multiple areas of nursing, including mental health, medical-surgical, 
leadership roles, and community health (Evans, 2002). Two rounds of 
interviews were conducted with these participants.   
 
 Rajacich et al. (2013) used a descriptive qualitative design to 
analyze the responses of 16 male nurses in this study. The participants were 
between the ages of 21 and 48 years, and their experience in nursing ranged 
from 2 months to 21 years.  
 
The main theme of these articles revolved around the idea of care 
and how both genders demonstrated it (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). The 
participants stated that they developed core professional values, such as 
caring, before even starting nursing school (Schmidt, 2016). Because their 
nursing values were influenced by various life experiences, it was easy for 
them to understand the concept of care (Schmidt, 2016). They showed their 
care through patient advocacy, safety, effective communication, and 
teamwork (Schmidt, 2016. Even though touch is a common tactic to provide 
comfort and reduce anxiety, male nurses reported being hesitant with this 
concept (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). 
Female nurses often showed care by touching patients, whereas men 
reported using humor to bond with their patients because it helped reduce 
their own and patients’ anxiety (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). Male nurses 
have to carefully assess the patient situation before they even decide to 
touch (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). Even when male nurses are providing 
care for male patients, they reported being very careful with their touch. For 
4
McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9
 73 
example, teen patients might misinterpret the male nurses’ touch and 
perceive them as being gay (Evans, 2002). One participant working in a 
mother-baby unit stated that he was accused of inappropriately touching a 
newborn baby boy while he was changing his diaper.  
 
The study conducted by Rajacich et al. (2013) explored male nurses’ 
viewpoints of being a visible minority in the nursing profession. 
Participants stated that being a minority had both positive and negative 
aspects. Some men stated that being a minority motivated them to do their 
best because they represented other male nurses; they also had the 
opportunity to promote nursing to young men in schools. On the other hand, 
a few men reported that being a visible minority was harmful as it was 
associated with discrimination and prejudice (Rajacich et. al., 2013). For 
example, in Schmidt’s (2016) study, male nursing students and nurses 
reported not getting enough recognition for their patient care; instead, they 
were often called to get help with lifting a patient and technology-related 
problems (Schmidt, 2016. Furthermore, a majority of them hated being 
identified as male nurses because it isolated them from their female 
counterparts, who are simply referred to as nurses (Rajacich et. al., 2013). 
The term “male nurse” further signifies that they are indeed a minority in 
this profession (Rajacich et. al., 2013). 
 
Discussion 
The main theme of these articles revolved around the idea of care 
and how both genders demonstrated it. Providing physical comfort to 
patients, regardless of their age and gender, comes naturally to female 
nurses (Evans, 2002; Rajacich et al., 2013). Men nurses stated being 
reluctant to provide physical comfort to patients as they were afraid that 
their touch may be viewed as inappropriate (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et al., 
2013). For example, the participants in Meadus and Twomey’s study (2011) 
reported receiving little to no information on the use of touch during nursing 
school, so this made their transition into the clinical setting extremely 
difficult. For this reason, men have to put in extra efforts to build 
comfortable relationships with patients and delegate tasks that involved 
intimate touch of patients to avoid professional complications (Rajacich et 
al., 2013). 
5
Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Published by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017
 74 
Another common theme that emerged was that men hated being 
referred to as male nurses (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et. al., 2013). The 
gendered-term “male nurses” made them feel that they do not belong in 
nursing (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et. al., 2013). This term further reinforced 
the norm that men are indeed a visible minority in this profession. Instead 
of being labeled as male nurses, the participants hoped to be simply known 
as nurses.   
The articles that I reviewed explored common barriers that male 
nurses face in the nursing setting. However, lack of diversity was a major 
weakness of these studies. For example, Schmidt’s study included only 
college students from one university and they were mostly Caucasian. 
Evans’ (2002) study only explored eight male registered nurses’ 
experiences. None of these studies explored the female nurses’ viewpoints 
of men nurses in clinical settings. These studies cannot be generalized 
because the results were not representative of other men nurses across the 
country.  
This literature review shows the continued need for promoting equal 
acceptance of male nurses in the clinical setting. The feminine image of a 
nurse in society is a significant barrier preventing men from choosing 
nursing as a profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Therefore, 
I would like to expand this topic by exploring male nursing students’ 
experiences in nursing school and clinical settings. The results can be used 
to promote awareness of issues male nurses commonly face.  
 
Conclusion 
Nursing is still a female-dominated profession, and this creates 
problems for men who are interested in this profession. Research suggests 
that men choose nursing as a career to provide care and help others, but they 
are questioned regarding their sexual orientation, and are considered 
inappropriate for bed-side nursing (O’Connor, 2015). Care is a core nursing 
principle, and nurses of both genders show care towards their patients 
differently. Providing comfort by touching comes naturally to female 
nurses. However, because men’s touch is sexualized in general, male nurses 
are more reluctant to touch their patients. Stereotypes that men are 
inappropriate for bed-side nursing impacts their ability to perform their 
duties to their best. 
6
McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9
 75 
 
 
References 
Evans, J. (2002). Cautious caregivers: gender stereotypes and the 
sexualization of men nurses’ touch. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 
40(4):441-8. 
Meadus, J. R., & Twomey, C. J. (2011). Men student nurses: The nursing 
education experience. Nursing Forum, 46(4).  
Meadus, J. R. (2000). Men in nursing: Barriers to recruitment. Nursing 
Forum. 35(3).  
Men in Nursing Occupations American Community Survey Highlight 
Report. (2013, February). Retrieved 
fromhttps://www.census.gov/people/io/files/Men_in_Nursing_Occ
upations.pdf 
O’Connor. (2015). Men choosing nursing: Negotiating a masculine identity 
in a feminine world. Journal of Men’s Studies, 23(2), 194-211.  
Roth, E. J., & Coleman, L.C. (2008). Perceived and real barriers for men 
entering nursing: Implications of gender diversity. Journal of 
Cultural Diversity, 15(3).  
 
Rajacich, D., Kane, D., Williston, C. & Cameron, S. (2013). If they call you 
a nurse, it is always a “Male Nurse”: Experiences of men in the 
nursing profession. Nursing Forum, 48(1).  
Schmidt, B. (2016). Core professional nursing values of baccalaureate 
nursing students who are men. Nursing Ethics, Vol. 23(6) 674–684.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible Minority
Published by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017


Male Nurses: A Visible Minority

SJSU ScholarWorks

McNair Research Journal SJSUVolume 13 Spring 2017 Article 92017Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityJaspinder KaurSan Jose State UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnairPart of the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, and the OtherNursing CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in McNair Research Journal SJSU byan authorized editor of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@sjsu.edu.Recommended CitationKaur, Jaspinder (2017) "Male Nurses: A Visible Minority," McNair Research Journal SJSU: Vol. 13 , Article 9.Available at: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityCover Page FootnoteMentors: Arlene Spilker & Susan McNieshThis article is available in McNair Research Journal SJSU: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9 69       Jaspinder Kaur  Major:  Nursing  Mentor: Arlene Spilker &  Susan McNiesh  Male Nurses: A Visible Minority       Biography Jaspinder Kaur is a 2nd year nursing student at San José State University (SJSU). Jaspinder is interested in pursuing a graduate degree in nursing in hopes of becoming a nurse researcher. Jaspinder’s current project focuses on men in the nursing profession. Her goal is to explore commonly faced challenges by male nurses/nursing students and understand how these perceptions and stereotypes affect their ability to provide care.   In addition to being a first-generation college student, she is also the first woman in her family to go to college. Pursuing higher education is very important to Jaspinder because it would help her develop her potential, lead an independent life, and influence other female members of her family to attain a higher education. She hopes to break the sociological barrier of education in her family and community through her educational experiences.   1Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityPublished by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017 70 Male Nurses: A Visible Minority   Abstract Because nursing is associated with feminine characteristics, it is mainly considered a woman’s profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Despite the increasing number of men choosing nursing as a profession, they often face discrimination in this predominantly female profession (Roth & Coleman, 2008). When men choose a female-dominated profession like nursing, they are questioned regarding their sexual orientation and are considered inappropriate for bed-side nursing (O’Connor, 2015; Meadus, 2000). Patients’ perceptions of male nurses as sexual aggressors or gay affects their ability to do their job (Evans, 2002). The goal of this literature review is to explore challenges commonly faced by male nurses and understand how these perceptions and stereotypes affect their ability to provide care.   Introduction When people hear the word “nurse,” they immediately think of a woman in scrubs, so it’s no surprise that nursing is a female-dominated profession (Rajacich et al., 2013). For example, as of 2011, 91% of nurses were women and only 9% were men (“Men in nursing,” 2013). Despite nursing being a normative career for women, more men are now choosing it as a career option (“Men in nursing,” 2013). For example, the rate of men in nursing has increased from 2.7% in the 1970s to 9.6% in 2011 (“Men in nursing,” 2013). Despite the efforts to increase the number of men in nursing, they are still a minority in this profession (“Men in nursing,” 2013).  Even though historically men provided significant contributions to nursing, they have received little to no recognition (Rajacich, Kane, Williston, & Cameron, 2013). For example, in the U.S, men served as nurses during the Civil War, and they were significant in reducing mortality rates among the troops during the wars (Rajacich, et al., 2013). Even Mahatma Gandhi was a nurse during his time in Africa (Rajacich et al., 2013). Lack of recognition of male nurses in history further encourages society to associate nursing with women (Rajacich et al., 2013).  Although both genders have the ability to care and nurture, these characteristics are mostly considered appropriate for women; therefore, 2McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9 71 men often face issues with gender identity and stereotypes for choosing a feminine career (Roth & Coleman, 2008; Rajacich et. al., 2013). Many people think that men choose nursing because they are gay, and they face discrimination in clinical settings because of this common stereotype (Evans, 2002; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Even patients have a difficult time considering men as appropriate for a job that requires touching, caring, gentleness, and nurturing (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). As men challenge gender-defined roles and choose a nontraditional career like nursing, they often face discrimination (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). This is interesting because men are criticized for choosing a female-dominated profession, but their female counterparts are more likely to be praised and gain recognition when they choose a male-dominated profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008).  Regardless of society’s attitudes and perceptions of male nurses, research shows that men choose nursing for the same reasons women do, which is to care, nurture, and advocate for their patients (Meadus, 2000). Therefore, the goal of this literature review is to explore the common challenges male nurses face and understand how gender stereotypes affect their ability to provide care and build relationships with their patients.   Methods I searched multiple databases, including PubMed and Medline, and key words included male nurses, stereotypes in nursing, male nursing statistics, male nurse recruitment, male nursing students, and clinical experience. Studies that were published between 2002 and 2017 were considered for my literature review. I reviewed over 25 articles, but only 10 articles were considered for my literature review. The following is the summary of each study.  Schmidt (2016) explored male student nurses’ professional values in clinical and classroom settings and how well they adjusted to the hospital setting. Open-ended questions regarding participants’ clinical experiences were used to facilitate the interviews. They conducted a qualitative and phenomenological study. The data was analyzed, categorized, coded, and lastly, common themes were identified (Schmidt, 2016).   3Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityPublished by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017 72 Nine male nursing students in their third or fourth year of nursing school participated in this study. Four students were third-year students and five were fourth-year students. Twenty-two percent of the participants were over the age of 30 and 78% identified themselves as Caucasian. Because being certified as a nursing assistant was an admission requirement for this particular school, most of the participants had experience working in a healthcare setting as a nursing assistant (Schmidt, 2016).    Evans (2002) conducted his study on 8 male registered nurses (RNs) from Nova Scotia, Canada; their ages ranged from 20 to 50 years. The participants had between 7 and 32 years of experience working as nurses in multiple areas of nursing, including mental health, medical-surgical, leadership roles, and community health (Evans, 2002). Two rounds of interviews were conducted with these participants.     Rajacich et al. (2013) used a descriptive qualitative design to analyze the responses of 16 male nurses in this study. The participants were between the ages of 21 and 48 years, and their experience in nursing ranged from 2 months to 21 years.   The main theme of these articles revolved around the idea of care and how both genders demonstrated it (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). The participants stated that they developed core professional values, such as caring, before even starting nursing school (Schmidt, 2016). Because their nursing values were influenced by various life experiences, it was easy for them to understand the concept of care (Schmidt, 2016). They showed their care through patient advocacy, safety, effective communication, and teamwork (Schmidt, 2016. Even though touch is a common tactic to provide comfort and reduce anxiety, male nurses reported being hesitant with this concept (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). Female nurses often showed care by touching patients, whereas men reported using humor to bond with their patients because it helped reduce their own and patients’ anxiety (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). Male nurses have to carefully assess the patient situation before they even decide to touch (Schmidt, 2016; Evans, 2002). Even when male nurses are providing care for male patients, they reported being very careful with their touch. For 4McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9 73 example, teen patients might misinterpret the male nurses’ touch and perceive them as being gay (Evans, 2002). One participant working in a mother-baby unit stated that he was accused of inappropriately touching a newborn baby boy while he was changing his diaper.   The study conducted by Rajacich et al. (2013) explored male nurses’ viewpoints of being a visible minority in the nursing profession. Participants stated that being a minority had both positive and negative aspects. Some men stated that being a minority motivated them to do their best because they represented other male nurses; they also had the opportunity to promote nursing to young men in schools. On the other hand, a few men reported that being a visible minority was harmful as it was associated with discrimination and prejudice (Rajacich et. al., 2013). For example, in Schmidt’s (2016) study, male nursing students and nurses reported not getting enough recognition for their patient care; instead, they were often called to get help with lifting a patient and technology-related problems (Schmidt, 2016. Furthermore, a majority of them hated being identified as male nurses because it isolated them from their female counterparts, who are simply referred to as nurses (Rajacich et. al., 2013). The term “male nurse” further signifies that they are indeed a minority in this profession (Rajacich et. al., 2013).  Discussion The main theme of these articles revolved around the idea of care and how both genders demonstrated it. Providing physical comfort to patients, regardless of their age and gender, comes naturally to female nurses (Evans, 2002; Rajacich et al., 2013). Men nurses stated being reluctant to provide physical comfort to patients as they were afraid that their touch may be viewed as inappropriate (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et al., 2013). For example, the participants in Meadus and Twomey’s study (2011) reported receiving little to no information on the use of touch during nursing school, so this made their transition into the clinical setting extremely difficult. For this reason, men have to put in extra efforts to build comfortable relationships with patients and delegate tasks that involved intimate touch of patients to avoid professional complications (Rajacich et al., 2013). 5Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityPublished by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017 74 Another common theme that emerged was that men hated being referred to as male nurses (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et. al., 2013). The gendered-term “male nurses” made them feel that they do not belong in nursing (Schmidt, 2016; Rajacich et. al., 2013). This term further reinforced the norm that men are indeed a visible minority in this profession. Instead of being labeled as male nurses, the participants hoped to be simply known as nurses.   The articles that I reviewed explored common barriers that male nurses face in the nursing setting. However, lack of diversity was a major weakness of these studies. For example, Schmidt’s study included only college students from one university and they were mostly Caucasian. Evans’ (2002) study only explored eight male registered nurses’ experiences. None of these studies explored the female nurses’ viewpoints of men nurses in clinical settings. These studies cannot be generalized because the results were not representative of other men nurses across the country.  This literature review shows the continued need for promoting equal acceptance of male nurses in the clinical setting. The feminine image of a nurse in society is a significant barrier preventing men from choosing nursing as a profession (Meadus, 2000; Roth & Coleman, 2008). Therefore, I would like to expand this topic by exploring male nursing students’ experiences in nursing school and clinical settings. The results can be used to promote awareness of issues male nurses commonly face.   Conclusion Nursing is still a female-dominated profession, and this creates problems for men who are interested in this profession. Research suggests that men choose nursing as a career to provide care and help others, but they are questioned regarding their sexual orientation, and are considered inappropriate for bed-side nursing (O’Connor, 2015). Care is a core nursing principle, and nurses of both genders show care towards their patients differently. Providing comfort by touching comes naturally to female nurses. However, because men’s touch is sexualized in general, male nurses are more reluctant to touch their patients. Stereotypes that men are inappropriate for bed-side nursing impacts their ability to perform their duties to their best. 6McNair Research Journal SJSU, Vol. 13 [2017], Art. 9http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mcnair/vol13/iss1/9 75   References Evans, J. (2002). Cautious caregivers: gender stereotypes and the sexualization of men nurses’ touch. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 40(4):441-8. Meadus, J. R., & Twomey, C. J. (2011). Men student nurses: The nursing education experience. Nursing Forum, 46(4).  Meadus, J. R. (2000). Men in nursing: Barriers to recruitment. Nursing Forum. 35(3).  Men in Nursing Occupations American Community Survey Highlight Report. (2013, February). Retrieved fromhttps://www.census.gov/people/io/files/Men_in_Nursing_Occupations.pdf O’Connor. (2015). Men choosing nursing: Negotiating a masculine identity in a feminine world. Journal of Men’s Studies, 23(2), 194-211.  Roth, E. J., & Coleman, L.C. (2008). Perceived and real barriers for men entering nursing: Implications of gender diversity. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 15(3).   Rajacich, D., Kane, D., Williston, C. & Cameron, S. (2013). If they call you a nurse, it is always a “Male Nurse”: Experiences of men in the nursing profession. Nursing Forum, 48(1).  Schmidt, B. (2016). Core professional nursing values of baccalaureate nursing students who are men. Nursing Ethics, Vol. 23(6) 674–684.            7Kaur: Male Nurses: A Visible MinorityPublished by SJSU ScholarWorks, 2017

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Male Nurses: A Visible Minority

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