Journal article
Male nurse practice in inpatient rehabilitation. Finding a safe way: a grounded theory
International Journal of Nursing Studies, Vol.143, pp.1-10
2023
PMID: 37149952
Abstract
Background: Research interest in nursing's contribution to inpatient rehabilitation is growing. Nurses contribute to rehabilitation specifically by teaching patients how to care for themselves. This contribution is largely reported from a female or genderneutral perspective. Despite the work of male nurses being examined in a range of other specialities, their work within inpatient rehabilitation remains underexplored.
Objective: To report on a grounded theory study to identify and make visible male nurse practice in inpatient rehabilitation in Australia.
Design: Constructivist grounded theory informed by symbolic interactionism.
Setting(s): Stage 1 data were collected in locations of participants choosing throughout Australia. Stage 2 data collection centred on seven data collection sites across two specialist rehabilitation hospitals in two states of Australia.
Participants: Twenty-three male nurses and 15 patients participated in the study.
Methods: Stage 1 (October 2013 to June 2014) consisted of semi-structured interviews with 11 male nurses. Stage 2 (February to April 2015) consisted of semi-structured interviews and 63.5 h of non-participant observation with 12 male nurses. Fifteen interviews with patients as recipients of male nurse care were also conducted. Data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using constant comparative methods, memo writing and diagramming.
Results: Nurse participants were aware of patient perceptions about nursing being an occupation for women and male nurses being perceived as sexual threats, which led to an everyday concern of potential for misinterpretation. To address this concern, male nurses engaged in a three-phase process known as assessing and managing risk in order to minimise risk and to keep themselves safe in practice. However, two contextual conditions, type of care and urgency of care, influenced engagement in assessing and managing risk. The core category and substantive grounded theory to explain these results is finding a safe way.
Conclusions: Gender stereotypes affected the daily working lives of male nurses in inpatient rehabilitation. To counter the risk of misinterpretation male nurses used a range of strategies to address the barriers encountered daily in their working lives. However, male nurse efforts were often influenced by conditions outside of their control. In inpatient rehabilitation, male nurses practised cautiously to keep themselves safe in order to practise nursing.
Details
- Title
- Male nurse practice in inpatient rehabilitation. Finding a safe way: a grounded theory
- Authors
- Mark J. Baker (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - NursingMurray J. Fisher (Author) - University of SydneyJulie Pryor (Author) - Royal Rehabilitation Centre
- Publication details
- International Journal of Nursing Studies, Vol.143, pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104506
- ISSN
- 1873-491X
- PMID
- 37149952
- Grant note
- University of Sydney post-graduate award
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99725898702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
5 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites