Issues in the socialisation process of the male student nurse: implications for retention in undergraduate nursing courses

Although the number of males who choose nursing as a career is increasing, there is evidence to suggest that attrition rates are significantly high. This paper presents a review of the literature that focuses on highlighting those factors thought to impinge on the educational experience of the male nursing student. The discussion begins by illuminating the problems experienced by males who choose a profession where the traditional gender role is female. From this, the implications for nurse educators and strategies for facilitating the retention of male students in nursing courses are discussed. In particular, focus is given to the fact that nurse educators have the tendency to isolate male nursing students both in the educational and clinical setting. From this, it is highlighted that continued efforts need to be applied in relation to dispelling traditional nurse role stereotypes if the goal of retaining male nursing students is to be realised.