Nurses' and patients' views towards nursing care given to male patients by female nurses

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the attitudes towards nursing care given to male patients by female nurses. The study took place in two mixed-gender wards in a local general hospital. An exploratory research design was used, in which 10 female nurses and 10 male patients were chosen as a sample. Two separate questionnaires were administered to each sub-sample, with each questionnaire addressing similar issues involved in the nursing care of male patients by female nurses. Permission to carry out the research was granted by the IHC board of ethics, the hospital management, and the data protection board. The results revealed that there are a number of common concerns and dilemmas that are shared between female nurses and male patients. These included concerns about each other's age, the performance of intimate procedures, and issues of sexuality. Locally, where gender preferences are concerned, female nurses and male patients seem to share similar fears and doubts with regards to one another. Findings indicate the need for an improvement in the training and education of female nurses in order to provide them with necessary skills and knowledge to handle their present problems with their male patients. Improvement is also needed in the way the male patient is prepared for his hospital stay on admission.