PROFESSIONAL SOCIALIZATION OF MALE STUDENT NURSES.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 185
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: One method of assisting in the professionalization of nursing is to improve the professional socialization process of student nurses. Although the literature contained studies about the socialization of student nurses, very few studies included males as subjects. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to identify the perceptions of professional socialization held by male students enrolled in three baccalaureate degree programs in nursing in a Southeastern state university system. A conceptual framework based on role and socialization theories guided the study.

Forty-five sophomores, juniors, and seniors at three universities completed nine open-ended questions and a respondent profile. The answers were content analyzed using a Code Book for which interrater reliability was .90.

The findings indicated that a family member, friend or acquaintance, or a spouse contributed the most to subjects' decisions to enter nursing. Positive future aspects of a job in nursing, interest in the health-related fields, and past work experience also contributed to their decision to enter nursing. The most important roles of the professional registered nurse were clinician, patient teacher, and self-developer. Subjects observed educators, clinicians, and administrators the most as role models. The expectations for themselves as professional registered nurses were: (a) to be an expert clinician, (b) to obtain increased knowledge, (c) to have pride in the nursing profession, and (d) to provide the best professional nursing care. Both the most helpful and unhelpful socialization experiences reported were clinical courses and work experiences. Subjects viewed educators and clinicians as powerful and influential as both helpful and unhelpful socializers, role models, and influencers in their role perceptions and expectations.

Because subjects valued clinical experience, desired to remain in a care-giving role, and saw nurse educators as key socializers, it was recommended that nurse educators examine their role as socializers and attempt to provide positive socialization experiences for male student nurses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-02, Section: B, page: 0571.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1985.

School code: 0005.