[The affect of gender on caregiving: a study of male nurses]

Caring, the essence of nursing, is widely viewed as a feminine activity. Therefore, determining the existence and extent of differences in caring shown by male nurses in comparison with their female counterparts is a matter that requires further discussion. This article discusses the effects of gender differences on nursing care provided by male nurses according to analyzing the essential elements of caring. Findings indicate that certain caring behaviors performed by male nurses differ from their female colleagues due to extant internal conflicts between masculine and caring concepts. This article proposes two suggestions to nursing educators: 1. When training male nurses, in addition to emphasizing the value of caring, instructors should also emphasize teaching caring competence; 2. Based on an acceptance of diversity, instructors should accept the existence of differences between male and female nurse caring behaviors due to fundamental gender differences.