The experience of Egyptian male student nurses during attending maternity nursing clinical course

The aim of this study was to explore the learning experience of Egyptian male student nurses during attending maternity nursing clinical course at Cairo University Maternity Hospital.

A descriptive design was utilized for collecting the data that are necessary to answer the research question; both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a semi- structured interview scale. A total of 60 students who just finished the clinic maternity course in college of Nursing, Cairo University were recruited for the study.

More than half of the sample (66.7%) preferred to deal with males rather than female patients. A number of stressors were reported by students during their clinical training such as: high requirement pertained to clinical area training (55%); unfavorable attitude of the clinical instructors (11%); and refusal of women to receive care by a male student nurse (34%). The most embarrassing procedures for the students were: abdominal examination, breast examination and perineal care. The most interesting procedures were assessment of the newborn, attending cesarean section and providing mother classes for mother in both antenatal clinic and postpartum unit, 53% of the students reported that the women were dealing with them with restrictions, while (25%) reported that women refused to deal with them during labor, 50% described their experience in maternity nursing clinical course as useful, while (18%) described it as interesting and (39%) described it as very embarrassing for male student nurses. Among the suggestions made by students to modify their clinical experience were: 1) substituting clinical training by the skill lab for male students and also adding clinical experience in andrology that refers to the medical specialty that deals with male health, particularly relating to the problems of the male reproductive system and urological problems (76%); 2) teaming with a female student during the clinical area (50%).

Based on the study findings, re-planning of some of the clinical rotations of Maternity Nursing to include substitute clinical experience for the male student should be considered. Furthermore, developing strategies to change male student's attitude toward child-bearing experience and fatherhood is crucial. Finally, male students should be oriented to and encouraged to identify with role model of male obstetricians.