Nurses valued domains of living: Exploring gender differences.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Understanding nurses' values is crucial for healthcare systems.
• Gender differences may influence nurses' professional experiences and satisfaction.
• Limited research exists on gender-specific valued domains among nurses in Jordan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore gender-specific differences in the importance and consistency of valued domains of living among nurses in Jordanian hospitals.
• To identify key differences in how male and female nurses prioritize and align actions with their values.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 206 nurses (103 female, 103 male) in two Jordanian hospitals.
• Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire and the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ).
• Statistical analysis examined gender differences in the rank order, importance, and consistency of 10 valued domains.

Main Results:

• Female nurses highly valued family and parenting, while males prioritized parenting and marriage/intimate relations.
• Females prioritized work, education, spirituality, and community more than males.
• Males prioritized marriage/couples/intimate relations more than females.
• Females showed greater consistency between actions and values in work, education, spirituality, and community domains.
• Parenting emerged as a particularly challenging valued domain for female nurses.

Conclusions:

• Significant gender disparities exist in nurses' valued domains of living in Jordan.
• Addressing these gender-specific needs through tailored interventions can enhance workplace satisfaction and patient care.
• Further research is needed to explore the factors contributing to these differences and to evaluate interventions promoting gender equity.