Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Factors influencing professional identity formation in male nursing students in China: A qualitative study from a
Yiping Chen1, Xinyi Han1, Wei Li2
1School of nursing, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang, Beijing, China.
Aim:
This study explored the key influencing factors and turning points in the formation of professional identity among male undergraduate nursing students in China from a life course perspective.
Background:
With the rising proportion of male nurses in China, understanding how male nursing students develop professional identity is vital to promoting gender diversity and improving retention. However, limited research in China has examined this process from a life course perspective, which can help inform targeted educational and institutional strategies.
Design:
An exploratory qualitative study.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 male undergraduate nursing students across academic years at a university in China. Guided by a life course theory-informed interview schedule, interviews focused on experiences shaping professional identity across life stages. Data were coded and thematised using reflexive thematic analysis and reported in line with COREQ.
Results:
Five main themes emerged: 1) Early life experiences shaping initial views of nursing; 2) Identity transformation through education and practice; 3) Negotiating gender stereotypes and societal expectations; 4) Peer support and gendered collaboration; and 5) Pragmatic career thinking and evolving aspirations. The identity formation process was dynamic, cross-phase and influenced by both social contexts and personal agency.
Conclusion:
Male nursing students' professional identity in China is shaped by early experiences and continuously reshaped through education and clinical practice. Breaking gender stereotypes, strengthening educational and institutional support, building peer networks and offering diverse career development opportunities can help enhance identity formation and career stability among male nursing students.
Related Concept Videos
The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Bioavailability: Influencing Factors
Formats for Nursing Documentation
Nursing Assessment Form:
• A nursing assessment form is a foundational document that captures detailed patient data from physical assessments and nursing histories.
• It includes patient demographics, medical history,...
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH
Factors Influencing Attraction I: Proximity

