The Clinical Learning Expieriences of Male Nursing Students in Maternity wards at training Hospitals in khomas region, Namibia.
Abstract:
Background: Clinical learning in nursing is very important because this when students get to practice what they learn theoretically and actually put in to action. Many males are now starting to join the nursing field, and with this they tend to have a more different experience than that a female nursing student would experience, especially in the maternity wards. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the clinical learning experiences of second, third and fourth year male degree nursing students regarding their clinical learning experiences in the maternity wards at training hospitals in Khomas region.
Methods: The researcher collected data by conducting one-one interviews with male nursing students from the fourth, third and second year. The data was analyzed according to the two objectives of this study based on Teschs method of qualitative data analysis.
Results: The study revealed that the male nursing students endured many challenges such as rejection from patients due to their cultural beliefs, with that it had an impact on their self- esteem and self-worthiness as student nurses. The participants also mentioned that they experienced a poor interpersonal relationship with the registered nurses and that the clinical instructors were not very present with them during their clinical practice.
Conclusion: With the above mentioned, the researcher recommends that the training institutes put more effort in preparing male students about the challenges they might face when they do enter the clinical setting, this will help male students be better prepared and deal better with the challenges they might face. The training hospitals and the training institutions can set up a program where male nursing students are placed or delegated at least once with another male registered nurse so that the male nursing student may have a role model and not feel like his alone. All of this is critical for the professional growth of the male nursing students.
