Male Student Challenges in a Maternity Nursing Clinical Course in a Middle Eastern Country: Strategies for Improved Performance and Future Implications for Nursing Education and Practice

Introduction: As the number of males, entering nursing and midwifery increase in number, challenges faced by these males during training sessions also is on rise. Since these challenges vary from culture to culture, it is essential to understand the experiences and challenges of male nursing students during their nursing education. Aim: To explore the challenges faced by male nursing students in learning maternal health nursing and the remedial strategies to improve their performance as identified by the students. Design: A descriptive qualitative research design using focus group discussion method was used. Methods: Twenty-two (22) undergraduate male nursing students enrolled in the Maternal Health Nursing Course during the Academic Years 2017 and 2018 were purposively selected to participate in the study through five (5) focus groups each comprising between four to six students. Results: Three themes emerged from the study: (a) cultural constraints in the clinical learning process; (b) traditional gender-biased role expectations, and (c) alternative teaching strategies. In terms of “cultural constraints,” the students felt the Arabic culture was the main barrier in direct patient care in midwifery practice. In relation to “gender-biased role expectations,” the students reported that they felt “not accepted and isolated” in midwifery clinical areas. Thirdly, the “alternative teaching strategies” relate to the student's remedy to the cultural constraints and the gender bias faced that undermined their learning and overall performance in maternity nursing course. These alternative ways of learning included, “increased involvement of nurses and midwives in teaching learning”; “cultivating positive relationship between the clinical instructor and students,” and the “use of high fidelity simulation to learn skills in midwifery education.” Conclusion: The study findings revealed that male student nurses face significant challenges in maternity nursing course.