Belongingness of nursing students who identify as men

Abstract

Background

Men are underrepresented in nursing programs and the nursing profession. Belongingness has been identified as a significant contributing factor to student success. In qualitative studies, men in nursing programs reported isolation, loneliness, and exclusion.

Aim

This research explored the belongingness of nursing students who identify as men and it's correlated with their intent to complete their nursing program.

Methods

This nonexperimental, quantitative correlational research used Levett-Jones and Lathlean' (2009) version of the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience (BES-CPE) questionnaire and a single item from Evans' (2013) Undergraduate Nursing Intention Survey (UNIS). The survey was distributed electronically by the National Student Nurses Association.

Results

252 participants met all inclusion criteria. Spearman's rho, [r (252) = 0.12, p = 0.066] demonstrated a weak positive relationship between belongingness and student intent to complete their nursing program. The eta squared was 7689.85 ÷ 45779.85 = 0.17, representing a medium to large effect size.

Conclusions

Belongingness, esteem, connectedness, and efficacy of nursing students who identify as men were positively correlated with the students’ intent to complete their nursing program.