Career related motivational characteristics of male nursing students as compared to female nursing students

Abstract

Purpose. The purposes of this study were to: (a) identify a descriptive profile of male and female nursing students to determine the motivational factors in their career selection, and (b) compare motivational factors of male nursing students with female subjects. Procedure. This was a two-stage study with the first phase being descriptive and the second comparative. The subjects (N = 614) were junior and senior level male and female nursing students at eight baccalaureate accredited Texas nursing programs. The students were asked to complete the Work Values Inventory, a questionnaire designed to ascertain specific values which measure one's motivation in choosing a career. Results. Analysis of the data utilizing Roy's Maximum Root Criterion revealed that the vector of means for males and females differed. In performing Simultaneous Confidence Intervals, there were no significant individual comparisons between the males and females. Conclusions. Based upon the results of data analyses, the following conclusions are presented: (1) Males and females have similar profiles. (2) Males and females differ in overall values of career selection. Individual comparisons do not contribute the overall difference in motivational characteristics. Recommendations. The investigator presents the following recommendations: (1) Results of this study may be examined in relationship to present nursing programs to determine the impact of these 15 values on the curricula. (2) Results of this study may be used as a starting point for critical assessment of sex-stereotyping in the nursing profession. (3) Further research is needed to determine a combination of the Work Values Inventory variables which differentiate males and females. (4) Future studies should be conducted which include a more broad national sampling of the nursing student population. This would provide a stronger basis for conclusions and inferences to the student population. (5) Future studies should be conducted using other evaluation instruments so results are not constrained to the 15 values of this research study. (6) Further studies should be conducted to help achieve an effective recruitment program and to increase the number of both men and women in nursing.