Males’ Choice of Nursing Career among Senior Secondary School Students in a Selected Boy’s High School, Benin City, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

This is a study on males’ choice of nursing career among senior secondary school students in Edo Boy’s High School, Ugbowo, Benin city, South Nigeria. The study was carried out to assess males’ choice of nursing as a career and factors affecting their choices. A descriptive survey research design and a sample of 445, which is the target population was used. A convenient sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A questionnaire was developed which served as an instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Spearman’s product moment correlation coefficient and a value of 0.6 was obtained which showed that it is reliable. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Hypotheses stated were tested using Chi-square at 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that majority of the students 288 (72.08%) had good knowledge of nursing profession, as compared to 112 (27.92%). The study revealed that the attitude of respondents were negative towards the nursing profession as the overall mean score of 2.87 (0.72) was obtained. A total of 300 (75%) respondents objected to take nursing as career choice while only 100 (25%) respondents accepted to take nursing as a career. Hypothesis tested showed a significant relationship between the attitude of respondents and their choice of nursing as a career at (X²=326.42;df=1; P_tab=3.841; P < 0.05). However, the study revealed so many factors that were attributed to this negative attitude and low males’ choice of nursing as a career. These include, nursing is a feminine profession, nurses are servant to doctors, poor payment, men in nursing are not man enough, no role model in nursing among many others. Recommendations were made based on these factors.

Keywords: Feminization, nursing, career, choice, male

Cite this Article

Ehwarieme T. A, Bolaji-Osagie S, Oko-Ose J.N. Males’ Choice of Nursing Career among Senior Secondary School Students in a Selected Boy’s High School, Benin City, South-South Nigeria. Journal of Nursing Science and Practice. 2016; 6(1): 1–12p.