Experiences and Perceptions of Filipino American Men as Undergraduate Nursing Students

Written by Julie Kientz Elting

doi: https://doi.org/10.13178/jnparr. 2023.13.01.1306

Abstract

Background: The perceptions of men in nursing education are increasingly documented and reveal common themes and challenges. However, the voices of minority men, including Filipino Americans, on these topics are not well represented in the literature.

Objective: This study explored the experiences and perceptions of Filipino American men as undergraduate nursing students in relation to common themes present in research with men, in general. The pre-determined coding schemes included: Impact of media portrayal and societal perceptions; nursing practice interest areas and plans for advanced practice; experiences in nursing education; and factors influencing personal motivation for a nursing career.

Methods: In this descriptive, phenomenological study, four Filipino American men in a BSN program participated in a guided group discussion based on the common themes and practice challenges from the literature.

Results: The participants reported being aware of, and often faced, the challenges experienced by other men in nursing education. They denied questioning their choices or being discouraged from achieving their career goals from any source: media, society, nurses in the clinical setting, or educators. They filtered their experiences through their Filipino and Filipino American familial and community-based cultural values.

Conclusions: Female, family role models and other family support provided motivation for their nursing career choice. Their Filipino and Filipino American cultural values of obligation to family, respect for elders, and caring as a gender-neutral concept provided the participants with resilience when faced with common challenges faced by men who choose a nursing career.

Keywords: career choice, Filipino Americans, men in nursing, nursing education, gender minorities