Harding, T. S., North, N., & Perkins, R. (2008). Sexualizing men's touch: Male nurses and the use of intimate touch in clinical practice. Research & Theory for Nursing Practice, 22(2), 88–102.
Abstract: Drawn from a larger study, this article reports the experiences of a group of male nurses regarding the use of intimate physical touch. Using discourse analysis, interview data from 18 male nurses were analysed and related to existing text on men as nurses. The analysis reveals that although touch is important in nursing care, it is problematic for men because discourses have normalised women's use of touch as a caring behaviour and have sexualised men's touch. Participants described their vulnerability, how they protected themselves from risk, and the resulting stress. The complicity of nurses in sexualising men's touch and the neglect of educators in preparing men for providing intimate care are revealed. A paradox emerged whereby the very measures employed to protect both patients and men as nurses exacerbate the perceived risk posed by men carrying out intimate care. The authors suggest that deconstructing and reframing prevailing discourses around nursing, gender, and caring involving touch can help to legitimise men's involvement in physical caring.
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Harding, T. S. (2005). Constructing the “other”: On being a man and a nurse. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This study explores the experiences of men who are nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand. Utilising discourse analysis a social constructionist reading of men, masculinity and nursing is provided to offer an alternative reading to much of the extant literature with respect to men in nursing. The study draws upon a number of different sources of “text”, including over 600 written works, two films and interviews with eighteen men who currently are, have been or are intending to be, nurses. Drawing primarily upon the “literary” textual sources a number of themes were identified for further exploration in interview with the co-researchers. These themes were the construction of masculinity, the construction of images of the nurse, the reaction to men who are nurses, sexuality issues, career development, and men and caring. The findings of this thesis reveal that the literature pertaining to men in nursing is replete with paradox and contradiction and fails to adequately account for the male experience. It is argued that the images and arguments provided in the literature with respect to men in nursing are based on out-of-date models and understandings of gender relations, masculinity and nursing. It is suggested that rather than enjoying patriarchal privilege, men who enter nursing must contend with being constructed as both an inferior man and inferior nurse. Their careers are not, as is alleged in the literature, based on developing “islands of masculinity” and male privilege, nor upon the avoidance of the emotional labour of nursing but reflect a belief that career is one way of doing care. It is argued in this work that men in nursing have fewer “taken-as-givens” upon which to base work and that they work to develop trusting relationships with their patients that are based on communication and empathy within a context defined by the patients' circumstances.
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Harding, T. S. (2008). Men's clinical career pathways: Widening the understanding. Coda: An institutional repository for the New Zealand ITP sector, 22(3), 48–57.
Abstract: This article, drawn from a larger study, reports on the factors that have influenced the choice of a group of New Zealand male nurses' clinical career pathways. Using discourse analysis, interview data from 18 participants were analysed and related to existing literature on male nurses. The analysis revealed that the predominance of men in selected areas of nursing can be attributed to multiple factors including: socialisation pressures that are grounded on gender stereotyping, a desire for challenge, homosocial tendencies, and the belief that multiple work experience equips them to be better nurses. The results challenge essentialist readings of masculinity within the context of nursing and identifies challenges for nursing education and the profession to enable men to contribute more widely to nursing.
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Harding, T. S. (2007). The construction of men who are nurses as gay. Coda: An institutional repository for the New Zealand ITP sector, 60(6), 636–644.
Abstract: This paper is a report of a study to determine the construction of male nurses as gay, and to describe how this discourse impacts on a group of New Zealand male nurses. This social constructionist study drew on data collected from existing texts on men, nursing and masculinity and interviews with 18 New Zealand men conducted in 2003-2004. Discourse analysis, informed by masculinity theory and queer theory, was used to analyse the data. Despite the participants' beliefs that the majority of male nurses are heterosexual, the stereotype persists. A paradox emerged between the 'homosexual' general nurse and the 'heterosexual' pyschiatric nurse. The stigma associated with homosexuality exposes male nurses to homophobia in the workplace. The heterosexual men employed strategies to avoid the presumption of homosexuality; these included: avoiding contact with gay colleagues and overt expression of their heterosexuality. These stigmatising discourses create a barrier to caring and, aligned with the presence of homophobia in the workplace, deter men's entry into the profession and may be important issues with respect to their retention.
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Harding, T. S. (2004). Male nurses: The struggle for acceptance. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 9(4), 17–19.
Abstract: This article describes the role of men in the nursing profession in New Zealand from colonial times to the 1970s. It considers attitudes towards male nurses, the provision of training for men and the various laws and regulations dealing with the issue.
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Guy, M. T. (2020). An exploration of the educational experiences of new nurses who are men within Aotearoa New Zealand. Master's thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North.
Abstract: Aims to inform future curriculum design to support, retain, and attract more men to nursing. Uses a descriptive qualitative design to explore the experiences of male nurses prior, during and after the Bacelor of Nursing degree. Conducts semi-structured interviews with 9 male nurses resulting in two main themes: isolation during training; inaccurate public perception of the of the scope of the modern nurse.
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Gultiano, J. P. (2022). The experiences of internationally-qualified nurses working in a publicly-funded tertiary hospital in New Zealand: A qualitative descriptive study. Master's thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Abstract: Explores and describes the experiences of Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN) working in a public hospital in NZ. Uses qualitative descriptive methodology to illuminate their experiences. Employs purposive sampling using maximum variation and snowball sampling methods to recruit 12 IQNs employed in the tertiary hospital. Conducts 12 one-to-one, semi-structured face-to-face interviews, which were analysed using Braun and Clarke's method of thematic analysis. Derives the following three themes: hospital navigation, ambivalence and being an outsider.
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Greenlees-Rae, J. (2016). Being confident in practice: A study on the influences on confidence in new graduate nurses. Master's thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.
Abstract: Aims to understand influences on new graduate nurses' confidence in their nursing practice. Confirms the value of self-confidence in newly-qualified nurses commencing practice. Utilises Appreciative Inquiry methodology to analyse the dialogue of nine new graduate nurses who share their stories of practice. Highlights five themes from their accounts. Identifies influences on the nurses' confidence, and the reflective practice pervading their nursing practice.
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Grainger, P. C. (2007). Nursing documentation in the emergency department: nurses' perspectives. Master's thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.
Abstract: Explores emergency nurses? perspectives and practices about the quality, importance and value of emergency nursing documentation in relation to their personal beliefs, past experiences and preferred systems of documentation; the practical and contextual factors that influence documentation practices within an emergency department (ED); their interests in documentation tools or systems; and their interests in relation to further development of documentation practices and systems. Conducts a qualitative descriptive study in which ten emergency nurses from one ED in New Zealand were interviewed using interactive interview methods, and asked to complete a Likert scale to identify the relevance of internationally- recognised general influences on documentation to their own practices in the context of an ED. Includes recommended routes to development through partnership, participation and process engagement, and strategies including document development, knowledge advancement and support.
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Goodyear, K. A. (2018). Talking about menopause: exploring the lived experience of menopause for nurses. Master's thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Abstract: Explores through semi-structured, in-depth interviews how 11 nurses working at Christchurch Hospital experienced menopause in the workplace and in their personal lives. Uses thematic analysis to highlight how the stigma surrounding menopause led to the nurses' fear of being treated as a menopausal woman, rather than as a professional.
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Gillespie, M. E. (2013). Compassion fatigue and cancer nurses: a national survey of cancer nurses in New Zealand. Master's thesis, Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale.
Abstract: Identifies the experiences of NZ cancer nurses whose primary role is to care for patients aged 20 or older, and their whanau/family, and describes the factors that may influence care. Examines whether nurses received training in the management of stressors associated with caring for cancer patients, either during their training or while in the cancer workplace setting. Considers whether nurses working in peripheral (satellite) cancer centres were at more risk than their colleagues in larger regional centres. Conducts a quantitative, descriptive and anonymous survey of members of the Cancer Nurses' Section of the NZNO, using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire, which scores compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout.
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Gifford, H., Wilson, D., & Boulton, A. (2014). Maori perspectives : a deep understanding of nursing and smoking. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 30(3), 35–44.
Abstract: Conducts in-depth qualitative interviews with 43 Maori nurses to explore their perceptions and experiences of smoking and quitting, and their views on the impact of smoking on their roles as nurses. Elicits five themes: social context of smoking, identity conflict, impact on practice, experience of smoking, and experience of quitting.
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Gifford, H., Walker, L., Clendon, J., Wilson, D., & Boulton, A. (2013). Maori nurses and smoking; Conflicted identities and motivations for smoking cessation. Available through NZNO library, 4(1), 33–38.
Abstract: This research aims to design and test the feasibility of an intervention promoting smoking cessation, and reducing smoking relapse, among Māori nurses who smoke. It is being conducted in two phases. Phase one, a national web-based survey, conducted in December 2012, explored the views of Māori nurses (smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers) regarding smoking. This paper reports on the analysis of qualitative responses from 410 nurses and nursing students identifying as Māori who completed an online survey. Five themes were identified: beliefs about smoking; ?for our tamariki?; personal stories of quitting; dissatisfaction with current approaches; and plans for future strategies. The findings confirm that nurses who smoke may experience feelings of conflict, and regard their behaviour as inconsistent with their role as nurses and health promoters. Nurses who smoke must be supported to become, and to stay, smokefree. Tailored Māori-specific cessation initiatives are needed.
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Garcia, A., Whitehead, D., & Winter, H. S. (2015). Oncology nurses' perception of cancer pain: a qualitative exploratory study. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 31(1), 27–33.
Abstract: Undertakes research to explore how oncology nurses perceive cancer pain in patients. Presents the findings of semi-structured interviews with a sample of 5 registered nurses working in a NZ oncology ward, who reported their responses to under-treatment of cancer pain. Highlights the need to explore cancer pain management with patients.
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Foster, P. M. (2020). What undergraduate nurse education actually teaches student nurses about people named as older: A Foucauldian discourse analysis. Doctoral thesis, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland.
Abstract: Traces the origins of gerontology knowledge among student nurses while considering how people designated as older are perceived by the student nurse, and the effects of functional decline and biomedical discourses on their views of older people when on clinical placement in aged residential care (ARC) facilities. Hghlights the contested domain of gerontology knowledge to generate dialogue about how older age is actually represented in student nurse education, as the current iteration perpetuates stereotypical assumptions about older age.
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