The art of caring, male nurses providing personal and intimate care with female patients

Abstract

An exploratory study of male nurses working in an acute care setting was undertaken using a person-centered interview approach with an ethnographic orientation. The study involved semi-structured interviewing of 15 participants who provided personal and intimate care with female patients. The aim of the study was to identify behaviours, strategies and interventions used by the participants to ensure that female patients under their care did not experience physical, emotional or psychological discomfort during the provision of personal and intimate care. King's conceptual framework, which addresses personal, interpersonal and social systems, was used to guide this study. Data analysis revealed four main strategies used by the participants when providing personal and intimate care with female patients. The strategies were (1) Communication Strategies and Interventions; (2) Cognitive Strategies; (3) Emotive S rategies and Interventions; and, (4) Behavioral Strategies and Interventions. Workplace Settings or Situational Factors were also found to influence the provision of personal and intimate care. The provision of personal and intimate care is a highly complex interaction requiring well-developed assessment skills and the ability to choose and adjust the appropriate strategy anytime during the provision of the particular nursing intervention. Implications for nursing practice, administration and education are identified. Recommendations for future research are discussed.