Table 1
Thematic Map.
| Main Theme | Sub-themes | Examples of Formulated meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing is a feminine occupation | Men are different from women | - Learning to provide basic patient care was tough, the activities were seen to be feminine |
| Feeling Inferior | - Nursing tends to be underrated by many people as such, one felt inferior | |
| Basic care provision | - Care provision depends on individuals | |
| Changing or not changing Career | - One’s motivation for the nursing profession decreases with time | |
| Facing Discrimination | Sense of belonging or not belonging and sense of not being accepted | - Being underrated by female nurses & students - Female nurse managers favoured female nurses |
| A sense of Isolation | - Feeling lonely amidst many female students. - Lack of male role models | |
| Socialisation process | Ideal socialisation | - Career guidance helps an individual make an informed choice - Most of the male nurses made an uninformed choice when joining nursing |
| Failed socialisation | - Some male nurse midwives qualified without being able to exhibit the expected behaviour of professional nurse midwives. |