Paper
Friday, July 13, 2007
Gender Differences in the Perceptions of an Ideal Career and Perceptions of Nursing
Betty Rambur, DNSc1, Mary Val Palumbo, DNP, APRN2, Judy Cohen, PhD1, and Barbara McIntosh, PhD3. (1) College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA, (2) Office of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning, and Development, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA, (3) School of Business Administration, Universtiy of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| Learning Objective #1: describe gender differences in perceptions of an ideal career and perceptions of nursing |
| Learning Objective #2: detail gender sensitive, evidence-based nursing recruitment strategies, and gender-referenced workplace and policy changes that encourage the recruitment of males and females into nursing
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This survey design study sought to understand gender similarities and differences among young adults’ perception of an ideal career and their perception of nursing. A convenience sample of 71 females and 45 males ages 18-24 were recruited at job fairs and community events between January and September 2005. The setting was one US metropolitan statistical area within a rural, northeastern state and two more rural adjacent communities.
The survey instrument, developed by May et al. and used with permission, measures 17 parallel items on a 5 point Likert scale. It has been assessed for reliability (coefficient alpha .81-.84) and content validity by a panel of experts. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, followed by paired t-tests with Bonferoni adjusted alpha significance at p < 0.0028.
Marked differences by gender emerged. Women perceived nursing as differing from their ideal career in the areas of “being appreciated” (nursing less than ideal), “work with hands” (nursing more than ideal), safe workplace (nursing less than ideal), and uses technology (nursing more than ideal). Conversely, for men the differences between an ideal career and nursing were not statistically significant in these areas. Instead, men saw nursing as less than the ideal in the area of “needs a college degree,” a perception women did not share. Overall, nursing was more consistent with an ideal career for men than women. Both men and women, however, saw nursing as busier than the ideal career, offering less decision-making, and fewer financial rewards. Implications for evidence-base recruitment, workplace personnel strategies, and policy are discussed.