Date of Award
Spring 6-5-2026
Document Type
Honors Project
University Scholars Director
Dr. Joshua Tom
First Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Heidi Monroe
Keywords
Pediatric Nursing, Men in Nursing, Male Nurse, Male Nursing Student, Stereotype, Recruitment
Abstract
Background: Men remain underrepresented in nursing, with an even smaller presence in pediatric nursing. Purpose: To examine pediatric-specific themes that may contribute to the low presence of men in pediatric nursing, and strategies to counteract these potential barriers. Methods: CINAHL Ultimate and Google Scholar were searched for primary research published from 2015 to 2025 related to male nurses, male nursing students, gender bias, pediatric care, and clinical experiences. Findings: Four major themes emerged: gender stereotypes and the feminization of pediatric nursing, sociocultural barriers and gender bias, fear and distrust toward male nurses, and psychological and professional impacts on men in pediatric settings. Conclusion: Men are not absent from pediatric nursing simply because of lack of interest. Rather, gendered beliefs about caregiving, children, emotional closeness, and physical touch can shape clinical opportunities, confidence, belonging, and specialty choice. Nursing programs and pediatric units should promote equitable clinical experiences, mentorship, inclusive policies, and visible male role models.
Recommended Citation
Janczak, Marcin, "It's (Not) Raining Men: Exploring the Themes Surrounding Low Male Presence in Pediatric Nursing" (2026). Honors Projects. 274.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/honorsprojects/274
Copyright Status
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Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Comments
A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Honors Program. Presented on 5/16/2026