St.

Paul University Philippines

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter briefly reviewed the purpose and research

design of the study. In addition, conclusions and

recommendations were discussed.

Summary of Findings

The emerging major theme from the lived experiences of

male student nurses of Tuguegarao City in the Delivery Room

is: Sincerity and Commitment to Perform Duties and Functions

in the Chosen Career. Under this major theme were five (1)

subthemes which are as follows:

1. Finds the Experience Interesting and Challenging

In this subtheme, it revealed the importance of creating

a good and positive learning environment for student nurses

in the clinical setting. It also highlighted the importance

of building the confidence of student nurses during clinical

placement through giving emphasis on the importance of

structure, feedback, openness about expectations, time for

reflection and being welcomed and appreciated. It was also

revealed that clinical instructors and staff should always

create learning opportunities for student nurses to help them

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

grow. It was revealed that graduate nurses contend that they

are more likely to apply for work in settings where they had

positive experiences during undergraduate clinical

placements. It is therefore an important task for educators

and hospital staff to ensure good learning environments in

all clinical settings used in nursing education.

2. Feeling Discriminated by Women Patient

In this subtheme, it was inferred that male student

nurses should be sensitive enough of their actions when

rendering care to pregnant mothers. Male student nurses

should deal individually with each female client considering

their personal choices. The care and approach for each of the

clients will have to be based on their needs. When a male

nurse perform a certain procedure to a pregnant mother, he

must first explain the procedure to the client and ask if it

is okay for her to be assisted by a male nurse especially if

it involved an intimate touch. It should never be assumed

that the experience of other patients will always be the same

with next patient. A nurse should bear in mind that all

clients are different; therefore a nurse has to utilize

different approaches in dealing with different patients. When

assisting a mother during pre-natal check-up or during

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

delivery, a mother’s agreement with the assistance doesn’t

imply that all mothers seeking for help and assistance will

comfortably agree especially if intimate touch is involved.

3. Sympathetic to Women giving Birth

This subtheme highlighted the importance of empathy. In

recent researches, it was seen that there is increasing

evidence that emotionally engaged healthcare providers have

greater therapeutic efficacy (Easter DW., Beach W., 2004).

Engagement generates more trust, leading directly to improved

nurse – patient relationship and thus, effective and

efficient delivery of nursing care. It was also seen that

engaged healthcare providers communicate more effectively

which leads to decreased patient anxiety and improving

patients’ coping leading to better outcomes. Empathy

therefore should be considered not only by male student

nurses but also by other student nurses and the general

nursing professionals to be able to allow an understanding

not only of the patients’ belief, values and ideas but also

the significance that the patient’s situation has for them

and their associated feelings. However, one should also make

sure to maintain a professional and intellectual objectivity.

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences

 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

4. Service – oriented

In this theme, it was revealed that despite problems

encountered in the delivery room setting, male student nurses

still exert great efforts to deliver effective and efficient

nursing care to their patients. It was also revealed in this

subtheme that nurses play an important customer service role

for hospitals, doctor’s offices and other medical facilities.

It is therefore implied that the general population of nurses

should always consider patient satisfaction above everything.

To improve patient satisfaction, nurses must

receive education on its importance, along with the tools and

skills they’ll need to attain it.

5. Self-fulfilled in the Practice of Profession

Here, it was revealed that the male student nurses

expressed fulfillment in their chosen career despite the

different challenges that they face. It was also highlighted

that perceiving value along with finding joy and meaning in

work will have positive impacts on improving patient safety

by encouraging nurse engagement. Finding meaning in work is

important for nurses because it can create more positive

emotions, thoughts and behaviors for themselves, their teams,

and even their patients. When this occurs, they may be more
SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

likely to enjoy nursing with passion, sharing this positive

atmosphere with others. Moreover, when facing their own

difficulties, nurses who discover meaning in work may respond

differently to these situational events by making meaning and

developing greater understanding of the events. And thus they

may be more committed to patient care, despite the

difficulties.

Conclusions

The findings and the literature that supported each

indicate that male student nurses should learn to develop

gender sensitivity especially in the delivery room setting in

order for them to deliver efficient and effective nursing

care. The study also reflects that clinical instructors,

including hospital staff, make valuable contribution to the

students learning process. Clinical instructors may enhance

students learning by creating a positive learning environment

and participating as role models so students’ anxiety will be

lowered and their passion towards caring will increase. For

the purposes of remedying male nurse students' problems

experienced during clinical practice in delivery room, it

seems that there is a need reeducate people on their

perception of male student nurses and develop programs

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences

 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

specially dedicated to the clinical practice of male student

nurses.

Recommendations

The findings of this study have implications for future

nursing research.

1. FOR FUTURE RESEARCHERS:

 This phenomenological approach can be used for

additional or follow-up studies utilizing a larger

and more diverse population. Additional participants

would confirm saturation to a larger population. It is

also important to gather the experiences of more diverse

population. Additionally, studies looking at experiences

of male student nurses providing care to female patients

on other specialty units such as operating rooms,

emergency departments, or intensive care units would

also assist health care providers especially males in

giving care to patients;

2. FOR STUDENT NURSES:

 They should be mindful on how they approach

pregnant mothers especially when it involve intimate

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences

 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

touch because some interventions may run counter to

patients’ preferences.

 Male nurses should never neglect to explain what

procedure they are going to perform and ask for the

mother’s approval to perform such task to prevent

anxieties and lessen discomforts. Male nurses should

deal individually with each female client considering

their personal preferences. The care and approach for

each of the clients will have to be based on their

needs.

 It should never be assumed that the experience of other

patients will be the same with next patient.

 A nurse should bear in mind that all patients/clients

are different; therefore a nurse has to utilize

different approaches in dealing with different patients.

3. FOR CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS AND HOSPITAL STAFF:

 They should always aim to create positive learning

environment for their student nurses in order to assist

them in their growth as future healthcare providers.

4. FOR SCHOOLS OF NURSING:

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences

 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

 They may consider developing programs specially

dedicated to the clinical practice of male student

nurses.

SPUP School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences