Nursing has long been regarded as a profession for women, and the situation is still very much the case in Malaysia. But even though history has denoted this fact, recent years have shown that there is a remarkable shift in this trend, with more men entering the nursing profession, thus breaking gender norms and reshaping health care in the country.
In this article, we will take a look at the emerging trend of male nurses in Malaysia, challenges they might face, and the contributions they are making towards the profession.
Nursing has been largely seen as a woman’s job in Malaysia and indeed in many other countries in the world. There is a gender set career approach in most cultures, with many men preferring professions that are considered ‘manly’.
However, the scenario is gradually changing; more men are joining nursing because of the passion for health care, job security, and the want to make a difference in other people’s lives.
However, despite these positive trends, men still encounter some obstacles in their nursing careers. A stereotypical perception would question his manliness or the potential for such care and sensitivity.
These may come from patients, their families, and other co-workers who might make it hard for male nurses to be accepted totally in their profession.
Some male nurses report experiencing discrimination in the workplace, where they may be overlooked for certain roles or not given the same opportunities as their female counterparts.
This may result in dissatisfaction and possibly interfere with their career advancement.
For instance, in Malaysia, being a culturally diverse country, some communities might not be accepting of male nurses, particularly in more conservative and rural areas, which further adds to the challenges faced by men who have chosen this career pathway.
When it comes to lifelong learning or educational pathways, although male enrolment in nursing programmes has increased, numbers still remain underrepresented.
Male students always feel that the female population is heavily dominant in classroom situations, which implies that a poor educational pattern may lead to a negative approach toward their professional pathway.
Still, men in nursing have been able to present a constructive and positive health care scenario for the people of Malaysia. Their entrance helps in the diversification of the workforce, where there are different perspectives and skills they bring into play when it comes to patient care.
Male nurses are common in specialties such as emergency care, intensive care, and mental health, where their physical strength and unique approach to patient interaction is held in highest regard.
Male nurses are actually creating an inclusive environment that is pushing up against traditional gender roles, whereby mutual benefits are enjoyed between health care professionals and patients.
Their success in the field is also encouraging more young men to take up nursing as a viable and rewarding career.
The increasing trend of men in nursing in Malaysia sends good signals in terms of gender diversity in nursing. This needs to be further supported by addressing the challenges male nurses face.
This includes promoting and supporting gender equality in the workforce, mentoring, and encouraging men who are aspiring to be nurses, and educating the public about the invaluable benefits that men can bring to the nursing profession.
With the continuous transformation of the health care system in Malaysia, it is apparent that the role of male nurses will expand even more. When more men are encouraged to join the nursing profession, a stronger and more resilient health care system can be built in Malaysia for all its citizens.
In conclusion, male nurses in Malaysia are not only breaking gender stereotypes, but are also pioneering for posterity. Their increasing numbers are reshaping the nursing profession and will bring improvement to the country’s health care system in general.
Norizun Mohd Noor and Dr Noor Hasliza Che Seman are from the Faculty of Nursing, University College MAIWP International (UCMI) and Department of Nursing, Sunway University.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
