From: Emotion management and stereotypes about emotions among male nurses: a qualitative study
Theme | Stereotypes in the emotional aspects of care | |||
Codes | ▪ Nursing is a women’s profession ▪ Care is associated with females ▪ Comfort can be offered in different ways ▪ Innate characteristics of women: sweetness, the use of touch in care ▪ Naturally acquired maternal role ▪ More relaxed male nurses’ attitude in the therapeutic relationship ▪ Male nurses show their emotional needs less | |||
Theme | Emotion management strategies | |||
Category | Emotional distancing | Setting boundaries | Relativising problems | Using distraction and humour |
Codes | ▪ Not feeling part of the work environment ▪ Getting involved is harmful ▪ Getting involved is unprofessional | ▪ Learning affective touch ▪ Not taking work home ▪ Not creating personal ties with patients/family | ▪ Minimising the importance of work problems ▪ To relativise is to protect oneself emotionally ▪ Men relativise better than women | ▪ Humour facilitates therapeutic relationship ▪ Play and distraction are useful in caring for children ▪ Greater sense of humour ▪ Greater use of play and distraction |