Isolation and marginalization: exploring attrition of men in preregistration nursing programs.

In Scotland, similar to other countries, male nursing students have a high attrition rate. This study examined the reasons for and ways to decrease the attrition rate. This four-phase collaborative study included four Scottish universities. Phase 1 involved three telephone interviews with men who had left a nursing program. Phases 2 through 4 used focus groups and interviews with 18 nursing students (13 men and 5 women) and 12 nurse lecturers. Thematic analysis followed a four-stage process. Male nursing students in this study felt isolated and marginalized, were stereotyped regarding their masculinity and physical attributes, had difficulty communicating, and were reluctant to seek help. Financial pressures and access to learning opportunities also disproportionately affected male students. Resilience and maturity are required to cope with these challenges. Proactive measures and visible role models in academic and clinical environments are needed to support male students in completing their nursing education.