Gender, career choice confidence, and perceived faculty support in baccalaureate nursing students

Background: The nursing profession must increase gender diversity within the nursing profession to improve health outcomes and address workforce shortages. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist between genders when measuring confidence in nursing career choice and perception of nursing faculty support. Methods: A non-experimental comparative design was utilized. An independent t-test was conducted using gender as the grouping variable. Career choice confidence and perceived faculty support scores served as dependent variables. Results: Male nursing students scored significantly lower in career choice confidence than female nursing students (t(64) = 5.516, p <= 0.001). Male students reported statistically significant (p <= 0.05) lower scores than female peers on seven of the eleven faculty psychological support items. Conclusion: Male nursing students continue to face challenges not experienced by female peers. Reducing barriers for male nursing students increases the number of male nurses in the nursing workforce, increases gender diversity and addresses workforce shortages.