Exploring the World of Male Nursing Students in Maternity Health Nursing Course in Oman: Overcoming Challenges, Embracing Opportunities, and Crafting a New Clinical Placement Strategy

Background: The integration of male nurses into maternal health nursing, especially in culturally conservative regions such as Oman, introduces distinctive challenges and opportunities.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the experiences of male nursing students who were undertaking the maternal health nursing curriculum in Oman.Design: A qualitative study was conducted through five focus group interviews spanning five regions (South and North Batinah, North Sharqiyah, Dhahira, and Dakhiliya) in Oman between April and June 2024.Setting: The study was carried out at Oman College of Health Sciences, where male students were enrolled in the Maternity Health Nursing course.Participants: Thirty-five undergraduate nursing students participated in the focus group interviews.Methods: The focus groups utilized a semi-structured interview protocol, and a content analysis was employed to analyze the focus group interview data.Results: The qualitative analysis revealed three primary themes: (i) psychological challenges, (ii) educational/professional challenges, and (iii) the role of the college.Subsequently, a blended-learning teaching approach emphasizing planned, structured activities learning was developed.Conclusions: This study presents, for the first time, findings regarding the experience of male nursing students enrolled in the maternal health nursing course in Oman.Additionally, a proposed improvement plan for the course was suggested.