Examining facilitators for men during nursing education: development and psychometric testing of the survey of facilitators for men (SFM)

Abstract

Despite outstanding employment opportunities and high demand to address the global nursing shortage, men who consider becoming nurses are less likely to enroll in and to graduate from nursing programs. Many barriers that men commonly encounter during nursing education have been found in the literature; however, there is a lack of theoretically based research that examines factors that help men succeed as they study nursing. Based on a conceptual model derived from O’Lynn’s construct of male friendliness in nursing education and Frankl’s theory of will to meaning and purpose in life, this study examined facilitators for men during nursing education. This was accomplished through the development and psychometric testing of the Survey of Facilitators for Men (SFM) in a sample of 145 men in nursing. Strong evidence of reliability and validity was provided for the SFM consisting of three subscales (Internal facilitators, External Connections facilitators, and Institutional facilitators). Internal facilitators consist of intrapersonal strengths, experiences, and motivators. External Connections facilitators are interpersonal connections that emerge from relationships that men develop. Institutional facilitators involve structural or organizational aspects of institutions that ease barriers. Testing provided satisfactory evidence of internal consistency (α = .85) and test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient = .72; confidence interval = 0.57–0.83). Dimensionality of three facilitator subscales was supported by Principle Axis Factoring with Varimax rotation and satisfactory factor loadings (.49–.72). Support for the conceptual model was provided using multiple regressions explaining 17% of the variance in purpose in life [F(4, 140) = 6.99, p < .001], 13% of the variance in GPA [F(6, 114) = 2.88, p < .01], and 49% of the variance in perception of nursing success [F(9, 128) = 13.42, p < .001]. Purpose in life was associated with Internal facilitators and comfortable income, GPA was associated with External Connections facilitators and age at BSN, while perception of nursing success was associated with purpose in life, holding an MSN, having a comfortable income, and having children. Future research is warranted to determine the usefulness of the SFM in designing strategies to recruit and retain men in nursing programs.