Male nurses’ mental health and provision of emotional support during COVID-19: a thematic analysis

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has created mental health challenges for nurses. However, it is unknown if there is a gendered influence on nurses’ experiences during the pandemic. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of male nurses during COVID-19, including their mental health and experiences of providing emotional support. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews using Zoom with nine male nurses and analysed the interviews using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Male nurses experienced negative mental health outcomes from the pandemic, but participants attributed these outcomes to the context. Male nurses provided emotional support for patients, students, families and other staff and did not describe emotional support as a difficult part of their work. Participants identified their role as a ‘breadwinner’ of being part of their concern during COVID-19. Participants used a variety of approaches to manage the stressors from the pandemic and cautioned against alcohol as a coping strategy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Participants provided emotional support routinely as part of their work and went to great lengths to do so. This finding differs from most published literature that suggests male nurses struggle with emotional and interpersonal aspects of nursing. Male nurses require emotional support and employers can note that need for support may present differently by gender.