Gender trait differences and nurse caring

This research explored if nurses' identified gender trait influences their level of caring towards patients. The basic assumptions guiding this study were that (a) caring in nursing is associated with traditional socially constructed feminine roles; and (b) gender trait identity designates the degree to which people describe themselves as being feminine or masculine. A descriptive exploratory design examined the following research question: Does the gender trait orientation of nurses influence the quality of the caring component of nursing care? Study participants were 700 randomly selected registered nurses (RNs) from the state of Utah. A survey was mailed consisting of two instruments and a demographic questionnaire. The response rate was 40% for a sample of 279 RNs. The Caring Behavior Inventory (CBI) was utilized to measure dimensions of nurse caring. This instrument had never been tested with a nurse-only sample. Therefore, factor analyses were performed to establish validity of the tool. Both instruments used in this study (CBI and Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)) demonstrated reliability and validity in the nurse sample. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed on the data to answer the research question. Significance (p<.05) was found between the RNs' level of caring and their gender traits. Androgynous nurses scored highest in the dimensions of caring on the CBI. Additional statistical analyses (one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and phi analysis) examined if nurse caring and nurses' identified gender traits were influenced by age and years of employment. All analyses were significant (p<.05). Nurses 60+ years old who had worked 20+ years and who identified themselves as androgynous had the highest levels of caring. Finally, results of the exploratory factor analysis identified that the CBI measured a single concept of caring. This main concept of caring was transformed into factor scores and was examined with the nurses' identified gender traits utilizing a one-way ANOVA. Significance was found (p<.05). Again, androgynous nurses scored higher on the CBI than those measured as masculine, feminine, or undifferentiated with respect to gender traits.