Lived Experiences of Male Operating Room Nurses in Lanao del Sur: A Cultural and Gender-Based Analysis

Abstract

Background: Male nurses working in specialized clinical settings often encounter context-specific challenges shaped by professional demands, workplace norms, and sociocultural expectations. In operating room (OR) environments, these challenges are further influenced by the high-intensity nature of surgical care and by local cultural and religious values that inform gender roles and caregiving practices. Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of male OR nurses in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, focusing on how culture, gender, and intersecting identities influence their professional practice. Methods: A qualitative design grounded in Heideggerian interpretive phenomenology was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit twelve (N = 12) male OR nurses from seven hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach involving coding, thematic clustering, and narrative synthesis. Rigor was ensured through member checking, audit trails, intercoder agreement, and triangulation. Results: Five major themes emerged: (1) Caring Under Pressure, highlighting the integration of technical precision, emotional resilience, and patient advocacy; (2) Culturally Grounded Care, emphasizing the influence of Islamic and Meranaw values on modesty, dignity, and decision-making; (3) Negotiating Masculinity, reflecting gendered expectations related to physicality and leadership; (4) Intersection of Identity, demonstrating how gender, culture, and religion shape inclusion and constraints; and (5) Professional Agency, illustrating adaptive strategies, resistance to stereotypes, and identity negotiation. Conclusion: Male OR nurses navigate complex cultural and gendered expectations through adaptive, culturally sensitive, and agentic practices. Findings underscore the need for gender-inclusive and culturally responsive policies and contribute to advancing context-specific nursing practice.