Aim: This systematic review was conducted to provide a deeper understanding of male nurses' motivations for choosing nursing as a profession.
Methods: A systematic literature review of qualitative data was conducted. CINAHL, Pubmed, PsychINFO, Pubmesh, and Embase were searched from January 1970 to December 2013. Qualitative studies which described male nurses' motivations for choosing nursing were selected.
Data collection and analysis: Relevant data were extracted from the included papers and were coded and then synthesised under four main themes.
Results: Four main themes were identified which described male nurses' motivations for choosing nursing; 'Early exposure to nursing and other health care professionals', 'Choosing nursing as a profession by chance', 'Choosing nursing because of extrinsic motivating factors', and 'Choosing nursing because of intrinsic motivating factors'.
Conclusions: To help encourage more men to enter and remain in nursing, recruitment and retention strategies need to focus on addressing the gender stereotypes associated with the nursing profession.
Keywords: career choice; careers in nursing; choosing nursing; decision-making; male nurses; men in nursing; motivation; nursing.