TABLE 1.

Themes.

Theme	The impact on the students’ self-esteem
Decreased sense of selfworth	Students experienced nursing as a female-dominated profession which resulted in a lack of a sense of belonging.
	Students felt devalued because of the verbal abuse from clinical supervisors.
Influence on self-esteem	Students gained self-confidence as they matured in the profession.
	Students felt rejected and distrusted by female patients in the clinical setting.
	Students experienced feelings of discomfort whilst caring for female patients.
	Students were motivated and assured by the presence of male nurses in the clinical setting.
The influence of cultural beliefs	Cultural background influenced students’ beliefs and behaviours in caring for female patients.