Exploring the Career Trajectories of Male Nursing Leaders : A Qualitative Study on Leadership Acquisition

Background: Nursing has historically been a female-dominated profession; however, the growing presence of male nurses in management and leadership roles has attracted increasing scholarly and institutional attention. This study investigates the career pathways and strategic enablers that facilitate male nurses’ advancement into formal leadership positions, with particular attention to the distinctive opportunities and systemic barriers they encounter within a gendered professional landscape. Methods: The descriptive phenomenological research method was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with 10 nursing managers, focusing on their real experience of career development, promotion path, organizational and interpersonal support structure. The data were analyzed using the Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Results: Four core themes emerged: early systematic career planning, solid clinical expertise, effective mentor support, and strategies to navigate gendered work environments. These were refined into 10 subthemes : clarifying leadership intent early; accumulating leadership-relevant experiences deliberately; building credibility through high-standard practice; clinical expertise enabling leadership behaviors; demonstrating capability during critical incidents; early guidance on career direction and role fit; Skill development through mentorship; managing stereotypes and expectations about male nurses; building collaborative relationships in female-majority teams; and balancing visibility with legitimacy in leadership roles. Conclusion: This study offers practical and theoretical insights for fostering male nurse leadership. Health institutions should institutionalize mentorship, provide early career-planning support, and cultivate inclusive environments to advance diversity and equity in nursing leadership.