Abstract: Objective To compare the score of perceived professional benefits (PPB) and working environment of male and female nurses in 14 secondary and tertiary and hospitals in Guangdong Province, and to provide reference for managers to formulate targeted intervention measures. Methods A total of 313 male nurses and 498 female nurses from 14 hospitals in Guangdong Province were selected with convenient sampling and they were investigated by using general information questionnaire, the Nurses' Sense of Professional Benefit Scale and the Nurses' Sense of Working Environment Scale. After controlling for confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of gender on nurses' score of PPB and work environment. Results The overall score of PPB of male nurses 129.91±18.70 was lower than that of female nurses 134.47±17.08, and the difference was statistically significant (B=5.093, 95%CI: 2.018~8.168, P<0.001). Male nurses scored lower than their female counterparts in various dimensions, including personal growth, positive nurse-patient relationships, familial and peer recognition, positive occupational perception, and a sense of belonging to the team (all P<0.05). The overall score of working environment perception of male nurses 80.51±14.79 was lower than that of female nurses 84.42±13.05, showing statistical significance (B=5.357, 95%CI: 2.938~7.776, P<0.001). Male nurses also scored lower than female nurses in various dimensions, including their involvement in hospital affairs, the foundation of high-quality nursing services, the abilities and leadership styles of nursing managers, the availability of adequate manpower and resources, and medical-nursing cooperation (all P<0.05). Conclusion Male nurses have lower scores in terms of occupational benefit and work environment perception, as well as scores in all dimensions, compared to female nurses. It is recommended that managers establish training and management mechanisms based on the characteristics of male nurses, actively understand the difficulties and challenges of their clinical work, care about their career development, create a good professional environment for them, and enhance their sense of occupational benefit.

Key words: nurse, perceived professional benefits, working environment, sex