Men in nursing - it's a simple phrase that can bring many emotions to the surface for nurses of both genders. You might feel that we need more men to level out the amount of estrogen on units across the country. Or, you may believe that the pay inequalities between male and female nurses are already enough of an issue that advocating for more men will only compound the discrepancy.
No matter what side of the aisle you land on, it's an argument worth discussing. According to the United States Census Bureau, the proportion of male registered nurses has increased from 2.7% in 1970 to 9.6% in 2013, and for licensed practical and vocational nurses, it has risen from 3.9% to 8.1% during the same time. And, whether you believe we are in the midst of a nursing shortage or not - there remain many nurse vacancies that could be filled by men.
So, what are some of the ways experts advocate using to increase the number of men in nursing? Let's discuss them below.
Starting Conversations Early
High schools help our young people choose professions. They complete personality tests that identify their strongest traits and passions to help determine a career that aligns with the strengths identified. But, are young men and women supported to break down the gender walls to choose the profession that is right for them? Are young men who score high in compassion and helping others encouraged to consider nursing as a career or are they encouraged to find a health and human services field more suited to men?
To increase the number of men in nursing, we must continue to break down gender roles. One strategy is to begin conversations with men from an early age about entering nursing school right out of high school or in early adulthood. Discussing non-traditional nursing roles with men might also be helpful. A few of the areas of nursing that tend to see a higher male population include intensive care, cardiac care, emergency rooms, and flight nursing. If we can attract men to enter nursing at an early age and sustain a long career, we will see diversity within the profession.
Offer Support in College
The first day of nursing school might be when many men receive the first glimpse into the future of their careers - one of being the minority. Whether you are in the U.S. or across the pond, nursing vacancies continue to be an issue, and many feel that attracting more men to nursing is a viable option to fill these vacancies.
So, how do we support men and offer encouragement to enter nursing school? Coventry University in the UK is offering male nursing students a $3,800 stipend for school to encourage men to choose nursing. The Oregon Center for Nursing launched their "Are You Man Enough to be a Nurse" Campaign in 2002 to inspire men to enter the profession. And, many schools around the globe are using their marketing dollars to run social media campaigns to attract young Millennial and Generation Zee's men to nursing programs.
Provide Mentoring
Every nurse needs a mentor. Finding a quality mentor is one of the best professional relationships you will ever have, regardless of your gender.
The University of Texas Arlington Online offers support for mentoring in nursing and states that one role of a mentor is to support minority and male students. Diversifying mentors and future nurses can lessen future health disparities in our society by providing diverse role models. It might also be a good idea for male nurses to find a fellow male nurse as their mentor. Offering strong male role models to new graduates can provide guidance in regards to all aspects of a successful nursing career.
Set Goals
If you want change in any area of life, you must set goals. Advancing Men in Nursing (AAMN) believed this and initiated a campaign to encourage men to enter the nursing profession. Their goal?
The AAMN wants to increase the number of men enrolling into nursing programs by 20% by 2020 - also known as the "20 X 20" initiative. As part of the program, they have created the Best School for Men in Nursing Awards Program. To be eligible for this award, AAMN will review the school's marketing material, strategic plans to increase gender diversity in nursing, course syllabi, and other information highlighting the program's dedication to expanding the diversity in nursing.
On Target?
Are we on the right track by offering stipends to men who want to become nurses? Should we continue to run campaigns and tell young men the benefits of a career in nursing? Or, should we stop and allow whatever happens to our profession happen? Tell us your thoughts about this important subject, we would love to hear them.
I'm just saying that people in high school and younger are not aware and educated on all that when they are impressionable and deciding on career fields. If they were I think many men would find some rewarding aspects of the nursing field somewhere, maybe not bedside, but within the field as a whole.
I definitely agree with this. I do think we need to give young people more exposure to the different fields rather than just relying on their parents or -- for the love of god -- the media, to give them their impressions. As a girl I was never talked to about engineering so when so many of my HS classmates were talking at graduation about majoring in it, I was really surprised. "Engineering, what does that entail? Oh, there's like 7 different types (electrical, mechanical, chemical, etc)? Where have I been?"
I don't think there needs to be a push for men to join nursing or women to join STEM jobs, but I do like the idea of increased education and exposure to what the jobs really entail. Honestly, even if you already think you know what you want to do, getting exposure to what it really means to be in that position before you invest your time and money is smart. How many people would avoid crashing and burning in nursing if they understood the true scope of the job?
The men commenting in this thread are exactly why I'm perfectly content with nursing being female dominated. Men's misogyny grows exhausting and misandry isn't a thing. No matter how many studies come out explaining the wage gap, men like the previous poster will continue to plug their ears up and insist the facts are on their side. Women negotiate their salaries less, yes. Reason being? When they attempt to argue for a higher wage, they're actually penalized according to follow up studies. Again, check your facts and check them again. There are subtle cues we notice during a conversation about raises that tips us off that further pushing won't be welcomed, so we stop accordingly. You aren't earning a higher wage on average simply because you're that special or talented.
What's even more pathetic are the women saying we need men to "balance out" our estrogen. Why do you think you never hear men saying they need estrogen to balance out their testosterone? Can't recall the last oil rigger I heard state that. And why do you think there's a stereotype of us being emotional and volatile towards each other despite men comprising the most emotionally charged crimes, harassment, assault, and so on? Think critically here. The problems we have in nursing aren't our gender and never were.
In short, no thanks. There are other ways to resolve the problems we have in nursing and men are not the solution.
The men commenting in this thread are exactly why I'm perfectly content with nursing being female dominated. Men's misogyny grows exhausting and misandry isn't a thing. No matter how many studies come out explaining the wage gap, men like the previous poster will continue to plug their ears up and insist the facts are on their side.
I was the previous male poster. Please, enlighten me as to what about my post was evidence of me "plugging my ears and insisting the facts is on my side".
Stop calling me a male nurse! All my patients are female I freaking love this discussion topic. At first I was all, "let's grab the popcorn and watch the fireworks" but I now I'm going all Lamb Chop and I'm going to "play along"
Do we need to entice certain genders? Not necessarily. How about removing barriers and portraying it as it truly is? A solid career that combines a multitude of skills and training and provides a great service. The schedule isn't terrible and the pay is pretty good in most areas for the amount of education and training required. As for pay, you can argue 90 different ways because the data is always collected differently. In my organization, for my job title and years of experience there is a range of pay. Some people with more years are above me, some are below me. Some people with less experience are below me and some are above me, at least on an hourly rate. Everyone is bringing different things to the table. I get a bump because I have an MBA in healthcare management and have been a leader before so I have more to offer than someone with just straight nursing experience. In the aggregate, at the end of the year I make a lot more than my peers because I work a lot of extra hours, but that doesn't increase my base hourly rate.
Also, the elective OB class, terrible idea, talk about missing out on learning about the impact of a major life event that happens to a huge portion of the population and has lifelong sequelae.
I've had great success going to career days in high schools and talking with guys. I'm the antithesis of the stereotypical nurse who is male. I work L&D, OB Emergency, NICU, and lactation, and I'm in grad school to be a CNM. I'm 100% straight, married, and father. My Sundays off revolve around football in the fall and Wednesdays year round you can find me on the ice playing hockey. Screw your stereotypes, I do this because I love it and I'm good at it.
We need more people who can provide high-quality, evidence-based, compassionate care and there is nothing inherent about being a male that would preclude us from doing that. To olddude: you're wrong, more men can do this than you think and more men should do this for a whole host of reasons.
Women negotiate their salaries less, yes. Reason being? When they attempt to argue for a higher wage, they're actually penalized according to follow up studies.
I have seen the studies on this. They are quite interesting in the consistent double standard.
There are subtle cues we notice during a conversation about raises that tips us off that further pushing won't be welcomed, so we stop accordingly.
I'd love to see the studies on this one.
In short, no thanks. There are other ways to resolve the problems we have in nursing and men are not the solution.
I thought this thread was about increasing the number of men in the profession because it's so low. Hell, I'm not trying to solve nursing's problems, I'm trying to be the best nurse I can be.
...We need more people who can provide high-quality, evidence-based, compassionate care and there is nothing inherent about being a male that would preclude us from doing that. To olddude: you're wrong, more men can do this than you think and more men should do this for a whole host of reasons.
Interesting post. I can imagine you're a great asset to your patients. As far as nothing inherent about being a male that would preclude us from providing nursing care...you aren't 100% correct. Texas public schools require girls to be screened for scoliosis at age 10 and 12. This screening requires removal of their shirt. I am absolutely prohibited from performing this nursing task, as a school nurse, because of being a man. It's a long accepted idea that female school nurses can screen male students for scoliosis but it never has and, likely, never will be accepted for the opposite to take place; stereotypical?
As far as you disagreeing with me about more men being able to be a nurse...I appreciate your opinion and, coming from knowing that more of my nursing career is behind me than what is left in front of me I hope you are correct. Thanks for your comments.
Interesting post. I can imagine you're a great asset to your patients. As far as nothing inherent about being a male that would preclude us from providing nursing care...you aren't 100% correct. Texas public schools require girls to be screened for scoliosis at age 10 and 12. This screening requires removal of their shirt. I am absolutely prohibited from performing this nursing task, as a school nurse, because of being a man. It's a long accepted idea that female school nurses can screen male students for scoliosis but it never has and, likely, never will be accepted for the opposite to take place; stereotypical?
As far as you disagreeing with me about more men being able to be a nurse...I appreciate your opinion and, coming from knowing that more of my nursing career is behind me than what is left in front of me I hope you are correct. Thanks for your comments.
I find this very interesting. Are they quoting a law, policy, or even giving you a reason for not allowing this? Nurses who are male care for plenty of pre-teen and teenage females in the hospital all the time. There are tons of pediatricians and NPs who are male who do the same thing in the office and the hospital. I have cared for pregnant 12 year olds and I live in TX. There is a difference between what you say is an accepted idea and something that is legally prescribed. As you do note, we are in different parts of our careers and there are different professional and systemic battles I am willing to fight.
Also, the elective OB class, terrible idea, talk about missing out on learning about the impact of a major life event that happens to a huge portion of the population and has lifelong sequelae.
I find this very interesting. Are they quoting a law, policy, or even giving you a reason for not allowing this? Nurses who are male care for plenty of pre-teen and teenage females in the hospital all the time. There are tons of pediatricians and NPs who are male who do the same thing in the office and the hospital. I have cared for pregnant 12 year olds and I live in TX. There is a difference between what you say is an accepted idea and something that is legally prescribed. As you do note, we are in different parts of our careers and there are different professional and systemic battles I am willing to fight.
It's strictly a belief and opinion from the dark ages. And you are absolutely right about battles one is willing to fight and this "AIN'T" one of them.
I think drawing in males to nursing is a good idea. Drawing in more people overall is a good idea. It is a sexist stereotype that women are more caring than men. Gender roles have always changed over time. As a psych nurse, I bonded with my patients on a much deeper level than other people. Some gave superficial hugs and threw out absurd platitudes and Hallmark card advice but later vented about how bad the patient was. Nursing is not sappy sentimentality - it is competence and skill for the betterment of the patient. I'm not saying I'm a great nurse because I emulate others, most of whom are female simply because most of my coworkers are female. I've worked in testosterone-heavy environments and estrogen-heavy environments. It depends on the individuals, but a good mix of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual-preference etc. makes for a more interesting environment as long as people don't get clannish, which unfortunately has been exacerbated by current events...
Specializes in Adult and pediatric emergency and critical care.
As far as nothing inherent about being a male that would preclude us from providing nursing care...you aren't 100% correct. Texas public schools require girls to be screened for scoliosis at age 10 and 12. This screening requires removal of their shirt. I am absolutely prohibited from performing this nursing task, as a school nurse, because of being a man. It's a long accepted idea that female school nurses can screen male students for scoliosis but it never has and, likely, never will be accepted for the opposite to take place; stereotypical?
It's strictly a belief and opinion from the dark ages. And you are absolutely right about battles one is willing to fight and this "AIN'T" one of them.
This kind of stuff isn't even an option for me. 12 year old girl complaining of chest pain gets an EKG. If 10 year of girl needs a foley, you won't be able to get the doc to do it. 15 year old with a ruptured ectopic, you have to do a focused assessment. In most of these cases we would have a chaperone in the room, but that is required by policy regardless of the gender of the clinician.
I realize that routine screenings are not the same as treatment of acute problems but we don't entertain the idea that only female or male clinicians can provide certain kinds of care. It isn't uncommon that we have a night shift where all of the adult ED and peds ED staff are male (and we have nights that are all female for that matter), what would we do then?
I freaking love this discussion topic. At first I was all, "let's grab the popcorn and watch the fireworks" but I now I'm going all Lamb Chop and I'm going to "play along" 
Ddestiny, BSN, RN
265 Posts
I definitely agree with this. I do think we need to give young people more exposure to the different fields rather than just relying on their parents or -- for the love of god -- the media, to give them their impressions. As a girl I was never talked to about engineering so when so many of my HS classmates were talking at graduation about majoring in it, I was really surprised. "Engineering, what does that entail? Oh, there's like 7 different types (electrical, mechanical, chemical, etc)? Where have I been?"
I don't think there needs to be a push for men to join nursing or women to join STEM jobs, but I do like the idea of increased education and exposure to what the jobs really entail. Honestly, even if you already think you know what you want to do, getting exposure to what it really means to be in that position before you invest your time and money is smart. How many people would avoid crashing and burning in nursing if they understood the true scope of the job?