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.
Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
Regarding the pay gap. I once had a very open discussion with a nurse friend of mine. Without going into specifics, I deduced that he made nearly double what I did, granted, he has more experience than I do, so I wasn't equating our two pay rates. I asked him why he thinks men in nursing make more than women and he gave what I thought was an insightful answer. He told me he thinks men over all are more willing to negotiate, whereas women tend to accept the offered rate. I recently accepted a new position and the minute I got the offer letter, I accepted. It was almost an automatic response. I thought back to my conversation with my friend and I think he may be right. It didn't even occur to me to negotiate. It wasn't that I thought I wasn't worth more or anything... I just accepted it.
Nurse Beth published an article this week on this subject. It is a good read with excellent advice.
I have been in the nursing frontlines for 20+ years (male RN, BSN) and have yet to meet a female RN that made less money than a male counterpart for the same work and specialty. In fact, in Psychiatry male nurses are often compelled to take more risks of injuries. Enough of playing the gender card- not in Nursing!
I agree with many of the commentators. There should be no "enticing" men into the field of nursing. Male nurses tend to go into the specialty areas where there is not as much of a shortage as is seen in med-surg units. The one male nurse commented that he is not compassionate and so he stays on peds. I know there are some compassionate men out there, but for the most part men lack that component of nursing. Actually I believe many female nurses, the newer ones, also lack the compassion that used to be present in nursing. So many people think nurses make big bucks and enter the field for the wrong reason. We don't make big bucks! This push to get more females into the engineering and sciences and men into nursing is crazy. If you have an interest in that field or a calling for that field then pursue it, but don't go into it simply because someone waves a few dollar bills in your face or tells you girls should do the same jobs as men in the science and technology fields. If you have an affinity for it, then go for it. Pay the nurses you now have more money and maybe the turnover won't be so high!!!
Ah, you deduced!!! Twice as much?! Highly improbable if I may say. You must make allowances for the "male bragadoccio syndrome" very prevalent among insecure male breadwiners...
Would anyone in today's world ever title an article, "Bring in the girls"? The title reminds me of a sorority that is deciding to go coed. The language of this title may actually subtly focus the problem with bringing men into nursing. There is a meme out there that shows the "What I Do " set-up. Most of the depictions are men in scrubs lifting things, turning patients, carrying large loads, etc. When I was in school, people would ask, "Are you studying to be a male nurse"? I would respond, "No. I am studying to be a nurse. I have been a male for all my life". I believe the best way to attract men to nursing lies with the men in nursing. I have been a Registered Nurse for 43 years and use the mentoring model at all times. I have found that young male nurses take well to mentoring, regardless of the specialty. Of course, there are outliers that do not respect the career experience. I point out that I am still practicing after 50 years of patient care. You just don't see those numbers in other professions. Recently the show "America's Got Talent" featured a fantastic singer (may win it all) who just happened to me a major humanitarian, foster father of several handicapped and mixed race children. He also is a pediatric psychiatric nurse at al Children's Hospital. This is the type of citizen we need in our folds. I am retired but volunteer for a free medical clinic at least three times per monrh. I get the opportunity there to recruit young men into the world of nursing. I have to add that as a heterosexual male, nursing school being 9:1, female to male ratio, was no small part of my decision-making. My parents were both nurses, U.S. Army veterans. I was literally raised in the art, science and mileau of what it means to be a nurse. Let me emphasize, I am a nurse.
For the most part men lack compassion??!!! That is another example of outrageous and insulting stereotyping...In more than 20 years of nursing I did not find a shred of evidence to support that. We are threading on quicksands here on this topic. I sense a clear lack of more advanced education and sharper awareness of evidence based guidance informing the critical thinking skills needed in professional debates.
Misogyny is real. Whatever expectations based on gender in a given society is not the invention of the male gender, nor the female gender.
You state that men can have their cake and eat it too is a devalue of the actual value men bring to a society. Would it be acceptable if someone stated that women get to have their cake and eat it, based on being able to stay home and be with the kids all day, not stress about work and/or traffic? I think not, and there are sacrifices in both staying employed and staying at home.
I agree that there is an expectation that women "sacrifice" their career for family and men "do not." However, that is still a choice that men and women make as individuals, regardless of expectations.
You state that the pay gap is a deliberate/systemic practice. What company, hospital, corporation has that policy?
What does this administration want to do in regards to wanting to have a family? I mean specifically?
There benefits to being a male in this society, but there are also drawbacks.
The are benefits to being a female in this society, but there are also drawbacks.
Let's get rid of benefits/incentives based on anything but merit.
No, not exactly. It's not that simple. People go where they feel welcomed, valued and respected regardless of gender, age, race, etc, etc. If a gender has not been historically well received in certain professions that became gender bullwarts (eg: firefighters, law enforcement, engineering, pilots for women or say, nursing for men...) then, yes I see a compelling reason to incentivize those genders who were kept at bay for no fault of their own. Not because it is politically correct but because it is in essence the fair and equanimous thing to do. Just my 2 cents.
Your two cents is a good value. Maybe it would be worth enticing more men into nursing with higher pay, bonuses or more opportunities for higher education. For others opinion, what would it take to entice more women into construction, roof repair or coal mining?
I've been a nurse for over 20 years and have done lots of research in nursing. I found that nursing is the most abused, exploited and discriminated of all occupations/professions that I've seen. The unfortunate reality as to why this is the case is that it's a female dominated occupation/profession.
One of the shocking realities was when my municipal employer was trying to reduce a large number of its nurses in it's nursing homes. The number of Part Time employees at these nursing homes was 70% and were deemed essential services, which meant that they couldn't strike. In addition this workforce was primarily women. I compared this workforce with two other essential services work forces within the same municipal corporation: Police and Fire Departments which were male dominated. Police and Fire were approximately 100% Full Time employees.
I'll never forget the words of the Fire Chief when I asked him how many Part Time/Full Time firefighters there were. He stated, "There's no such thing as a Part Time Firefighter".
So the unfortunate reality is that the ongoing abuse, exploitation and discrimination that nurses experience will continue unless more men enter the profession.
So are you saying that nurses can only be effective educating patients from the same ethnic or cultural backgrounds?
I can't answer for the OP, however, I recently read a long twitter comment by a black resident at a teaching hospital who was part of morning rounds when a black pt. was informed that he was being diagnosed with MS. The resident said after leaving the room, the rest of his group expressed their belief that the pt. didn't seem to particularly care about his diagnosis, party evidenced by the fact that he had no questions and did not seem particularly alarmed. After his shift the resident went to the pt's room, code switched, and proceeded to have a completely thorough exchange with the pt. about the diagnosis, answer his questions and leave him with an understanding and some reassurance regarding his very serious medical condition. ("Ohhhhh, so what you're saying is that this is a brain thing?") Now, this pt. wasn't stupid, nor was he a non-English speaker. But he and the medical team responsible for his care weren't able to effectively communicate. All this is to say that representation/diversity does matter, and it is very important to have cultural and ethnic diversity in health care in a country that has so much cultural and ethnic diversity. It's just common sense.
tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN
83 Articles; 5,923 Posts
Nurse Beth published an article this week on this subject. It is a good read with excellent advice.
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