Minority Male Nurses and Nursing Students

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 10, 2006

Most state BONs keep statistical data for the type of information you are requesting.

From Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE):

ftp://www.bne.state.tx.us/05-rnrasall.pdf

In Texas:

Males represent about 11% of the population of RNs

African American: 10%

Hispanic: 12%

If you extract the data a bit:

African American Males: 0.5%

Hispanic Males: 1.5%

If you look at the category OTHER to mean denoting mix races, then the total of Mixed Race Male RNs to the gen pop of RNs is signficantly less than 0.5%

That makes you a rare breed. Good luck.

BTW, I estimated those percentages, you can look at the raw data for exact percentages.

~faith,

Timothy.

chelli73 · Aug 10, 2006

i first want to say GOOD LUCK and KEEP IT UP!!! my son is 16yrs old, Mexican-American and headed for the LPN program at his public high school. he passed his placement exams and should begin during his junior year beginning this Sept. he hopes to go on to becoming an RN in college, and i am SO PROUD of him!!! we need more males in nursing and definitely more minorities!!!!!

MaleRNstudent21, ASN, CNA, RN · Aug 10, 2006

Thanks, I really don't know what to say. It may sound funny maybe I just take it a bit too serious. I mean everyone says yeah we need more minorities males in nursing. But sometimes I get kind of bothered and feel alone. It is in comparison of being a male. You guys know how it is when your the only male in a class of 30 woman and the other male is not even close to your age. I guess you can say I sometimes feel alone and want to have someone in my struggles (Nursing school) to relate too. I don't mean to come off sensitive in any mannor. Its just something that kind of bothers me. Then again it makes me feel great to know that I'm making history in the progess of my studies. For example, the poster above gave me the site on the Board of Nurse Examiners currently licensed in Texas RN's by race,age and sex. As for African American males less than the age of 25 it was only "7" out of a total of 3,140 who was licensed. I'm glad to say I'll be under 25 when I graduated ,but to be the only blacksheep in one hospital under 25 more than likely is a bit bothering. I mean people already say I look 17yrs old. How is it going to be possible for pts or doctors to respect me for my professionalism,duties,and abilities. Instead of my outer appearances. As we all know many young RN's have this problem. Seems like I'll just have to work harder to prove myself through the way. I truely mean not to offend anyone or make this of racial importances. Its just I would like to feel not alone sometimes in a profession. Can anyone understand what I'm talking about? Hey though, who says I can't be the black token,lol.

Once again I hope I didn't offend anyone. And thank you all for posting. Also thanks man for the BON information. Do you have a link for GA stats? I would like to see the comparison for Atlanta,GA.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 10, 2006

Thanks, I really don't know what to say. It may sound funny maybe I just take it a bit too serious. I mean everyone says yeah we need more minorities males in nursing. But sometimes I get kind of bothered and feel alone. It is in comparison of being a male. You guys know how it is when your the only male in a class of 30 woman and the other male is not even close to your age. I guess you can say I sometimes feel alone and want to have someone in my struggles (Nursing school) to relate too. I don't mean to come off sensitive in any mannor. Its just something that kind of bothers me. Then again it makes me feel great to know that I'm making history in the progess of my studies. For example, the poster above gave me the site on the Board of Nurse Examiners currently licensed in Texas RN's by race,age and sex. As for African American males less than the age of 25 it was only "7" out of a total of 3,140 who was licensed. I'm glad to say I'll be under 25 when I graduated ,but to be the only blacksheep in one hospital under 25 more than likely is a bit bothering. I mean people already say I look 17yrs old. How is it going to be possible for pts or doctors to respect me for my professionalism,duties,and abilities. Instead of my outer appearances. As we all know many young RN's have this problem. Seems like I'll just have to work harder to prove myself through the way. I truely mean not to offend anyone or make this of racial importances. Its just I would like to feel not alone sometimes in a profession. Can anyone understand what I'm talking about? Hey though, who says I can't be the black token,lol.
Once again I hope I didn't offend anyone. And thank you all for posting. Also thanks man for the BON information. Do you have a link for GA stats? I would like to see the comparison for Atlanta,GA.

Go to the GA BON website. I think most states keep statistical data, it's a legal thing. Not sure if they break it down by city, probably not.

I have worked with black male RNs. My experience, and it's purely anecdotal: Most were very intelligent and very laid back. But, I think that, in order to be a male in nursing period, you have to be able to 'go with the flow' some. And I think that the rule rather than the exception is that most nurses, of all stripes, are intelligent. So, I don't think race is a relevant factor in my observation.

Shoot, I hope people consider ME to be intelligent and laid back.

I may not have a total perspective, but I'd say: don't worry about race. I could be wrong, but I don't think you'll have serious problems with 'official' racism. Most employers are simply interested in hiring ANYBODY qualified, and besides, most are also interested in hiring 'diverse' candidates.

In fact, it is my experience with this site that a noted complaint is that male students have no problem whatsoever securing post grad jobs, sometimes to the detriment of female candidates.

And, I wouldn't worry about school. Smile, get along, and don't worry about the perceptions. Nursing school is such an inaccurate microcosm of real life, that your experiences there should NOT be applied to your estimations of future RN experiences.

It's like I tell my kids, different concept but related: High School is not real life. The things that are magnified there have little relevance in the real world.

Nursing School is not real nursing.

~faith,

Timothy.

chelli73 · Aug 10, 2006

deep thinkers can always be found here at allnurses.com!!!! i tell everyone about this diamond in the rough!!!!!!!!!!!!:balloons:

Corvette Guy · Aug 10, 2006

Thanks, I really don't know what to say. It may sound funny maybe I just take it a bit too serious. I mean everyone says yeah we need more minorities males in nursing. But sometimes I get kind of bothered and feel alone. It is in comparison of being a male. You guys know how it is when your the only male in a class of 30 woman and the other male is not even close to your age. I guess you can say I sometimes feel alone and want to have someone in my struggles (Nursing school) to relate too. I don't mean to come off sensitive in any mannor. Its just something that kind of bothers me. Then again it makes me feel great to know that I'm making history in the progess of my studies. For example, the poster above gave me the site on the Board of Nurse Examiners currently licensed in Texas RN's by race,age and sex. As for African American males less than the age of 25 it was only "7" out of a total of 3,140 who was licensed. I'm glad to say I'll be under 25 when I graduated ,but to be the only blacksheep in one hospital under 25 more than likely is a bit bothering. I mean people already say I look 17yrs old. How is it going to be possible for pts or doctors to respect me for my professionalism,duties,and abilities. Instead of my outer appearances. As we all know many young RN's have this problem. Seems like I'll just have to work harder to prove myself through the way. I truely mean not to offend anyone or make this of racial importances. Its just I would like to feel not alone sometimes in a profession. Can anyone understand what I'm talking about? Hey though, who says I can't be the black token,lol.
Once again I hope I didn't offend anyone. And thank you all for posting. Also thanks man for the BON information. Do you have a link for GA stats? I would like to see the comparison for Atlanta,GA.

RELAX, my friend and someday male nurse colleague.

The good folks will respect you in due time based on your prudent actions as an RN, rather than your young looks. I shock the heck out of people when I tell them I have kids in thier mid-20's. It use to bother me that I looked younger than my chronological age, yet not any more.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2006

MaleRnStudent21:

I can empathise with you about being a minority in nursing school. These days, in most - if not all - nursing schools, being male alone makes one a 'minority'.

As far as race goes, I sincierly doubt it matters much. Ofcourse, I did my schooling in rural Western New York - your mileage may vary. There were 5 guys in my class (including me) - 2 of them married (one was a grandfather). The fouth was gay. Myself and the 5th guy were 2 heterosexual, single males.

We were an ecclectic bunch in that class of 100 - but we had a winderful shared experience.

In many ways, I am a minority of a minority of a minority. I was the first person from my socio-cultural-economic background to go to that school. Heck, I was the first in it's history of over 150 years!

I didn't get any concessions for that from faculty - they were equally strict and made life equally miserable for all of us! :rolleyes:

But I realise (and agree with Timothy) - that nursing school, while it lays the foundation - is nowhere close to real life.

I too used to share your apprehension about "appearing" young - because I look far too young for my age. But I had a wonderful professor during my clinicals who taught me the essentials of professional behaviour and her guidance helped me blossom. believe me, Self-Confidence is grossly under-rated these days!

You're in for the ride of your life my friend. Reach out and connect with your classmates - male or female. I came away with some great memories and even greater friendships from my school days.

Remember, you can always sound off here at allnurses.com!

cheers,

MaleRNstudent21, ASN, CNA, RN · Aug 12, 2006

Thanks guys a million. I really dont think I'll have any problems with people's judgements based on other situations(race,appearance,ect). As males in nursing I think of it as we are all contributing to making history. I always feel proud to be in class when I'm the odd number. It makes me know that its even more important that I do my best. Once again, thanks guys for the support!

manofbess · Aug 12, 2006

Hope you're happy to know that you're not the only minority male out there! *waves hand*

I'm African-American and I just turned 24. I'll be starting nursing school in January. I'm used to being the "underdog" as a male, let alone a black one. In my former profession (education), I taught at a school with maybe only 6 or 7 males on staff out of maybe 50 faculty and staff members altogether. Of the 6 or 7, two of us were black and one guy was multiracial. Being one of a few minorities never really made any difference to me. After all, I graduated from high school with only 25 minorities in my class of 200+ and my university had maybe a 30 percent minority rate. No biggee being a minority male again :)

I anticipate the same thing happening in nursing school. I grew up around mainly women anyway, so I am not bothered at all. Just as long as I can go in there and pass all my classes without going insane!! I'm sure you'll do fine too. Best of luck!

piscesguy · Aug 12, 2006

:penguin:

lpnguy26 · Aug 13, 2006

I begin an ADN program later this month and am also a minority male & 23. Cleve, Oh. Out of 112 people......97 women, 15 men(3 were minority). Lots of women though.lol. Have fun.