Since 1999 I have been a member of an elite group, with its history dating back to 250 BC. (Avery, 2007) Members have been war heroes, body guards, Saints, knights and writers. We come from every economic and ethnic background, yet share one common denominator: We are male nurses.
Men in nursing have stepped across the gender line to enter a profession that most people think of, still, as a “woman’s job”. We are a minority and we still face gender bias. This bias is demonstrated not only from our clientele, but also from high school counselors who do not understand nursing is not just a woman’s job anymore; many don’t think to offer information on nursing schools to male students. Some college faculty continue to teach a female-oriented course instead of a patient-centered, non-gender based curriculum. Many that may see us in scrubs ask, “Are you a doctor?”
Men in the nursing profession serve as much more than body guards and patient lifting machines. Many patients are more at ease with a male nurse. We provide excellent care to our patients, and believe it or not, we can sympathize and empathize with our patients just as our female counterparts. You generally won’t find us on the OB floor, and chances are we will ask a female colleague to join us when examining our female patients. We do realize patient comfort is not just pain control, but patient dignity.
Yet, to many, nursing is not a man’s job. It’s not a masculine career- it’s just not macho enough. Don’t tell that, though, to the US Armed Forces. According to recent government figures, 35.5% of the US Army’s 3,381 nurses are men. In the US Air Force, 30% of 3,790 nurses are men. In the US Navy, 36% of 3,125 nurses are men. Male nurses make up 7.9% of the civilian nursing staff. That’s up from 5.4% in 2004. (Male Nurse Magazine, 2009)
Figures are estimated to be increasing based on male enrollment and retention at nursing schools. Many institutions have developed strategies to attract and retain male nursing students. According to Male Nurse Magazine, the most “male friendly” nursing programs reportedly include: University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas-Houston, Ohio State University, and Duke University. (Male Nurse Magazine, 2009) Oregon Center for Nursing (OCN), a nonprofit organization formed in 2001 to develop solutions for addressing the state’s severe nursing shortage, developed the “Are you Man Enough?” campaign with great success. Their posters state, “These nine dudes are strong. They’re tough. They’re rugged. They’re not sissies. They ride Harleys and snowboards. They play basketball and rugby. They’ve served in the Army and the Navy. Oh, by the way, they also happen to be nurses. And they’ve got a question for you, mister: Are you man enough to be a nurse?” (Oregon Center for Nursing, 2008)
So the word is out: Nursing isn’t just for women anymore. Males play an important role in patient care. Our profession must continue to embrace the “male nurse” for the unique knowledge, skills and abilities he has to offer his patients. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I heard a woman say she was a female nurse’”? Thankfully, the days of justifying our career choice as “male nurses” are coming to an end. It’s a slow process, but the change is happening.