Although nursing is typically seen as a predominantly female profession, a new study from the U.S. Census Bureau found the percentage of male nurses tripled between the years 1970 and 2011, and is still growing. The report, Men in Nursing Occupations, stated that the proportion of male licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses have also increased from 3.9% to 8.1%.
The History of Men in Nursing
The U.S. Census report went on to identify some of the stereotypes of the profession and potential reasons males have not entered the field. Many people may be surprised to learn that nurses were originally military or religious roles filled by men. It was during the Civil War, while men were called off to fight, that women first stepped into nursing positions.
By the 1900s, nursing schools only allowed female students to enroll. Even the Army and Navy Nurse Corps were limited to women. It wasn’t until after the Korean War that men were allowed to serve in nursing positions again.
The Tides Have Turned
Admittedly, it has been a slow process, but the stigma against male nurses is finally beginning to disappear, as is evidenced by recent news and statistics. With an impending nursing shortage fueled by an aging Baby Boomer population, there has been great effort to transform recruiting practices to increase the national pool of nurses.
Though some believe cultural stigma still discourages men from entering the profession, some male nurses disagree with this sentiment. Luke Acton, a manager of surgical services, has not been affected by this apparent perception.
“I never had anybody say, ‘No, I don’t want you to be my nurse because you’re a guy,'” Acton said. “Actually, I feel like it’s kind of the opposite. I think there’s a positive stigma out there for male nurses in general, so I’ve never had any issue with it. I think that, if anything, it’s probably helped.”
What More Can Be Done to Attract Male Nurses?
Many in the industry may believe there is a need for more diversification in the male nursing field. This means that nursing colleges must spend more time and resources to recruit and attract men to the profession. One benefit for prospective candidates is the nursing field is expanding and jobs can be found not just in a hospital setting, but also in long-term care facilities, insurance companies and leadership and technology sectors.
Christopher Kowal, R.N., adjunct professor of nursing at American Sentinel University, agrees with what many industry experts call a great need for diversification in the nursing field.
“It’s important that nursing diversification mirror what is happening in our population. Men provide unique perspectives and skills that are important to the profession and reflect the quality of care delivered,” Kowal said.
