All I ever wanted to do growing up was to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor. After graduating high school in 1995, I allowed my mother to convince me to move to Louisiana and live with her until I began college.

Back then I knew little of out-of-state tuition costs. Did you know college tuition fees can be up to five times more expensive for an out-of-state resident? It was because of this exorbitant expense that I began seeking other options until I could attain a permanent residency status in Louisiana.

While waiting for my Louisiana residency, I had many jobs. I held a position at a boat repair and restoration company, I played and sang music in a local Mexican restaurant cantina, and even worked as a night clerk at a convenience store, all positions that would give me no leverage at all when it came to submit a portfolio to a medical school admissions department. Again, I had no guidance.

Life happens

Soren Kierkegaard said, “Boredom is the root of all evil – the despairing refusal of being oneself.” Needless to say, during that time, I was bored. Give a young man hormones and an opportunity for mischief and he’s sure to find it. At 20 years old, I did. I became a boy with a son.

No one ever told me, “You have a son! You’ll have no trouble getting financial aid to attend college!” Instead, I was told, “Well, son, you can kiss medical school goodbye. You need to get a job – a real job.” So I did. I got a job working on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Working in the oilfield is hard work, dangerous work. However, I enjoyed it… kind of. I worked “14 and 14,” which meant I worked 14 12-16 hour days in a row and was off 14 days in a row. I learned a lot – a lot about myself and a lot about life. Most of all, I learned to love people no matter what their socioeconomic background was.

A new leaf

After a downward turn in the economy, the layoffs began. At 24 years old, I had filed bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy means complete liquidation of all remaining assets, while allowing you to keep a few remaining exempt properties. I kept my car and my home. I thought it a great opportunity to return to the idea of attending college. However, despite being jobless, the financial aid department determined I was ineligible based on my previous year’s income. In retrospect, I now feel I was ill-advised. It was imperative I find a job quickly.

“It’s not about what you know, it’s who you know.” Fortunately for me, I knew someone who knew someone. In this case, it was the director of human resources at a paper manufacturing plant called Willamette Industries. I was hired after two interviews and was as far away from medical school as I had ever been.

Back to school

After three years of paper manufacturing, I had become determined as ever to figure out how I was going to get into school. After some time I relinquished my position and accepted a job that allowed me to have a far better tax advantage and would eventually lead to my admission into Stephen F. Austin State University.

I had mulled over the idea of pursuing a baccalaureate degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. However, I resigned myself to pursuing a degree in Nursing. Although the majority of nurses are women (89.9 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), I never considered the profession of nursing exclusive only to women. My thought was if I was not accepted into medical school upon graduation, what would I do? Teach? Instead, I decided that obtaining a nursing degree would give me a prodigious amount of hospital and patient care experience while bolstering my portfolio as well. I got a lot of grief for it from my peers… at first.

Opportunities in nursing

Once I began my clinical experience, nursing really got interesting. I had taken a part-time job working in the emergency room of a local hospital as an emergency room tech. I befriended a few male doctors, who just so happened to be my age. I would later learn that being a doctor had become different than it was back when my grandfather was practicing. It caused me to think deeper about my pursuit of becoming a physician. After graduating with my BSN in 2008, I found nursing to be the career I had longed for.

I have now been a nurse for over 11 years and have recently graduated with my Master’s Degree as an adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioner. Since becoming a nurse, life has just continued to get better and better. I have had the opportunity to meet many great people around the world, I have a very successful nursing blog, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to large crowds about issues I’m passionate about, and now I even serve as the vice president of a national nursing organization, the American Association for Men in Nursing.

The nursing profession is not slowing down. It’s poised to grow at least 16 percent in the US between now and 2024, and there is an abundance of untapped potential found in the male demographic. I know so many men out there struggling to survive or struggling to make it in their professional life. I believe nursing could be that answer for so many. I encourage every man looking for a change or just an opportunity to give it at least a once-over. Nursing might just save your life like it did mine.

The post One Man’s Long and Rewarding Journey to a Career in Nursing appeared first on Education and Career News.

Charles “Wes” Foster, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CCCTM, OCN

Secretary, Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board and Member, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I grew up in a health care family of nurses. I was always fascinated as a kid as to what it was my mom and grandmother did. Once I saw nursing in action, I knew that was the career for me.

Share with us a personal story from your nursing career that reminded you of exactly why you became a nurse.

There have been three times in my career that I have had the privilege of being there with a patient when the patient received a terminal diagnosis ­– and I was the nurse who was there when the patient drew their last breath. That stays with you. I worked with these patients through the ups and downs of their disease; it is an honor to care and be there for them in those moments.

I also am reminded of my inspiration every day when I see that same spark ignite within the students in my classroom. When they understand that difficult concept and when the pieces of the puzzle finally fit, seeing their passion start that spark makes every day worthwhile.

How does professional membership in a nursing organization help you achieve your personal and professional goals?

My personal goals were mostly to improve my knowledge and skills regarding what I do daily as a clinical nurse. Professionally, belonging to a community of nurses that are passionate about excellence in care delivery was a logical step in my career.

How did certification impact your professional development?

After I became a registered nurse, I pursued my CMSRN® (Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse). I feel that my certification demonstrates to the patients and other providers that I have taken that next step to elevate the profession and promote the specialty of medical-surgical nursing. It also affords me the opportunity to stay current with the latest research and evidence that guides the practice of nursing. 

Finally, it allows me to speak with nursing students and discuss that it is not just being on the floor but having a mix of patient care settings that challenges the nurse to be a top performer every day while delivering high quality and efficient patient care.

What advice would you give to emerging nurse leaders?

Join your professional nursing organization to help support you and your career. I am a member of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and find so much value in the connection, camaraderie, and resources it gives to the members. And when the calls come for project or committee members, apply for these roles! Nurses have a big voice and we need to be involved in every aspect of our practice. Share your wealth of knowledge and experience to help promote all that we do.

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Roughly 19 percent of the US population suffers from some sort of mental illness. As I frequently tell graduate nursing students, mental health issues are everywhere. Over the past 10-15 years, mental illness has become less stigmatized and it is more acceptable for individuals to seek help.

The first Mental Health Parity Compliance Act was passed in 1996 and has been revised multiple times over the past 23 years. In 2010, addiction was added and the law became known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. This legislation essentially directed insurers to cover mental health issues in the same way medical issues are covered.

Addressing the shortage

However, even with this legislation, there is a significant shortage of mental health providers across the United States, especially in rural and underserved areas. Even in more populated areas, the wait for psychiatric care can exceed 6 months for new patients and in some cases longer for children and adolescents. In many rural and underserved areas, nurse practitioners have answered the call to care for those in need.

Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are advanced practice nurses that specialize in delivering competent, safe, and patient-centric care. PMHNPs are well-equipped to meet the needs of a diverse population by providing comprehensive psychiatric care that includes medication management, psychotherapy, education, and expert consultation. PMHNPs are built for this role as they rely on nursing principles of teamwork, collaboration, and a holistic approach to caring for patients. These principles are taught in undergraduate nursing and cultivated throughout a nurse’s career.

PMHNP certification

Any registered nurse who is passionate about providing psychiatric and mental health care to patients can pursue a PMHNP as a specialty. In addition, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives can add the PMHNP specialty certification to their current credentials. By adding a PMHNP specialty, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives who already serve families can expand their care to include mental health, allowing them to better meet their patients’ needs.

Jacob Mearse, DNP, CNM, PMHNP, is certified as both a nurse-midwife and a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and shares, “We practice in an environment where midwifery and psychiatry are inexorably intertwined. Women are much more than just a walking reproductive system. Practicing as both a CNM and PMHNP better enables me to care for the whole person.”

Opportunities for men

Finally, males are underrepresented in the nursing profession. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate against gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Therefore, it is essential that the PMHNP workforce is also diverse to best meet the unique needs of our patients. I would not have had the opportunities for leadership and to have a positive impact on those in rural and underserved areas had I not become a PMHNP. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone come out of darkness that is often associated with mental illness and begin their journey to recovery and wellness.

The post Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners: A Quickly Growing Need appeared first on Education and Career News.

“There isn’t a more noble profession to be a part of,” says Alan Bernstein, MS, RN, deputy chief nursing officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Nurses in general, not just VA nurses, are always ranked as one of the most trusted professions in the United States.”

The VA, the largest medical provider in the country, employs 105,000 nursing personnel and serves over nine million veterans. With one active, unrestricted state license, VA nurses can work at any of the country’s 1,200 VA health care facilities.

Characteristics

“Military members often operate under some of the most stressful conditions imaginable,” says Bernstein. “The military really does train those people to handle and cope with stress. That is a skill that very easily translates to VA’s busy health care environment.” 

He says veterans have five characteristics that make them great candidates for nursing careers: they value teamwork, are innovative, are resilient, are great at problem solving, and are diverse.

“They can garner trust and they have a responsibility to work effectively as a team,” he says. “They bring all of that and their sense of camaraderie to the VA.”

Benefits

The benefits of a career as a VA nurse include flexible schedules, flexible salary tables, and education debt reduction, such as scholarships, tuition reimbursement, and loan repayment programs.

The VA also offers career development, such as helping military medics interested in becoming registered nurses get licensed and get hired. Through the VA Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) Program, registered nursing students with less than a year of experience can apply for a VA nursing residency.

“You can give back to our brothers and sisters that have served to protect the country if you work for VA,” says Bernstein. “Or if you work in the private sector, you’re able to help your fellow human beings during a time in their life when they need the support of a nurse.”

For more info on the VA Nursing program, go to VACareers.va.gov.

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Benjamin Phillips

BSN ’18 University of Colorado College of Nursing Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Children’s Hospital of Colorado

When did you first become interested in nursing? What inspired you to pursue this kind of career?

Like many nurses, I entered the nursing profession as a second career. I was looking for something that would be challenging, and more importantly, rewarding. I don’t ever have to wonder why I’m going to work.

What has your experience been like in your program or in the field?

The University of Colorado (CU) College of Nursing was both challenging and rigorous. However, I felt prepared to enter what can often be an unremitting profession.

Why do you think it’s important to encourage men to go into nursing? Are there benefits to more diversity in the profession?

I think that men entering nursing is great for the profession. A more equal distribution of gender and accurate representation of diversity in health care is a great emerging trend.

What excited you the most about nursing and what advice can you offer to prospective students?

Nursing is that perfect mix of purpose, compassion, and critical thinking. There are certainly days that are challenging, but the reward is a career filled with continued purpose.

Charles Lanum

Staff Nurse, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Emergency Department

When did you first become interested in nursing? What inspired you to pursue this kind of career?

After college, I was working with the mental health population but could not pay my bills and didn’t want to sit behind a desk all day. Psychiatric nursing was appealing because it allowed me to continue working with the psychiatric population while incorporating medical and pharmacological knowledge into my skill set.

What has your experience been like in your program or in the field?

As an ED psych nurse, my job is more than just passing pills. It requires critical thinking and a broad range of skills and education in order to care for patients in crisis. The ED is fast-paced, and nurses have lots of responsibility and autonomy in their roles. It’s also meaningful to serve one of the most disenfranchised populations in our community.

Why do you think it’s important to encourage men to go into nursing? Are there benefits to more diversity in the profession?

Any field benefits from diversity, and having more men is one way to increase that diversity. Nursing doesn’t lack something that only men can provide. The job requires empathy, compassion, discipline, intelligence and resiliency. Those are qualities of the people in health care, regardless of gender.

What excited you the most about nursing and what advice can you offer to prospective students?

Nursing involves a lot of responsibility, education, and a large skill set. I am most excited that my job will constantly require me to expand on these skills and challenge me to grow. I also had the opportunity to be mentored by great nurses, and I like being in a meaningful job that allows me to be supported by my coworkers.

Mark Erickson, BSN, RN

DNP Student, Seattle University

When did you first become interested in nursing? What inspired you to pursue this kind of career? 

I became interested in the field when traveling with a volunteer group called Global Impact. The team I worked with consisted of health professionals that collaborated with locals to provide health care in rural villages in northern Vietnam. I saw what an impact these professionals made on the people they cared for. It was a career-defining moment.

What has your experience been like in your program or in the field?

My experience as a nurse has been incredible. Some days are challenging, but the hard work is rewarded by the positive influence I have on people’s lives. As I have grown into the role, it has become a part of who I am. Clinically, I have developed a great education. I have also learned so much about myself in the process.

Why do you think it’s important to encourage men to go into nursing? Are there benefits to more diversity in the profession?

In order to care for a diverse population, it is imperative that the nursing workforce diversify so all Americans have access to high quality care. Nursing remains predominately white and female. Strategies must be identified to expand the profession in terms of not only gender but also ethnicity and race.

What excited you the most about nursing and what advice can you offer to prospective students?

Nursing isn’t just about caring for others. What I find most exciting is the honor of getting to know my patients and learning from them. If you are thinking of becoming a nurse, I would recommend joining a medical volunteer program. It’s a great way to gain experience and exposure before committing to nursing school. Experience and education go hand in hand.

The post 3 Nursing Experts Share Advice for Aspiring Professionals appeared first on Education and Career News.

Improving maternal health

It’s no secret that the U.S. is in the midst of a growing maternal health crisis. The statistics are staggering. Maternal mortality rates continue to rise in the U.S. while decreasing globally. More women die from pregnancy-related complications in the U.S. than in any other developed country, and the rate of preventable maternal deaths continues to rise. Major disparities in maternal mortality exist, with black women three to four times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to die during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

Moreover, for every maternal death that occurs, an estimated 100 other women suffer severe complications of pregnancy or childbirth. There are many factors contributing to these statistics, including a shortage of qualified maternal and women’s health clinicians.

Better integration of midwives and the midwifery model of care into health systems is fundamental to reducing primary and maternity care provider shortages, improving maternal health outcomes, and addressing racial and ethnic inequality deeply rooted in our country’s foundation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. To say we’re ecstatic about this designation is an understatement, especially since it speaks to the professions we so proudly represent. Our male midwives play significant roles in advancing midwifery, as well as making a difference in the lives of the women, families, individuals, and communities they serve. We asked ACNM members to explain why they chose midwifery as a profession.

Peter Johnson, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN

Jhpiego, Washington, DC

“I found my calling to midwifery through my service in the US Air Force. I realized after being stationed in labor and delivery as a nurse that I had an affinity for assisting women in childbirth. This led to my career in midwifery and my subsequent master’s degree and doctorate in educational psychology. I was inspired by midwives like Lisa Paine and Dorothea Lang, and I have worked closely with numerous other midwifery leaders including Judith Fullerton, Melissa Avery, Joyce Thompson, Kathy Carr, Ruth Lubic, and many others. I have been a midwifery practice director, a midwifery educator and program director, an ACNM Nominating Committee member, and the ACME chair for two terms.”

Jason Harvey Kennedy, BS, BSN, RN, SNM, C-EFM, CLC

New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, Master of Science Nurse Midwifery Program, New York, New York

“My calling to midwifery was not obvious to me right away. Throughout my clinical assignments at NYU College of Nursing, I unknowingly had more female than male patients and with these women a natural connection was made. During my first day of maternity clinical rotation, I expected to experience normal vaginal birth, but I only saw two cesarean births, which seemed like magic. When asked by the clinical site’s nurse manager if I’d ever thought about being a labor and delivery nurse, I replied, ‘I didn’t even know men were allowed to be here!’ This, of course, left me very curious. When researching men in obstetrics, I found a 2008 article, ‘Midwifery as a Career for Men’ in Men in Nursing Journal. This proved I wasn’t crazy in thinking this could be for me.

“As a labor and delivery nurse, and now a student nurse midwife, I feel such a strong sense of service to women, in their power, presence, and person. I feel my presence as someone different among the many midwives that have served the community of women, where I have learned and trained in clinical rotations, impacts women in a positive way. Many women in upper Manhattan and the Bronx come from widely varying, diverse ethnic backgrounds, so having a male midwife adds a new perspective in their view of midwives that serve their community. Women in upper Manhattan and the Bronx look to midwives in the community as their central point of care for all their health care and family centered needs. These women truly believe the community midwives are the experts and rely on their holistic approach to health and family. I believe my presence, as a male midwife that has primarily served women in upper Manhattan and the Bronx, is equal to the presence that female midwives provide for the community, just with a new twist.”

Derrick Pickering, MSN, FNP-C, APRN, SNM

Orem, Utah

“Like most people, I have gone through several events in life that lead me to midwifery. My wife and I have struggled with infertility and have experienced a long journey of heartache and excitement. During that journey, we lost two premature infants and had some traumatic experiences. From that, I gained a greater appreciation and respect for the critical and divine role women play in their community and their families. I also know firsthand the importance of proper maternal and newborn care. That is why I decided to further my education past my knowledge of a family nurse practitioner.

“I chose midwifery to be able to contribute to the profession that has benefited my family and me so much. Maternal health is such an important area that cannot be overlooked or taken for granted. Midwifery will specifically allow me to give individualized and personalized care that women and their families deserve. Utah has the highest number of births per capita in the country, and the need for midwives is growing. Last year, 11.6 percent of births were accompanied by a midwife, which is a huge benefit for the community. It is an exciting time for midwives and the women and families they serve.”

Al Runzel, CNM, MSN, AAFP ALSO Faculty Advisor

Navy Medical Center, San Diego, CA

“I became a nurse-midwife as childbirth was always fascinating. Childbirth is a very unique time in a woman’s life and to be able to share such a special time is a great honor. When I was exploring nurse-midwifery, women had very little control over their and their families’ experience. During the birth of my first child, I was not allowed in the delivery room and could only see my baby after delivery. Partners were allowed to look at their newborns through a window for the first four days and the mother was only able to have her baby six times a day. I strongly believe that women and families should have the experience they desire. Childbirth is a normal human process, not a condition that should be managed. I have made it my lifelong goal to facilitate families’ childbirth experience to allow them to decide how they will experience this very special time. I thrive on the interaction with clients during the whole pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. This time provides an amazing time to positively promote health and wellness. Many positive lifestyle modifications can be achieved during pregnancy that can last a lifetime.”

Daniel Stec, DNP, CNM, FNP-BC

HealthNet, Indianapolis, IN

“I had no intention of practicing as a midwife when I chose to go back to school for it. I was inspired during my OB/GYN rotation in nursing school to help improve the care that women received as a group that was historically oppressed, and continues to receive inequitable care, even in today’s health care setting. It was more of a whim and a desire to know how to catch a baby, since I planned to practice health care in low-resource settings. However, once I started the program at Emory University, I became intensely passionate about midwifery and have continued to pursue more training and experiences in this field than I ever imagined. I have now become involved with ACNM as vice president of the Indiana affiliate and am working with the Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana, advocating for midwifery and the people that we serve. I wear the title of midwife proudly and talk about it all the time. Even my license plate says ‘Midwife!’”

The post Celebrating the Contributions of Male Midwives appeared first on Education and Career News.

Nursing student friends – men with whom he socialized, played sports, and had come to respect – encouraged him to try nursing after he completed x-ray tech school. That decision changed the trajectory of his life. CHNO, nationally respected as one of the best diploma schools in the nation, was a welcoming place for men, who were 9 percent of Hebert’s graduating class of 1979.

Early opportunities

Nursing has provided well for Hebert and his family. He and his educator wife of 40 years raised five children, all of whom attended college, and four of whom are professionals. Their fifth child, born in 1991, has Down Syndrome and also attended college. Hebert’s early nursing experience was in occupational safety and health in a research institute and with oil and gas companies. Having worked in home health agencies since 1985, Hebert was hired as CEO of the HomeCare Association of Louisiana in 1998.

Hebert has served on numerous national boards and advisory councils for journals, and worked for university nursing innovators. In 2006, Hebert and 19 other nurse leaders were selected for the three-year Executive Nurse Fellows Program, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. That experience led Hebert to return to school in his 50s for a seven-year whirlwind that resulted in earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctorate of Nursing Practice.

A robust career

Two daughters followed Hebert into nursing, joining 22 RN aunts, uncles, and cousins. A third daughter, who has Down Syndrome, drives his commitment to family caregivers, the focus of his doctoral work. He has hosted an hour-long weekly program for ten years. “Family Caregiving” airs on Radio Maria in nine states and on the web, and has an estimated 30,000 listeners a day. Hebert also co-presents a monthly nationwide podcast, “Crucial Family Caregiving Conversations.”

Hebert co-founded the COS-C exam, credentialing over 10,000 home care OASIS experts since 2004. He has planned over 50 home care conferences and hundreds of workshops for over 30,000 attendees since 1998. The most memorable meeting was in sparsely populated New Orleans four months after Hurricane Katrina. Over 200 attendees came from across the nation to learn from Louisiana’s experience and to take the first organized tour of the impacted areas of New Orleans. Hebert’s master’s degree capstone explored home health clinical competencies.

Advanced nursing degrees

Upon completing his Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree, Hebert received Loyola University at New Orleans’ Ignatian Award, recognizing the one graduate student from all colleges who best exemplified excellence and Jesuit values. Hebert is now an assistant professor at Loyola, teaching on all three levels. In November of 2018, Hebert was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing. Hebert’s latest project is establishing a center for transformational studies in the practice of care and services in the home.

The post How a Career in Nursing Changed This Man’s Life appeared first on Education and Career News.

The difference in one dreaming and one living out that dream is the ability to notice the door of opportunity and making the decision to step through it. I have found out that it is not always what you say to someone but how you say it. How do you make someone feel leaving a conversation, and then do you deliver on what you say or promise?

I have learned not to get caught up in the specific words of the conversation, but mean what you say based on your unwavering values and principles.

Demonstrating nursing leadership

That is who we are as nurses. It is the reason why we have been voted No. 1 in Forbes for being the most trusted profession. We are trusted to lead because of what we believe in and our genuineness towards others. John McCain once said, “There is nothing more liberating in life than fighting for a cause that is bigger than yourself.”

Advice to aspiring nurses

1. Someone else’s struggles are our struggles. Everything can be linked back to one’s well-being through the impact of our social determinants of health in our environment. Always think big picture and how you can impact someone’s life. Do not limit your impact to a patient’s acute stay or office visit. Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.
2. Show me, do not tell me. We do not get tenure outside of academia. We only have the leverage of our value. Bring your A-game every day to demonstrate your value to patients and colleagues.
3. There is no greatness without adversity. Nursing is a very difficult profession, but one of such great reward.
4. Complacency is the greatest threat to excellence. It is OK to reflect and be proud of what you have achieved or helped others achieve, but do not ever become satisfied.
5. I live by the notion that I am the reflection of the top five people I interact with in my life. When you change the people you surround yourself with, it leads you to change the environment to allow you to grow. The environment will then change your perspective on life, ultimately providing the experience and wisdom to change others’ lives.

Take the lead

Do not wait for others to prepare and set the path for you. You prepare yourself for the path. Life is not going to be fair, and sometimes the chips will be against you. If you prepare yourself to the best of your ability and surround yourself with great individuals, you will succeed with whatever you put your mind to.

The most important part is to make sure you share your journey to inspire others to pay it forward as those before you provided the opportunity for your growth. Without paying it forward, all of your accomplishments gather dust and are meaningless.  In the words of Chadwick Boseman from the movie “Black Panther,” “Let those who have been watered, be water.”

The post Navigating the Road to Nursing Leadership appeared first on Education and Career News.

As the first man to be elected president of the American Nurses Association, I work to elevate the nursing profession and increase the diversity of nursing across ethnicities and genders. The statistics on demographics in the nursing workforce vary, but they do reveal that the profession is lacking balanced representation across genders.

Previously, decades of legal barriers kept men out of the field, and nursing schools often refused to admit men, a practice deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Women currently make up 90 percent of the nursing workforce, while about 9 percent of nurses in the U.S. are men. That share has grown steadily since 1960 when men accounted for just 2 percent of the nursing workforce. When looking at nursing roles, the highest representation was in nurse anesthetists, with men occupying 41 percent of those positions. 

Health literacy

It’s important that the nursing profession better reflect society and our patients. Often, nurses are the first line of defense in providing lifesaving care and treatment in underserved communities and to under-represented populations that are disproportionately affected by health and health care disparities. A nursing workforce with strong diversity ensures that all patients and populations receive optimal, empathic care that improves health literacy. Nearly half of all American adults – 90 million people – have difficulty understanding and using health information. Nurses play an active role in fostering health literacy so patients can make informed health decisions. 

Role models

It’s time to be deliberate in recruiting more men into the nursing profession to further dispel many stereotypes of nurses. Efforts should begin early, starting at the grade school level by letting boys see men who are nurses. “Here’s somebody who I can identify with,” they will think. This should be reemphasized at the high school level by guidance counselors or health occupation programs. In those programs, boys and young men can obtain more exposure to nursing or apply for admission into a baccalaureate program. In 2016, 12 percent of baccalaureate and graduate nursing students were men.

I encourage men in nursing to visit K-12 public and private schools and take every opportunity to be thought of or seen as model nurses within their communities such as neighborhood gatherings, houses of worship, and local civic organizations.

There were many stereotypes about men in nursing and fortunately, you don’t hear them as much anymore. People know that men can provide quality, safe patient care, and that you can be masculine and still care. 

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As the U.S. struggles to find solutions to the current and projected nursing shortage, one strategy to address the ongoing need for more registered nurses (RNs) continues to surface: Nursing schools must strengthen their efforts to attract more men into the profession.

Historically, nursing has always been a female-dominated profession, with women currently making up more than 90 percent of RNs, according to the latest data available from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Considering the fact that men make up 49.2 percent of U.S. citizens, today’s nursing workforce does not mirror the patient population it serves.

Barriers to entry

Studies point to many reasons why men often do not pursue nursing careers, including role stereotypes, economic barriers, few mentors, gender biases, lack of direction from early authority figures, misunderstanding about the practice of nursing, and increased opportunities in other fields. Compounding the lack of gender diversity is the fact that nursing school deans and faculty are also a gender-skewed group. Men only represent 6.5 percent of faculty and 6 percent of deans, which can present challenges to prospective students seeking male role models and career advice from those with real-life experience.  

Recruiting efforts

Fortunately, nursing schools have made recruiting more men into their programs a priority. Some schools offer mentoring programs for male students, while others have created pipeline programs to transition military veterans into registered nurses, building on the individual’s previous health care experience.

Other schools are using a combination of traditional marketing methods and targeted outreach campaigns to attract and enroll more men into their degree programs. Schools around the country have been deliberate about updating their marketing materials, retooling their promotional messages, and using images of diverse groups of nurses to appeal directly to underrepresented groups. 

The success of these efforts is beginning to show. Data compiled by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) indicates that the percentage of male nurses in undergraduate and graduate programs is increasing. Currently, men represent 13.4 percent of students in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs. In graduate programs, men make up 12.2 percent of students in master’s programs and 11.2 percent of students in doctoral programs. At this rate, we expect a significant increase in the number of men in the nursing workforce over the next few years. 

Attracting men into nursing is essential to sustaining a robust nursing workforce. Academic nursing leaders are working to meet this need and are welcoming an increasing number of men into the nursing profession.

The post Opening the Doors: Bringing More Men Into Nursing appeared first on Education and Career News.