Recruiting More Men Into Nursing: A Proactive Position

Introduction

The aging population has caused a crisis in the healthcare profession. The need for more nurses is clear, even to individuals outside the field. One way to increase recruitment numbers in any profession is to expand the range of populations traditionally drawn to it. Historically, men have been underrepresented in twentieth-century nursing, although monks performed similar caregiving functions before the evolution of modern medicine (Whittock & Leonard, 2003, p. 243). Accordingly, one practical way to grow the nursing workforce is to increase the number of men who enter the profession.

Nursing is both a vocation and a profession, and it would be a loss if men who felt a genuine calling were dissuaded from entering it simply because nursing is perceived as exclusively female employment. Nurses often present the human face of medicine to patients, and that face should reflect the patient not only in race or ethnicity but also in gender. Consider, for example, the psychological and physical state of a young boy who was unable to save his sister in a car crash — a boy whose father had told him he was in charge of her "like a little man." Would not a male nurse be better equipped to address the confusion and grief faced by that young child?

The Case for Male Nurses

"Effective communication" is key to good nursing, and sometimes it is easier for patients to discuss sensitive matters with a nurse of their own gender (Milligan, 2001, pp. 3–5). Actively recruiting men into nursing may appear to be an exercise in political correctness, or merely a confirmation that diversity is inherently good. However, there are specific psychological functions that male nurses are well suited — and in some cases better suited — to perform, as the example above illustrates. Physically as well, men's generally greater strength can be an asset when moving incapacitated patients or helping to manage agitated or violent ones.

There are legitimate concerns about patient comfort regarding the presence of male nurses. In a study conducted in 2000, while most participants said it made no difference whether a male or female nurse took their temperature, female patients expressed a strong preference for being bathed by a female attendant (Chur-Hansen, 2000, p. 195). Yet male physicians routinely conduct female examinations, including those related to gynecology and obstetrics. Furthermore, as patients grow more accustomed to the general presence of male nurses, men may actually come to prefer a male nurse during certain procedures, such as colorectal or proctologic examinations.

Patient Attitudes and Comfort

Attitudes toward male nurses appear to be evolving. Two studies, conducted in 1984 and 2000 respectively, showed that men had become more tolerant in their views toward nurses of their own gender. Older patients surveyed in 1984 were more inclined to say that women were better suited to nursing because of their greater thoughtfulness, and still preferred female nurses for intimate care. By 2000, those attitudes had begun to soften (Chur-Hansen, 2000, p. 195).

Conclusion

This perception of the profession must clearly change — not only in the eyes of men but in the eyes of the world. Creating a more integrated and responsive nursing staff that reflects the diversity of the community and broadens the image of the hospital caregiver is one crucial step toward building a more numerous and effective nursing workforce for the future.