You don’t have to be in the huddle to know that there is a critical shortage of nurses in the U. S. Just females in nursing? Game over. It’s a new world, baby, and men in nursing are part of it.
As hospitals and nursing colleges become more creative in tackling this shortage, heads, not just pretty ones, are turning to the males in America as future players on the nursing team. This crisis isn’t a game but a severe shortage that needs a creative but solid game plan.
Just as critical as the nursing shortage is the lack of diversity in nursing, including ethnicity and gender.
Present Conditions of Nursing colleges and Universities
Nursing college and hospital recruiters are making substantial efforts to increase diversity, including the under-represented population of nursing men. Neither current people of nursing students nor nurses mirror the general population. Health care needs won’t be fully met until nursing reaches an equally diverse workforce. It’s time to punt.
Although this is not a new effort, and many schools have been recruiting men for years, the face of nursing is changing, and it’s becoming more rugged-looking. While nursing schools still actively recruit males, the tables are turning. In a reverse play, men are now approaching nursing colleges seeking nursing education to pursue a rewarding nursing career.
These are strong lures to the male population. No longer are male nurses just being found in ERs, critical care units, and emergency transport helicopters. They work in labor and delivery, informatics departments, forensic police divisions, law firms, corporations, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Advanced practice nurses include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, case managers, and certified nurse anesthetists.
“Meet the Parents,” a 2000 movie, provoked laughter in audiences across the nation when Ben Stiller revealed he was a male nurse, making some nurses feel like they’d like to punt kick the writer, but the last laugh may be from the male nurses themselves.
Male Nursing Salary
Male nursing salaries depend on various variables like education status, work experience, invitations where they are serving, etc. Moreover, Male RNs earn about $84,000 annually, whereas females make $80,000. So, it is easy to find out the benefits of being a male nurse.
Recruiting Young Men in Nursing
Recruitment and retention of men into nursing can be divided into four quarters:
- recruitment of the young,
- marketing,
- retention, and
- alumni recruitment.
All are equally important to the game, and the outcome depends on the success of every quarter. Teamwork from faculty, staff, and students is essential for a win-win situation.
Recruitment of the young is both challenging and fun. Recruitment of males from Generation “X” and “Y” requires creativity. Being used to fast-paced, interactive, high tech, rapid response learning, Generation X and Y are fast learners. If Gen “X” and “Y” are quick learners, then younger children must be the “Z” or “Zip” generation. It’s no longer enough to educate and recruit Gen X and Y.
To increase the number of males in nursing, “Z’s” are being “recruited.” As nursing colleges get ready to tackle these students’ needs, colleges of nursing are developing and incorporating online courses, computer simulations, high-tech learning labs, virtual reality cafes and theatres, and human-like computer models. This high-tech approach may stimulate interest in nursing and score when career choices are made. “X,” “Y,” and “Z” kids may be at the end of the alphabet, but they’re not the last ones off the bench.
Marketing for Men
With a struggling economy, marketing efforts are also being directed towards jobless college students and grads and second-career seekers, many of them males. These marketing materials are also being shared with high school and college counselors who are educated on the nursing shortage and the need for diversity in the profession.
Bright students are encouraged to consider not only medicine but nursing as well. A budding anesthesiologist may also be encouraged to be a nurse anesthetist or a future pediatrician to consider becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Counselors are taught the difference between a primary care physician, a family nurse practitioner, and a physician’s assistant. Many are grateful that the health care community is reaching out and explaining what has long been a source of public confusion. Salary ranges are being openly discussed and promoted. Although caring and compassion are always part of all health professions, intelligent students often make career choices based on multiple factors.
Retention
Retention is also being closely analyzed since recruitment is only a good kick at the start of the game if the team doesn’t follow through. Diversity committees and events are being formed in hospitals and nursing colleges to make everyone feel comfortable in nursing. Much focus has been on recruiting different ethnicities into nursing, but the males are often the forgotten minority on the game board.
Alumni Recruitment
Alumni recruitment is the final step. Male nursing students and alumni are both being used as recruiters. They are encouraged to pass the ball and be mentors and role models for future male nurses and pursue teaching in nursing.
In Summary
Nursing has traditionally been an invisible profession, almost as if playing in the dark. It’s time to turn on the field lights. Perhaps the addition of men to the profession will help make nursing more visible. Instead of the traditional “Ya-Ya sisterhood,” nursing is moving towards a model where “Da Da” and not just “Ma-Ma” can be a nurse. Recruit both parents, and you’ve got a touchdown. Recruit their child, and you’ve got the point after.
About the Author:
Dani Eveloff, MS, RN is currently the recruitment coordinator for the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. She is in charge of recruitment from the BSN to the post-doctoral level for all four campuses in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska as well as national and international recruitment. In addition, she is the co-director of Childhood Recognition Association, Inc., a non-profit organization started in 1990 to promote the rights of children. She has also worked as a consultant and lecturer at national conventions and coordinated with national hospitals and universities. Her experience in recruitment has led to national recognition and publication from AACN, Minority Nurse, Nurseweek, Hispanic Outlook for Higher Education, American Demographics, Physicians Practice, Universal E-Clips, The Edge, as well as other nursing publications.
A registered nurse for over 40 years, her experience has ranged from hospitals to corporations to universities. She enjoys teaching children about nursing as well as educating nurses.
All rights to this article are reserved by the author.
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