Male Nurses Explain Why Nursing Is a Job of the Future for Men

Male nurses working in the Pacific Northwest — where recruitment efforts have focused on bringing men into nursing — say the profession is reliable, pays well, and is one they take pride in, reports the New York Times . Although men form a minority in the nurse occupation, they earn higher salaries than women. Older adults particularly attach a stigma to male nurses, but the General Social Survey found progressive views of gender roles were associated with more men who entered nursing, according to a recent working paper published by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. "This narrative that men can't provide care in the way that women can is part of that broad cultural narrative that misunderstands what nursing's about," says VA hospital student nurse Adam White. "We need to talk with young people about caring as a gender-neutral idea, but also as something that's rooted in skills, in expertise." Economic forces have contributed, including growth in jobs and pay in healthcare. Nursing is growing faster than the average profession, with salaries increasing steadily since 1980. The survey found the increase in male nurses was largely consistent across the U.S., although black and Hispanic men and those in rural regions were less likely to enter the profession. Men also report liking nursing because of the variety of roles they can fulfill, including bedside caregivers, surgery assistants, educators, technicians, and administrators.