Nursing career: After receiving my BSN from the University of Rhode Island in 2003 I worked on a telemetry unit at Rhode Island Hospital for a year and a half, then on the inpatient oncology unit for six months before taking an assistant clinical manager position in that unit. One year later moved to Arizona and took a travel RN position at Maryvale Hospital. After serving two 13-week contract assignments I accepted a charge RN position on the medical-surgical unit there. Within eight months I transitioned to administrative supervisor and then to director.

Men make up six percent of nurses in the U.S. and 12 percent of the nursing student body. What do you think of this statistic? The increased percentage of men in nursing programs throughout the U.S. is indicative of the increase in the future population of men in the profession. While some still maintain the stereotype that nurses are supposed to be female, I believe that men are beginning to realize that it takes a compassionate person with a passion for helping people to be a good nurse, not necessarily someone of the female gender.
 
What attracted you to the nursing profession? The patient is in a very vulnerable and uncomfortable state when hospitalized, and to have a hand in comforting the patient and reducing their anxiety is why I entered the field. It continues to serve as my motivation and passion in leading other nurses to provide the utmost in quality-driven, compassionate nursing care. 
     
The term “male nurse” — Yes or no? I do not recall one time in my six-year nursing career that I have referred to myself as a “male nurse.”  Just as male physicians do not refer to themselves as “male doctors,” and men in law enforcement do not refer to themselves as “male cops,” I do not see the value in referring to myself as a male nurse.
 
Do you find that patients accept nurses who are men? I have found patients to be very accepting of male nurses. The only time it has been a challenge in my bedside nursing practice is in trying to help modest women who did not feel comfortable with a male nurse. In those situations, I have elicited the assistance of my female counterparts.

Advice for men entering the nursing field: Just do it! If a person has the heart to help people and the desire to play a role in decreasing patient anxiety by comforting, teaching, listening and, sometimes, just holding the hand of a patient, then I would say that nursing is the perfect profession, regardless of gender. However, I can say that the nursing profession is not easy. Working nights, weekends and holidays is a must for many nurses. Nursing school is challenging, and many nursing students question whether or not they chose the right profession when the “going gets tough” in their program. This profession must be driven by more than getting a paycheck. It must be driven care, compassion and loving what you do more than the money you get for doing it. If that is you, take the plunge and be a nurse. While you may be challenged throughout your career, you will never regret the choice you made to help others.