With healthcare jobs hot, college men are choosing nursing : NPR

Key Points:

• Men remain underrepresented in nursing, comprising only 1 in 8 registered nurses nationally, despite the profession having 189,000 projected annual job openings over the next decade.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham leads in male nursing representation, with nearly 1 in 6 nursing students and 1 in 5 faculty being men, supported by intentional recruitment and inclusive programs.
• Male nurses face persistent stereotypes, including assumptions about their gender roles and sexual orientation, which can discourage some men from entering the field despite growing demand and competitive salaries.
• Male nurses like Curry Bordelon emphasize the importance of representation in improving patient comfort and outcomes, especially for male and minority patients who may relate better to providers who look like them.
• Efforts to advance gender neutrality in nursing continue, with recent progress including the designation of men’s health as a nursing specialty and leadership initiatives aimed at increasing male participation in the profession.