Career Advice - Male Nurses

More Men Entering the Once Female-Dominated Field

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I'm a male nurse, and I love my job. I love being able to help people and even save their lives every day. The excitement keeps it fun, and I'm able to meet new people every day. People are often surprised to hear I am a nurse though. Is there a stigma still for male nurses?

Sincerely,

Nice-guy Nurse

April Masini's advice:

Dear Nice-guy Nurse,

There no longer is a stigma for male nurses, because the big news in nursing is MEN!!!

There are more men than ever who see nursing as a viable career. What was once characterized as a female profession is no longer just a female profession. Stereotypes have broken down, and while it was easier for society to accept women as doctors, men as nurses has become a burgeoning trend.

It's happened quietly because unlike the traditional nursing uniform, which was a white dress, men wore trousers just like doctors, so it was harder to differentiate male nurses from male doctors. Now, men and women wear trousers as doctors and nurses, although there are still women who prefer to wear dresses as their uniform of choice.

And while more dads are nurses, little boys are seeing nursing as something that men do and they will no longer want to be just doctors, lawyers and firemen -- they'll want to be nurses when they grow up as well.