Early in 2024, while helping my stepdaughter with her recently commenced enrolled nursing studies, we began to talk about the current state of nursing in Australia, and what it is like to be a nurse in a tertiary hospital. During this conversation, she asked me a question I had not been asked before:
“Do patients ever ask you if you are a doctor?”
Whilst the answer to this question was “Yes, frequently”, I had never really taken the time to reflect on why I, an early career nurse, am asked this. As a male nurse, patients ask me several times a day whether I am a doctor, or when am I starting my medical studies. Although I am always quick to inform my patients that I am the registered nurse looking after them, I have noted that my female colleagues are rarely asked these same questions. Put simply, patients assume that if you are a male wearing scrubs in a healthcare setting you are a doctor, or studying to become one, whereas if you are a female wearing scrubs in a healthcare setting you are accepted to be the nurse. The primary concern around this is the prevalence of gender stereotyping, and the apparent devaluation of nursing as ‘less than’ in terms of occupation, as compared to medicine. A report by Terry et al (2022) examined how male nurses reported feeling this devaluation of their decision to become a nurse, causing them a sense of inferiority and feeling as though their career choice to be a nurse is not enough.
Redefining gender roles in health care
Traditionally, nursing has been depicted as a field dominated by women, with the image of the caring, empathetic female nurse deeply entrenched in societal perceptions. In popular culture, television series such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs have made minimal contributions to challenge societal stereotypes by showcasing male nurses. While female doctors are somewhat represented in these shows, the predominant portrayal still features male actors cast as doctors and surgeons, rather than nurses. However, this portrayal is being challenged as an increasing number of men pursue nursing as a career. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of male nurses increased by 6,792 compared to an increase of 28,689 female nurses over the same period (Figure 1, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022).
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022) stated that in 2020 “The FTE rate of females was 6.8 times that of males for nurses and midwives”. Although there is an increasing ratio of female to male nurses, the number of men taking up a career in nursing overall continues to rise, as per Figure 1.
Challenges confronting male nurses
Despite the growing presence of male nurses, they still encounter hurdles in their careers within the healthcare sector. A significant obstacle revolves around combating the sociocultural stigma associated with being a man in a historically female-dominated profession. Male nurses are frequently challenged with stereotypes, misconceptions and, in some instances, discrimination from patients, colleagues, and society at large. Terry et al (2020) examine such challenges as facing the stereotype that male nurses are homosexual and effeminate, their patient care being perceived as deviant or sexualised, and being assigned physically heavy, aggressive, or violent patients. Overcoming these challenges demands resilience and a firm commitment to dismantling gender biases.
Perspectives of male nurses
Male nurses bring a unique perspective and skill set to the profession, challenging the idea that gender dictates one’s ability to deliver exceptional care. Male nurses can offer a unique viewpoint regarding patient care, complementing their female counterparts. Research indicates that patients benefit from a diverse nursing workforce, leading to enhanced communication, better outcomes, and increased healthcare satisfaction (Brody et al., 2017). The presence of male nurses enriches healthcare teams and elevates the overall quality of patient care, as examined by Colby (2012).
Despite ongoing progress, gender parity in nursing leadership remains elusive, with women predominantly occupying leadership roles. To challenge gender barriers, the active, not passive, promotion of equal opportunities for men to assume leadership positions in the nursing profession is required. Encouraging and supporting male nurses to pursue leadership roles can foster a more balanced and diverse nursing profession overall (Smith et al., 2021).
Despite the demonstrable benefits of male nurses in health care, there exists a need for targeted recruitment and retention initiatives to bolster their presence in the profession. Drawing parallels to efforts aimed at increasing female participation in male-dominated industries, such initiatives should encompass multifaceted strategies, including recruitment campaigns, mentorship programs, and cultural competency training. By fostering supportive and inclusive work environments, healthcare institutions can attract and retain male nurses, thereby fortifying the resilience, sustainability, and equality of the nursing workforce.
Conclusion
The emergence of male nurses in health care reflects evolving psychosocial gender roles, the dismantling of stereotypes and a more accurate healthcare representation of the populations they care for. Men bring valuable perspectives, skills, and contributions to nursing, strengthening the diversity and effectiveness of the profession. By advocating gender equality and fostering inclusivity, nursing can continue to attract individuals from diverse backgrounds. Embracing the future of nursing means embracing the talents and dedication of both men and women in professional nursing.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2024 edition of ACN’s quarterly member publication The Hive. Members can access all past editions of The Hive on MyACN. Non-members can get a sneak peek by viewing our open-access articles.
Author: Mitchell Bannah MACN
Mitchell made a career change in pursuit of his passion for nursing and health care, completing a Bachelor of Nursing at the Queensland University of Technology in 2022. In 2023, he commenced in a graduate role as a registered nurse in the Endoscopy Unit of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
In 2022, Mitchell was selected to work as an undergraduate student in nursing at the RBWH, becoming the first to assume this role in the RBWH in over 15 years. In this position, he worked across the RBWH Infectious Diseases Unit, the Infectious Diseases Day Therapy PICC Service, and the RBWH COVID Response Ward.
Mitchell commenced postgraduate nursing studies in 2024 and is in his third year of ACN’s Emerging Nurse Leader Program.
References
Normajean Colby. (2012). Caring from the Male Perspective: A Gender Neutral Concept. International Journal for Human Caring, 16(4), 36–41
Brody, A.A., Farley, J.E., Gillespie, G.L., et al., 2017. Diversity dynamics: the experience of male Robert Wood Johnson Foundation nurse faculty scholars. Nurse. Outlook 65, 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.02.004
Smith, B. W., Rojo, J., Everett, B., Montayre, J., Sierra, J., & Salamonson, Y. (2021). Professional success of men in the nursing workforce: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(8), 2470-2488. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13445
Terry, D., Peck, B., Carden, C., Perkins, A. J., & Smith, A. (2020). Traversing the Funambulist’s fine line between nursing and male identity: a systematic review of the factors that influence men as they seek to navigate the nursing profession. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 10(3), 691-703. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10030051
