Men and the Nursing Profession

Men searching for a profession where they can gain respect and a solid income should look deeper into nursing. According to the American Nurses Association, only 6% of nurses in the United States are men. Meanwhile, hospitals around the country are searching for quality nurses since up to 75% of vacant staff positions are for nurses, according to the American Hospital Association.

The United States isn't the only country where male nurses have a chance to make a mark and find job satisfaction. In Australia, there's a need also. Peter McCartney was a pioneer as a male nurse when he began his nursing career at St. Vincent Hospital Darlinghurst where he was only the third male nurse in the hospital's 124- year history. He told me his interest in nursing began in his teens.

What originally got you interested in nursing and a health career?

My first taste of nursing came when, at the age of 13, I found myself working at St John of God Hospital Sydney, as a volunteer. I worked there during school holidays up until I commenced my hospital based general nurse training at St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst in 1975.

Are more men in Australia heading into nursing - there are in the U.S. - and what do you think is the reason?

When I first started I was the third male nurse to have trained at St Vincent's in 124 years. So yes, male nursing numbers have grown tremendously since then. Today, it does not have the negative connotations that it once did nor is it considered a female domain. This may be due to people becoming more broad minded and liberal about their way of thinking. Today, males find it an attractive alternative to more mainstream jobs, where it can provide work anywhere in the world.

How has the role of a nurse changed or stayed the same during the past approx 20 years?

Today the primary role of a nurse remains the personal care of a patient. However, there are a number of aspects to the role that have changed. Increased technology has demanded a higher skilled-based education for nurses. Also the shortage of doctors has seen nurses take over a number of tasks traditionally performed by doctors. In addition nursing has become highly specialised. This is supported by an increase in the types of occupations now available in the paramedical field, taking some workload off nurses.

Is there a "nursing shortage" in Australia the way they say there is in the U.S.?

Yes, prior to university training, most nurses went into nursing because it guaranteed them an income from the time they started their training. University training has introduced high fees and the need for a job to support their training. High School graduates of today that wish to earn an income as soon as possible would not be attracted to nursing. In the past nurses were predominately female and they had three choices of a career. That being, teaching, secretarial work or nursing. Today, a female can do what ever she likes and there are more career choices than ever before which are directing them away from nursing.