2015 FNA Book of Reports

2015 Florida Nurses Association
2014 Reference Proposals
Increasing the Number of Male Registered Nurses & Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in the State of Florida
Kumar Jairamdas, RN
Statement of Concern
The number of male registered nurses (RN’s) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP’s) in the state of Florida
is significantly less than the number of Florida female RN’s and ARNP’s. Despite state-wide nursing recruitment and
retention strategies, a significant increase in the number of male nurses in Florida has not been observed. There is
currently no state-wide formal recruitment program for men to enter the nursing profession. An increase in the number of
male nurses in the state of Florida is needed in order to better serve our patient populations and to encourage diversity in
nursing.
Rationale
Background Information
Nursing, in Western cultures, has been traditionally viewed as a female role. The number of men becoming nurses has
grown significantly over the past several decades. In 1980, there were approximately 45,000 RN’s in the USA; but that
number has grown to over 168,000 in 2004 (HRSA, 2006). Nationally, men still occupy a small sector of RN’s. In 2010,
the total national average male RN population was 7% (HRSA, 2010). Florida data from 2010-2011 show that about 10% of
RN’s and 14 % of ARNP’s in Florida’s nursing workforce are men (FCN, 2012). Despite being more gender-diverse than the
national average, Florida and the nursing profession as a whole have much work to accomplish in order to match the gender
diversification of our physician colleagues. In 2012, the number of licensed female physicians (medical doctors and doctors
of osteopathy) in the USA was 30.2% (Young, et al, 2013). The number of female physicians is expected to increase. In 2009,
almost half of all medical school graduates in the United States were women (KFF, 2010).
The Institute of Medicine (IOM), in its “Future of Nursing” report, recommended that more men should be recruited into
the nursing profession (IOM, 2011). Numerous reasons have been cited as barriers for men entering nursing. Such barriers
include social stereotypes, Western cultural gender roles, the predominance of women in the profession, and perceived
religious/cultural values (IOM, 2011). In order to better facilitate care for male patients and add diversity to the nursing
workforce, the IOM recommends actively recruiting men to the nursing profession.
Pertinent Definitions
Schools and colleges of nursing are only those that are accredited by [insert accrediting bodies here]. Nurses, in this
proposal, refer to RN’s and ARNP’s.
Overview on Nursing Role/Function
The men in nursing are not widely dispersed throughout the profession. The available data on male nurses indicates that
they work primarily in critical care, emergency department, and in inpatient medical-surgical units (Hodes, 2005). Only
about 1% or less of male nurses hold a nursing doctorate degree (Hodes, 2005). This fact does not bode well for advancing
advocacy to increase the number of doctoral prepared male nursing school faculty. More research is required in order to
determine the breadth and depth of involvement that men share within nursing.
Legal/Ethical Considerations
Male nursing students and male nurses have reported gender-related concerns in their clinical settings. 57% of surveyed
male nursing students reported perceived gender-related difficulties , and 56% of male nursing students reported a
perception of feeling like “muscle” for female nursing staff to help lift heavy patients (Hodes, 2005). More alarming is
that even more men (71%) who complete nursing programs have the perception that they are “muscle” for female nursing
staff to help lift heavy patients in clinical settings (Hodes, 2005). 50% of men reported communication and other problems
with female nursing staff due to being of the male gender (Hodes, 2005). It is concerning that male nurses and male
nursing students are encountering and perceiving discrimination from their fellow nursing professionals in the clinical
environment.
Consequences to Patient Care
With approximately half of the population being male, having a persistently small percentage of male nurses only serves to
further increase the already present health disparities in men. Having increased numbers of male nurses may encourage
more men to seek healthcare.
The IOM recommends that the nursing profession diversify to meet and encourage the increasing diversity of patient
populations (IOM, 2011). Men bring unique cultural and social perspectives to the clinical care environment and will help
alleviate the nursing shortage (IOM, 2011).
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