New York area residents have always been at the forefront of business and cultural trends. One of the changes happening in nursing today is that more men are entering the field. Nursing has largely been a female-dominated career choice, but men are making great progress in closing the gender gap! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the male workforce in nursing has nearly tripled since 1970 from 2.7 percent to 9.6 percent, nationwide.
Here are three reasons why the field is increasingly attracting the attention of men who are looking for career opportunities:
- Opportunities in Medical Specialties Offer Competitive Salaries
Despite their minority status in the profession, male nurses tend to earn more favorable incomes as they account for a large share of nursing careers in specialties such as anesthesiology, emergency-room care, and flight/transport nursing, according to a U.S. Census report. - Today’s Economic Realities Highlight Opportunities in Nursing
Many people are surprised when they learn that men dominated the nursing field until the late 1800s, when nursing colleges for women proliferated in the United States. This changed and by the early 20th century women dominated the profession, with the American Nurses Association even denying membership to men until the 1930s.
Now, many men are once again turning to careers in nursing, in part because they are motivated by modern economic conditions. According to a working paper published in recently by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, in today’s economy, the job market provides growing career opportunities in nursing and other previously female-dominated lines of work, while opportunities in traditionally male-dominated work are declining. - The Appeal of Being a Compassionate Caregiver
The two authors of the working paper –Notre Dame University economist Abigail Wozniak and University of Louisville economist Elizabeth Munnich – concluded that the economy and the eroded notion of nursing as “women’s work” are the primary reasons why men hold a small but growing share of nursing jobs. Indeed, caregiving is a calling for many men as well as many women, and according to the New York Times, research shows that hospitals and patients benefit when the composition of the nursing staff reflects the diversity of the local population.
If you or someone you know, male or female, is interested in pursuing a nursing career, St. Paul’s School of Nursing can help. Click here for more information or call us today at (855) 822-3018 and speak to one of our career counselors.