Nursing Shortage Could Men be the Cause?

Caroline Goffin

Causes

Countries all over the world experiencing a shortage

Diminishing number of nursing students

In 2009, over 54,000 qualified students turned away

Not enough nursing faculty

Faculty vacancy rate 6.9%

Increase in retirement

Average age 45.5

45% over the age of 50

Expected outcomes-

By 2020 there is an expected 400,000 less nurses in the field

‘Burnouts’ increasing

Sources: Nursingworld.org

Florence Nightingale

1820-1910

Creator of modern nursing

Authority and advocate health care reform

Role model for women of the era

Changed the image of nursing

Nursing evolved to be a woman’s profession

Sources: Men in Nursing

History of Nursing

Dark Ages

Men nursed the injured on battlefields

Women at home

Industrial Revolution

Decline of males in nursing

Worked in factories

Twentieth Century

Family Model Division of Labor

Increased stereotypes

Limited educational opportunities for men

Only 922 male graduates of 28,000

Sources: Men in Nursing

Male Shortage in Nursing

Men account for less than 10% of todays nurses

Provider

Men pick higher paying and power professions

68% oh physicians and surgeons are men

Men represent 53% of first year med students

Family and social influences

Sexual discrimination and stereotypes

Gay emasculated stereotype

Role strain

Society

Newborn and maternal rotations

Sexual vs. Professional

Feelings of anxiety, dread, and rejection

42% receive gender bias from faculty, not patients

Sources: Men in Nursing (article and book), Gender Discrimination and Nursing

Communication

Communication differences

Verbal vs Nonverbal

Female’s language associated with being pleasant, men being more dynamic and strong

Profession is influenced by female characteristics of communication

Differences cause tension

Eye contact, touch, tone of voice, speaking rate and use of pauses

Sources: Men in Nursing

Expression of Emotion

Emphasized by nurse educators

Show compassion towards patients, and identify with their suffering

Decreases ‘burnouts’

Relationship with their patient

Future Recommendations

Change views of society

Increase male faculty

Eliminate the word nurse being interchangeable with ‘she’

Education needs to be equal for men and women

Men need to be taught intimate care to female patients

Use of humor

Benefits of counselors

Media

Movies

Television

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PVeOq60GcA

Educate younger generations about the field