Men in Female-Dominated Nursing Specialties

Men often are the subject of bias and marginalization within the nursing profession. This has occurred since the creation of the modern nursing profession by Florence Nightingale. While men have made inroads into the profession, having seen increased numbers in many areas, men still face many challenges in working in many specialty areas. These areas typically involve the care of women and children, such as labor and delivery, NICU, and pediatric units. However, men bring a unique perspective to the environment. They can better relate to things that husbands, boyfriends, and fathers are going through. They can explain things in a way that the men will understand. They also provide empathetic, high -quality care to all their patients, just like their female counterparts do. It is important to understand the different means of caregiving that men bring to the profession. It is also critical to understand that neither way of providing care is good or bad. They are just different. In understanding and embracing the differences that all individuals bring to the profession, nursing can deliver the individualized, person-centered care that has been talked about for generations but can never be fully realized without hav-ing a diverse workforce.