5 Reasons Why Men Should be Nurses
With an aging population and a shortage of medical professionals, careers in healthcare are in high demand. Many positions offer job security, a great salary and the chance to make a difference in people’s lives.
A career in nursing offers all of these benefits without the need to obtain a doctorate degree before entering the field. For men who want to get into the healthcare world, nursing is a great option. Here are five reasons why men should be nurses.
There’s a Nursing Shortage in the U.S.
The U.S. is facing a severe nursing shortage, which continues to pinch hospital margins. For men living in the United States, pursuing a nursing career would provide you with valuable, in-demand skills.
Demand for nursing is being driven by an aging population and the need for chronic disease management. In the western and southern areas of the country, nurses are in short supply and population growth is strong.
Florida, California and Texas have the highest average age, some of the fastest rates of population growth and the lowest number of nurses entering the field.
Rewarding Work
If helping people is one of your main motivations for entering the healthcare field, nursing may be a good option for you. Nurses have the advantage of enjoying direct interaction with patients.
They provide emotional support to families and patients, and help them get through some of the most trying times of their lives. They also help families to welcome new life into the world.
If you want to work more closely with patients, nursing may be more fulfilling than a career as a doctor. It’s an emotionally and socially rewarding career in which you can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Stereotypes are Fading
The nursing industry is still dominated by women – about 90% are female. But that statistic has been changing for the last several decades. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of men who are working as nurses has tripled since 1970, rising to 9.6% from 2.7%.
More men are entering the nursing field, and the “stigma” of being a male nurse is quickly fading away.
There are some nurses who say the number of male nurses outnumber the number of female nurses during some shifts. There are now companies dedicated to selling only men’s scrubs. Men are welcomed into the field today. The American Nurses Association just elected its first male as president: Dr. Ernest J. Grant.
Many Specialties Options are Available
The nursing field offers a wide range of specialty options and patient care environments. From anesthesia to trauma, emergency and flight nursing, there’s a specialty for every taste.
Other nursing specialties include pediatrics, oncology, psychiatry and nurse practitioner.
Salaries are Competitive
Although women dominate the nursing field, men still earn more in the field. In fact, male registered nurses earn $5,000 more than their female counterparts per year. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earn about $64,000 per year.
Many specialties pay considerably more. A registered nurse anesthetist, for example, makes about $160,250 per year.
