Nursing has long been seen as a female-dominated profession, but that perception is slowly shifting. Today, roughly one in eight nurses across the country is a man — and that proportion continues to grow.
A combination of a strong job market for nurses and sustained efforts to recruit more men into the field are credited with driving the change. Those efforts are making a noticeable impact, including in Southern states.
For many men, the decision to pursue nursing is rooted in a desire for career stability. College students in particular are finding that nursing offers reliable employment prospects in an uncertain economy.
At the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, male nursing students are gaining hands-on experience through clinical rotations. One student, Amiri Saadiq, said the work has proven to be a natural fit for his personality. “I think I’m pretty personable for the most part,” he said.
As healthcare systems across the country continue to face workforce shortages, nursing remains one of the more in-demand career paths available — and recruiters are working to make sure more men know it.
