This is a situation made more difficult by the fact that over the next 15 years, about half of current registered nurses will reach retirement age.

Clearly–and especially in the state of Iowa where there is a critical need–we need to "cultivate" more nurses. But how?

Some experts feel that, because of the national nursing shortage, it is essential to make a serious effort to alter longstanding attitudes about nursing being a profession for women only. With the need so great, nursing recruiters and educators are trying to encourage more men to step up.

Just like in any other professional area where gender roles are being challenged, male nurses often report that they face some difficulties in the workplace because their presence is non-traditional. And yet, in general, they remain challenged and gratified by the work.

Right now, in the United States, only 5.9 percent of employed registered nurses are men. At University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, about 114 nurses are men, among a total pool of about 1200–more male nurses than the national average.

Here are a few of them whose perspectives you may find interesting.

Derek Fortin, RN
Staff Nurse, Bay 1 SICU

What prompted you to choose a nursing career?
I decided to become an RN while working as a nursing assistant in Bay I. I really enjoyed the rapport that was developed with patients.

What experience convinced you that you made the right choice?
So far, I feel like I have made the right choice. I think that nurses will soon get the respect and pay that they deserve.

If you could speak to other men thinking about a nursing career, what would you say to them?
I would tell anyone, male or female, that if they are the type of person who would enjoy nursing, they should go for it. It takes a certain type of person though.

Interesting to note…
My wife is a nursing unit clerk here at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Joseph Greiner, RN, APN
Interim Nurse Manager
Intensive & Surgical Services

What prompted you to choose a nursing career?
I wanted a career in health care, so I looked at many options: nursing, medicine, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy. I felt the profession that provided the best opportunities and diversity in roles was nursing.

What experience convinced you that you made the right choice?
Being able to advance in my career, helping severely ill patients get better, and providing support to families of dying patients.

If you could speak to other men thinking about a nursing career, what would you say to them?
There are great opportunities for career advancement and many opportunities to work in many different settings. Job security!

Interesting to note…
My wife is an RN also.

William Mausser, RN, MBA, CCRN
Nurse Manager
Surgical Intensive Care Unit

What prompted you to choose a nursing career?
I has impressed by the way nursing was displayed on TV. Shows like MASH, Marquis Welby (dating me) left a lasting impression. But when I graduated from high school nursing was not viewed as being something for males. So, I became a certified operating room technician, but I never lost sight of my nursing dream.

What experience convinced you that you made the right choice?
I went to Kirkwood for nursing prerequisites as well as exploration into the management arena. As an OR tech in the 70s and 80s, I realized there were a lot of fiscal miscalculations in health care. My desire to find out more information led me to obtain an associate’s degree in business at Kirkwood. I transferred to Mount Mercy and was able achieve my dream and obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. From there, I went to Chicago and was lucky to have worked at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. Dr. Luther Christian was the director of nursing and he had a longstanding nursing research project assessing the utilization of an "all BSN nursing model" for direct patient care. He also envisioned that all bedside nurses would be master-prepared.

Although I took issue with his vision, I came to realize that "education is critical" in promoting strong bedside clinicians. This education can take any form as long as "the mind is stimulated" to think in progressive terms. It was this vision that led me to earning an MBA. I feel that I have made the right choice.

If you could speak to other men thinking about a nursing career, what you would say to them?
Go for it. The journey may be laced with challenges but the payoff is immense.

Some days you will not like your job, but do not lose sight of your career or the zeal of your profession.

Your profession is what keeps you rejuvenated and I believe helps lead you to explore outside your hospital box. I am active in the local Eastern Iowa Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. My volunteer work in this chapter has led me to appointment as a regional chapter advisor for Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Your decision makes a difference. The rewards can be immeasurable and the opportunity to expand is whatever you dream it to be. The hard part is the initial degree. After that, the world is your oyster and you are its pearl.

Don Swanson, RN
Nurse Manager
UI Behavioral Health

What prompted you to choose a nursing career?
I had a degree in history with few job prospects, so I decided to learn a skill. Being a male going into a predominantly female profession seemed a rebellious and gender-challenging thing to do.

What experience convinced you that you made the right choice?
Knowing I am helping to provide health care to those in need.

If you could speak to other men thinking about a nursing career, what would you say to them?
Nursing is not like movies or TV. In nursing, you have a challenging job where you can do real good for the world.