UP's male nurses talk about the ups and downs of a career dominated by women
By Laura Frazier
Out of the 801 nursing students at UP, senior John Endresen is one of the 98 men in the program. As only 12 percent of nursing students are male, Endresen is certainly in the minority. But this does not seem to matter to him and the other male classmates who care enough to be "murses."
Though being the minority in the classroom generates more attention, Endresen said, the professors appreciate male students and handle touchy subjects with honesty.
"Nursing is a science and an art. The professors aren't going to sugarcoat anything 'cause there is a male in the room," he said.
With just one male student in a full biology lab, there is potential for plenty of awkward moments, said freshman nursing student Jordan Graboyes. But because of the attitudes of the professors, being the token "murse" of the classroom is never a problem.
"I think that professors make things a little easier," Graboyes said. "They let jokes slide. And when we talked about the image of nursing, they used guys as examples and made us look really awesome."
Though it can get awkward in pediatrics class, as it is all about labor and delivery, senior Ryan Knight thinks that professors are extra sensitive.
"There is maybe the random odd discussion when professors mention things that pertain girls, but they are aware to include guys as well," he said.
Junior Erin Kozlowski thinks that though male students are noticeable, they are not given any special treatment.
"People get excited to have a guy in the class. They stick out more but are not treated differently," she said.
When it comes to working together in the classroom, freshman Aimee Arvidson finds it easy to work with men.
"It is comfortable to work with guys," she said. "They give their side which helps everyone understand better. It helps to us to hear the other point of view."
During clinicals, Endresen finds that it is beneficial for everyone to be able to hear different opinions.
"Girls can handle different situations better. It's good to have a balance between opinions," he said.
Endresen said that certain patients are more comfortable with male or female nurses and during clinical sessions it is important to have both genders available.
Male nurses are often stereotyped in society, but Arvidson thinks that assumptions come from those who don't know any better.
"I believe that they are stereotyped by those who are uneducated about the role of a nurse," she said.
Graboyes, who is a member of the Air Force ROTC program, thinks there are no issues with the image of male nurses on campus.
"Nursing is so encouraged by ROTC and the school that it's not a stereotype on campus," he said. "Everyone knows that people really need nurses."
Knight agrees that being singled out is not an issue at UP.
"I feel like there is a public stereotype that nursing is a female profession, but at the same time, at school I never get that feeling," he said.
UP won the national Best Nursing School for Men Award in 2008. Since then, the enrollment of men in the school has increased and Kozlowski thinks that UP does an excellent job of trying to bring in male nurses.
"We are very male-friendly here, though we don't have many guys," she said.
But to the men, the gender imbalance is not negative at all.
"It's nice being surrounded by a bunch of girls," Endresen said.
Knight is thankful for his male roommates who save him from "estrogen overload," but he enjoys working with women.
"I like working with the girls I go to school with. There is never really much of a problem," he said.
Graboyes said that it is easier to get along with and talk to girls, and that gender really doesn't matter. What it comes down to for everyone, he said, is that they are all in nursing for the same reasons.
"It doesn't matter if it's a guy or a girl. We all just want to help people," he said.
