The number of men who choose to enter the nursing profession continues to increase in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has been recognized for its efforts in promoting men in the nursing field.
The UAB School of Nursing was named one of the 2019 Best Schools for Men in Nursing by the American Association for Men in Nursing. UAB is one of 12 nursing schools to receive this award.
“To be part of the national award recognition is a humbling experience,” said Curry Bordelon, assistant professor at the UAB School of Nursing and president of the Birmingham chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing. “This award is evidence of the commitment of our leadership, faculty and staff to include men and to embrace the value of diversity in nursing and nursing education.”
Bordelon says the number of male faculty and students at the School of Nursing has continued to increase over the last several years and is well above the national average. In part, this is due to active recruitment efforts, as well as the emphasis the school places on the importance of a diverse nursing field.
“Male nurses can be found in a variety of nursing roles from neonatal and pediatric care to emergency services, to palliative care,” Bordelon said. “We are part of a profession that changes the lives of patients and their families. To best meet the needs and empathize with the diverse patient population we care for, a diverse care team is needed. The inclusion of men in all specialties of nursing supports the development of a diverse care team.”
UAB is one of three nursing schools in the Southeast and the only one in Alabama to receive this award.