While the number of Americans in need of care keeps rising, many health systems are struggling to find qualified nurses. The demand for qualified nurses is projected to increase nationwide, with nearly 200,000 annual job openings expected. This is driven, in part, by a mass exodus of nurses reaching retirement age. At this critical juncture facing our nation’s health systems, men remain an untapped group whose recruitment into nursing could make a difference.
Even with these persistent and growing nurse workforce shortages, men remain underrepresented in the profession, accounting for just 12% of nurses nationally. Concerted and sustained efforts are urgently needed to recruit more men to join the nursing profession and be positioned to provide high-quality, evidence-based care across communities nationwide.
