More men are choosing nursing as a career. My son started his freshman year at Azusa Pacific University and he's considering nursing as a career option. Another resident on his dorm floor has also chosen nursing. A couple of months ago, I came across the blog of Peter McCartney, a male nurse in Australia. He provided a history of nursing at a local hospital.
What originally got you interested in nursing and a health career?
My first taste of nursing came when, at the age of 13, I found myself working at St John of God Hospital Sydney, as a volunteer. I worked there during school holidays up until I commenced my hospital based general nurse training at St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst in 1975.
Are more men in Australia heading into nursing – there are in the U.S. – and what do you think is the reason?
When I first started I was the third male nurse to have trained at St Vincent’s in 124 years. So yes, male nursing numbers have grown tremendously since then. Today, it does not have the negative connotations that it once did nor is it considered a female domain. This may be due to people becoming more broad minded and liberal about their way of thinking. Today, males find it an attractive alternative to more mainstream jobs, where it can provide work anywhere in the world.
How has the role of a nurse changed or stayed the same during the past approx 20 years?
Today the primary role of a nurse remains the personal care of a patient. However, there are a number of aspects to the role that have changed. Increased technology has demanded a higher skilled-based education for nurses. Also the shortage of doctors has seen nurses take over a number of tasks traditionally performed by doctors. In addition nursing has become highly specialised. This is supported by an increase in the types of occupations now available in the paramedical field, taking some workload off nurses.
Is there a “nursing shortage” in Australia the way they say there is in the U.S.?
Yes, prior to university training, most nurses went into nursing because it guaranteed them an income from the time they started their training. University training has introduced high fees and the need for a job to support their training. High School graduates of today that wish to earn an income as soon as possible would not be attracted to nursing. In the past nurses were predominately female and they had three choices of a career. That being, teaching, secretarial work or nursing. Today, a female can do what ever she likes and there are more career choices than ever before. Directing them away from nursing.
What originally got you interested in nursing and a health career?
My first taste of nursing came when, at the age of 13, I found myself working at St John of God Hospital Sydney, as a volunteer. I worked there during school holidays up until I commenced my hospital based general nurse training at St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst in 1975.
Are more men in Australia heading into nursing – there are in the U.S. – and what do you think is the reason?
When I first started I was the third male nurse to have trained at St Vincent’s in 124 years. So yes, male nursing numbers have grown tremendously since then. Today, it does not have the negative connotations that it once did nor is it considered a female domain. This may be due to people becoming more broad minded and liberal about their way of thinking. Today, males find it an attractive alternative to more mainstream jobs, where it can provide work anywhere in the world.
How has the role of a nurse changed or stayed the same during the past approx 20 years?
Today the primary role of a nurse remains the personal care of a patient. However, there are a number of aspects to the role that have changed. Increased technology has demanded a higher skilled-based education for nurses. Also the shortage of doctors has seen nurses take over a number of tasks traditionally performed by doctors. In addition nursing has become highly specialised. This is supported by an increase in the types of occupations now available in the paramedical field, taking some workload off nurses.
Is there a “nursing shortage” in Australia the way they say there is in the U.S.?
Yes, prior to university training, most nurses went into nursing because it guaranteed them an income from the time they started their training. University training has introduced high fees and the need for a job to support their training. High School graduates of today that wish to earn an income as soon as possible would not be attracted to nursing. In the past nurses were predominately female and they had three choices of a career. That being, teaching, secretarial work or nursing. Today, a female can do what ever she likes and there are more career choices than ever before. Directing them away from nursing.
1 comment:
Hi Don!
Nursing is a hard task for anyone to take on these days, let alone those who started with me many moons ago.
But with its many issues being weighed down by the current pandemic health care crisis, it's fantastic that someone like you with your busy career would take time out to highlight life experiences of men who entered the world of nursing.
To give even one person an insight into the life of a nurse is tremendous but to share it on the blogosphere is helping out not only all nurses, but the people who are thinking about a nursing career and the ones who need to know what is happening in nursing.
As for your son, I am sure he will do well in nursing, if he is anything like his dad.
Thanking you so very much and all the best to you and your family.
Peter McCartney
Sydney Australia
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