CAMBRIDGE – According to a 2022 survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, males account for only 11% of the national nursing workforce and 8% of Maryland nurses.

“As the (Salisbury University) School of Nursing works to recruit and retain more males in its nursing program, it is essential to gain an understanding of the experiences of male prelicensure nursing students so faculty can implement strategies that are inclusive and create a sense of belonging,” a statement from the school said.

Recent studies indicate there are multiple challenges for males in nursing, including feeling isolated, lonely and excluded. These feelings are intensified by textbooks that use feminine pronouns (she/her) when describing nurses and difficulties with being included in certain clinical experiences based on their gender.

The School of Nursing is taking deliberate steps to attract more males to the profession by exploring holistic admission practices, recruiting male faculty as role models and outreach to high school students. These efforts are already seeing results. The most recent graduating class included 10% males and the current male enrollment has increased to 19% in the undergraduate program.

This article originally appeared in Salisbury University’s WellNest Magazine.