Speech Example on Few Male Nurses: Examining the Controversy

Introduction

Good morning/ Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. In this presentation, I will be talking about one of the most contentious topics that has been prevalent in the nursing field. Indeed, it is undoubted truth that nursing is a worthwhile and rewarding profession for both women and men. However, before proceeding, allow me to pause and ask you a question; throughout your life, how many male nurses have you encountered? Certainly, I know many of you will retort by observing that very few if none. Well, as Finkelman (2017) notes, for a long time, humans have held the perception that nursing is an inherently women profession. Consequently, this deeply entrenched notion has barred more males from venturing into this profession. It is in this light that this day, in my presentation, I will persuasively talk about why more men should be encouraged to become nurses. I will begin the speech by highlighting the chore duties of nurses. I will then present several reasons why more men should join the nursing field.

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Nurses play an indispensable role in the healthcare sector. They are on the frontline every day providing care and counseling to the patients. They educate the patients on how to stay a healthy life as well as how to take their medications. Importantly, they provide doctors with critical information concerning the patients in an endeavor to make decisions concerning the diagnosis to espouse. Besides, they keep the medical record history of their clients as well as monitor the patient's health. In addition, they provide support and advice to the patients and their family members. However, despite these tasks being universal and doable to both men and women, MacWilliams, Schmidt, and Bleich (2013) observe that almost more than three quarters of the nurses are women. Indeed, I believe that there is a need to change this trend-more man should be encouraged to join the nursing field.

The first convincing reason why more men should pursue nursing career despite historically being a female-dominated profession is that it is an all-time demanding field. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is an ever-growing field. To be more precise, it is forecast that nursing will grow by approximately sixteen percent between 2015 and 2024. As a result, the job prospects in this field are extremely promising. What is more, the wages for the nurses is also set to increase. On average, registered nurses earn around $ 67, 500 annually. Therefore, men who will opt to pursue a nursing career will rest be assured that they are joining a lucrative profession that is one upswing.

The other reason is that since ancient time, men have always been nurses, albeit very few. There is a rich history of men assuming the role of nurses, and thus, it is not a new trend. The American College of Healthcare website reveals that in ancient Rome, the frontline caregivers were often male, and were regarded as "nosocomi." In further justification, during the American Civil War, male nurses outnumbered the female ones. Jean Henry Dunant, the Nobel laureate and the founder of the International Red Cross, worked as a nurse during his early life, even although many biographies characterize him as "medical assistance." However, the fact remains that he was a nurse. Therefore, despite women dominating the nursing field, there is a rich history of men working as nurses, a fact that should encourage more men to join the nursing profession. As a man pursuing the nursing program, you will be carrying on a rich history that dates back to the ancient time.

Thirdly, men who opt to work as nurses boasts the privilege of choosing between several specialties. Bodenheimer and Bauer (2016) observe that nursing is a vast field; thus, by joining it, one will have the opportunity of accessing different career paths, depending on his or her preference. Certainly, there will always be one career path in the nursing that will suit you. For instance, if you like interacting with children, one can consider working as a pediatric nurse. Again, if you perform best under pressure, then you can opt to work as an emergency room nurse. For those who like technical jobs, they can consider working as an anesthetist. Thus, the nursing world holds myriads of nursing possibilities that can fit many men.

Fourthly, more men should consider joining the nursing field to shatter the stereotype that has long been held by humankind. It is undoubted truth that there exists a stigma attached to men pursuing a nursing career. Apparently, if there was not, then we could not be calling for an action to alter this trend. Not surprisingly, this only keeps off talented people from joining this rewarding field. Therefore, if we are going to erase this misconception, then more men will have to answer their call as professional nurses. Stereotype and bias can only be eroded if more male students will consent to join the nursing program.

Conclusion

I will conclude the presentation by underscoring the point that everyone is capable of giving care to the patients. Indeed, service to others is an honorable endeavor, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. Although historically, nursing has been a women-dominated the profession, men can decide becoming nurses since it is an ever-growing field and also they can choose a variety of specialties. Also, since ancient times, men have been working as nurses, albeit very few. Lastly, if more men join this field, they will shatter the long-held stereotype of nursing being an exclusively women profession.

References

Ameritech College of Healthcare. (2017). 5 Reasons Why Nursing Is A Great Career For Men. Retrieved from https://www.ameritech.edu/blog/why-male-nurse-career/

Bodenheimer, T., & Bauer, L. (2016). Rethinking the primary care workforce-an expanded role for nurses. New England journal of medicine, 375(11), 1015-1017.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015). Labor force statistics from the current population survey.

Finkelman, A. (2017). Professional nursing concepts: Competencies for quality leadership. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

MacWilliams, B. R., Schmidt, B., & Bleich, M. R. (2013). Men in nursing. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 113(1), 38-44.