The Little Known History of Males in Nursing
While the presence of male nurses in today’s hospitals and clinics is slowly becoming more common, it’s still enough to raise an eyebrow or two. But did you know that men have been involved in nursing throughout history? Let’s take a lively stroll down memory lane as we explore the entertaining (and sometimes eyebrow-raising) history of men in nursing.
1. Enter the Knights of the Nursing World
Rewind back to the Middle Ages, and you’ll find the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Order of St. John, offering care to sick, poor, and injured pilgrims. This chivalrous crew was among the earliest male nursing organizations. Picture a burly knight, donning armor one day and nursing the ailing the next – quite a shift in duties, wouldn’t you say?
2. The Monastic Maestros
Throughout the Middle Ages, many monks provided nursing care. They managed hospitals and offered services to the sick and dying, blending spiritual healing with physical care. Who knew these pious men had such multitasking skills?
3. The Legend of the ‘Bickering’ Nurses
Fast forward to the Crimean War, and we have the first recorded ‘battle’ between male and female nurses. Florence Nightingale and her squad of female nurses arrived, only to find the male nurses, who were previously running the show, less than thrilled. But in the end, both sides managed to provide much-needed care for the wounded soldiers.
4. The Man Who Shaped Modern Nursing
While Florence Nightingale is often celebrated as the founder of modern nursing, few people know about her male counterpart – William Rathbone. After hiring a nurse to care for his ill wife at home, Rathbone saw the need for organized district nursing. After his wife’s death, he worked with Nightingale to create the first system of district nursing. He was a behind-the-scenes nursing hero.
5. A Civil Shift
During the American Civil War, men served as nurses on both sides of the battlefield. Walt Whitman, one of America’s most famous poets, was one of these volunteer nurses. Notably, he once wrote, “I do not ask the wounded person how he feels… I myself become the wounded person.” Whitman, it seems, was the master of empathy.
6. The Great War and the ‘Male’ Nurse
World War I saw an increase in male nurses. Known as ‘orderlies,’ they performed tasks ranging from transporting wounded soldiers to providing medical care. Despite the ongoing war, these men managed to uphold the caring essence of nursing.
7. The WWII Warriors
World War II brought about a massive nursing shortage, and men answered the call by joining the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. Despite the program being promoted predominantly to women, around 350 men joined the ranks, demonstrating that courage and care know no gender.
8. Cracking Open the Door
It wasn’t until the Korean War that the U.S. military formally established the male nurse corps. Though it took a war to make it happen, the door was finally officially opened for men in nursing.
9. The Men in White Caps
In 1971, the National Male Nurse Association (now the American Assembly for Men in Nursing) was formed to support men in the profession. Since then, it’s been encouraging men to become nurses and challenging stereotypes one nurse cap at a time.
10. The Murse Universe Today
Today, male nurses, affectionately known as “murses,” make up around 12% of the nursing workforce in the U.S.
While they’re still in the minority, their numbers are growing, and their presence in the field is invaluable.
From knights and monks to soldiers and murses, men have played significant roles in nursing throughout history. As we continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions of men in nursing, we inch closer to a time when a male nurse will be ‘just another nurse’ and not an exception. So here’s to the men in scrubs – may your journey continue to be just as rich, inspiring, and full of surprises as it has been throughout history!
