The Duke University School of Nursing has once again received the Best Schools for Men in Nursing Recognition from the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN).

This is the sixth time the School has received this accolade since 2010 (2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020).

This recognition is awarded to nursing schools or colleges that have provided significant efforts in recruiting and retaining men in nursing, in providing men a supportive educational environment, and in educating faculty, students, and the community about the contributions men have and do make to the nursing profession.

“Our organization thrives on the presence, engagement and contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Men who are nurses enrich our profession, bringing a wealth of experiences to the collective excellence our school strives for," said Marion E. Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Ruby Wilson Professor of Nursing, Duke University School of Nursing, vice chancellor for Nursing Affairs, Duke University, and associate vice president for Academic Affairs for Nursing, Duke University Health System.

We are honored to receive this award for another year, as it affirms our commitment to having male faculty, staff and students lead at all levels within our School. Through the extent of this representation, we show prospective male students as well as our local, regional and global community that men are valuable contributors to the nursing profession and that the profession as a whole is an exciting and rewarding career for anyone who wishes to pursue it.”

AAMN judges recognized this ongoing commitment to supporting men in the profession in their notification letter to the School: “We were very impressed. Your history, consistency, quality and commitment to creating an inclusive environment for men who are becoming professional nurses is noteworthy. You should be very proud of your work and the work of your leadership team. ”

Attributes of the School that stood out to the Recognition Review Committee included:

• Men make up 38-percent of full-time, regular rank faculty members (15 men or 18 percent) and staff (29 men or 20 percent).
• There was a three-percent increase in the number of male students in the PhD program over the last five years (seven percent to 10 percent).
• There was almost a 10-percent increase in the number of male students in the Nurse Anesthesia-DNP Program over a four-year period (17 percent in 2015 to 26 percent in 2019).
• Several men hold key leadership positions throughout the School.

AAMN officially recognized the School for this accolade during the 45th Annual AAMN Conference on October 14.

ABSN student Nikolas Silva submitted an recorded acceptance speech that was used during the presentation: "On behalf of the Duke Chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing, thank you. Thank you to the Association for handing us this award, and thank you to our amazing faculty supervisors for all the hard work and guidance they've given us over the past year. But most importantly, thank you to our members. It is because of them that our organization is able to promote diversity and inclusivity in both our immediate community at the Duke School of Nursing and the surrounding community as well."  

The School of Nursing has been admitting male students since 1966, when Roger Voelkel and Don Brown were accepted as part of the U.S. Navy Enlisted Nursing Education Program.