The Duke University School of Nursing has received the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN)’s 2021 Best Schools for Men in Nursing Award for its dedication to creating an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff.  

On October 21, ABSN students Brian Oh and Olivia Myszewski, co-presidents of the Duke University Chapter of AAMN (DAAMN), officially accepted the award on behalf of the school during the 46th annual AAMN conference. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MPH, LCSW, RN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, AAHIVS, FAAN, dean, School of Nursing, and vice chancellor of nursing affairs, Duke University, was a keynote speaker for the conference.

This is the seventh year the School has been awarded the Best Schools for Men in Nursing Award; it also received it in 2010 and then consecutively every year from 2016 to 2020.  

Men in Nursing at Duke 

Nursing historically has been and continues to be a female-dominated profession. In the U.S., men comprise only 10 percent of nurse practitioners and 11 percent of registered nurses. However, men make up almost half of the country’s more than 328 million population.  

“A more diverse and inclusive nursing workforce helps to improve patient experience and outcomes,” Ramos said. “Men often bring value to areas that have had less attention or have shortages. Additionally, men frequently come to nursing as second careers. We need to continue developing pathways to for them to enter nursing programs later in life—and encourage earlier entry by helping more men recognize nursing as a path vital to reducing health inequities.”

The School currently has 18 male faculty members, with several men in leadership roles. Having male faculty and staff offers an opportunity for male students to have greater access to male guidance and mentoring. The School provides gender pairing of male students to male faculty for encouragement and career guidance.  

Approximately 13 percent of students enrolled in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs across the country are men. Over the last three years, almost 150 male students graduated from Duke nursing programs. According to student exit surveys, male students consistently leave the school highly satisfied with their experience.  

Male nursing students have access to another support system while at Duke, DAAMN, a student-run group with male and female members who collaborate to promote the presence of men in the nursing workforce. After working to establish bylaws, a constitution and formal leadership structure, the group was designated a Duke student organization in May 2021.  

"Our club takes great pride in its diversity and continues to push boundaries to better meet the needs of diverse patients and communities,” Oh said.   

In addition to the chapter’s monthly socials, the members are involved in community efforts. Over the years, they have visited a local senior citizen meeting to discuss men’s health, hosted blood drives, did outreach to a local high school to inform students about the nursing profession, assisted members of the Durham Boy Scout of America Troup #405 with their badge requirements for First Aid, and coordinated a “No Shave November” social media campaign to raise cancer awareness. 

"DAAMN is an amazing club organization that works to give back to the surrounding community by providing education, health care training and awareness to continue to diversify the health care field,” Myszewski said. “We work to engage those within our community to influence future nurses and pursue the goal of creating equality within the nursing profession."   

The faculty leads of DAAMN are Benjamin Smallheer, PhD, RN, ACNP‐BC, FNP-BC, CCRN, CNE, associate professor, Allen Cadavero, PhD, RN, CCRN, assistant professor, and Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman, DNP, MSN, RNC-MNN, assistant professor.  

“DAAMN provides an opportunity for all individuals who are passionate about a more diverse and inclusive nursing workforce to come together for fellowship, mentorship and service,” Gedzyk-Nieman said. “The experiences this student-led organization has been able to successfully organize, even during the pandemic, are a testament to their commitment not only to this important work but to the Durham community.”