UC Selected as One of Best Schools for Men in Nursing

The University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing has received the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) 2017 Best Schools for Men in Nursing Award. The UC College of Nursing was one of just three nursing schools in the United States so honored, joining Northern Illinois University and Duke University.

"The history, consistency, quality and commitment to creating a climate for men who are nurses has been excellent,” says Brent MacWilliams, PhD, AAMN president, in a congratulatory letter to Greer Glazer, PhD, dean of the UC College of Nursing. "You can be very proud of your work and the work of your team.”

According to the AAMN, the purpose of the award is to recognize a nursing school or college that has 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 made and do make to the nursing profession. 

Reviewers of the award application by the UC College of Nursing concluded that UC met or exceeded all areas of the evaluation, including recruitment activities, climate assessment, chapter activities, strategic planning and percent of male students admitted over the past three years.

In May 2017, the UC College of Nursing hosted the Third Annual Men in Nursing MANUP3 Conference, attracting nearly 200 attendees to Procter Hall, the home of the College of Nursing. Glazer was one of the presenters at the conference. 

"Diversity is just not enough,” said Glazer. "You can’t try to have an organization full of people with lots of differences if you don’t focus on inclusion. You have to focus on creating an environment where everybody, because of their differences, can thrive.”

According to Glazer, the percentage of male nursing students enrolled in the College of Nursing in the fall of 2016 was 14 percent, compared to 11 percent in the fall of 2011. Male enrollment in the freshman class for 2017 is 22 percent and Glazer said one of the reasons for those increases is due to the College being deliberate in attracting more male students.

"You have to be intentional about what you’re trying to do,” she said. "We have more men teaching in our undergraduate curriculum because I want our students to see role models. They have to see role models.”

The UC College of Nursing will be formally recognized for their award on Sept. 21, 2017 at the 42nd annual AAMN conference in Las Vegas.