More men than ever are becoming nurses at AdventHealth

ORLANDO, Fla. – More men than ever are becoming nurses, including at AdventHealth.

Across our 55 hospitals and thousands of care sites, today there are 3,457 male nurses working at AdventHealth across the U.S. – a 70% increase since 2019, when there were only 2,029. Altogether, men make up about 14% of AdventHealth’s nationwide RN workforce.

Locally, that trend is just as strong. Across Central Florida, where AdventHealth is headquartered, the number of male nurses has increased by 48%, rising from 895 to 1,320, and now comprises 16% of AdventHealth’s Orlando-area RN workforce.

"It doesn’t matter who you are. We’re looking for compassionate hearts and skilled caregivers," said Nicole Crocker, chief nursing officer at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs

“When I first embarked on my nursing journey, it was predominantly viewed as a woman’s profession,” said Nicole Crocker, chief nursing officer at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. “Over the years, we’ve seen a difference, where men are joining the ranks and breaking that stereotype, which is very exciting.

“There’s a growing need for nurses,” Crocker added. “It’s crucial for people to understand — it doesn’t matter who you are. We’re looking for compassionate hearts and skilled caregivers."

The growth in prevalence of male nurses at AdventHealth is reflective of a nationwide trend. Men now make up 12% of all registered nurses in the United States – a significant increase from 40 years ago, when they represented less than 2%.

At AdventHealth Winter Garden, David Hoeh, a nurse on a med-surg unit, recalls when seeing even one male nurse on the floor was rare.

“When I started, there were no guys,” he said. “Now, if there are three of us on a shift, people say, ‘Wow, that’s so weird.’ But we’re here to stay — and we’ve got some great guys.”

Although the nursing field has predominantly attracted women, men have their own place in nursing history. In 1919, the federal government created a national register for all trained nurses and included a register for men, and in 1955, men were officially permitted to serve as nurses in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Men also started entering nursing schools in larger numbers after a historic Supreme Court ruling in 1982 that prohibited universities from only allowing women into nursing degree programs. Of the students enrolled in AdventHealth University’s nursing program, for example, 12% are men.

Longtime nurse Louis Roman has seen the evolution firsthand over his 47 years at AdventHealth. One of his first exposures to nursing was in high school, when he was admitted to a hospital on a military base for collapsed lungs.

“That’s when I first saw male nurses — naval officers — and it opened my eyes,” said Roman, who works at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. “Back then, I was one of two men in my nursing class. Now, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.”

Although AdventHealth has made tremendous strides in bolstering its nursing workforce – reducing vacancy to less than 4% and cutting turnover in half – recruiting and retaining nurses continues to be one of the organization’s top priorities.

That’s led AdventHealth to expand recruitment efforts in local high schools, across the United States and internationally, and invested $15.5 million in dozens of Florida nursing schools.

Nursing associations have encouraged health care providers to hire more male nurses to diversify the field and draw as many skilled caregivers as possible. AdventHealth is committed to hiring team members who reflect the diverse communities we care for.

J. Michael Clough, a nurse at AdventHealth Kissimmee, said the value of gender diversity in nursing goes beyond representation in the workforce and also impacts patient care.

“Men are patients, too. Our experiences can add a different perspective to patient care,” he said, adding that this own experience having stage 4 cancer allows him to empathize with his patients. “It’s about creating a more inclusive approach for everyone.”

While some nursing specialties continue to draw mostly women, the most common specialties for male nurses include the ICU, emergency department, anesthesia and medi-flight.

ICU nurse Alex Molon, who works at AdventHealth Orlando, came to nursing after a career in mechanics.

“Critical care has a million devices, meds and skills to learn — and I loved that,” he said. “But once you’re in it, it’s really about the patient. If you can make a difference on their worst day, they’ll remember it forever.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Aguiar chose a nursing career path that’s more unconventional for men: the labor and delivery unit in Orlando where he works as a nurse and certified midwife.

"Nursing is full of opportunities. You can work at the bedside, join leadership, go back to school, become a nurse practitioner — or a certified nurse midwife like me,” he said. “It’s being part of that pure moment when a baby is born — the room is full of energy and love. Very few people get to experience that.”

Reinaldo “Rey” Zayas, who started out as a patient transporter and now works as a nurse supervisor in the cardiology cath lab at AdventHealth East Orlando, was inspired to pursue nursing after volunteering in the ICU in high school. He said he’s excited to see more men discover how rewarding a career in nursing can be and break the stigma that it’s solely a women’s field.

“We may be a little tougher on the outside, but we do have a caring heart on the inside,” he said. “I think no matter what, it takes a passionate and caring person to do this role.”