Why more men should consider a career as a practice nurse

Being male in a female dominated profession can make you feel isolated but can also make you feel empowered. Before the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, it was illegal for men to practise as a midwife, and the first male midwives began training in the early 1980s. Nursing has started to shift away from previous images of a female-dominated profession and is slowly becoming more inclusive in both primary and secondary care settings.

Men account for 10.8% of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register, according to the 2016/2017 annual equality and diversity report, which is a decrease from the 11% reported in the years 2015–2016.¹