Medical Training

If you have ever been a patient in a hospital, you might have asked where are the male nurses?  You also may be surprised to know that the career for paid nurses started not with female, but with male nurses, and the first nursing school, which opened in India during 250 BC, only accepted male nursing students.  During the era of Hippocrates (460-370 BC), who was the father medicine, nursing care was delivered by men.  In the December 2009 article 10 Most Famous Male Nurses in History posted on Nursetini, Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is listed as one of the 10 most famous male nurses.  Whitman is famous for being a writer and poet, but it turns out that after his brother was wounded in the American Civil War, Whitman devoted both time as a volunteer nurse and writings about the need for nursing care for the soldiers.

According to the Winter 2009 AHNA Beginnings article, “Why Aren’t There More Men in Nursing?” editor Lynne Nemeth states that the Reformation era (1550-1850), which was referred to by some as the dark ages of nursing, more women were becoming hospital nurses and medical care deteriorated allowing prisoners work as nurses “…in lieu of prison terms.”  With the Industrial Revolution, which took place in mid 17th and 18th centuries, men took advantage of higher paid jobs, which excluded low-paid nursing positions.  Nemeth refers to how “Ironically it is Florence Nightingale, considered to be the founder of modern nursing, who is credited with the demise of men in nursing.”

In 1867 Nightingale wrote about how she wanted the female head nurse to have the power over nursing and not the male nurse. Despite all the positive contributions to nursing, it wasn’t until 1955 when Edward L.T. Lyon became the first male nurse in the military. According to a 2005 Men in Nursing Study by Bernard Hodes Group, men only make up between 5-6 percent of registered nurses.  Fortunately there are both men and women working together to support and educate men into the career of nursing.  If you are presently in a LVN or LPN program and want to join a nursing organization that supports male nurses, the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) has a history of supporting and honoring both male and female nurses.  In 2008, the AHNA named Richard Cowling, III, RN, PHD, APRN-BC, AHN-BC the Holistic Nurse of the Year. Unlike the AHNA, the American Nurses Association (ANA) did not allow men to become members until 1940.

Whether you are thinking about becoming a male LVN, LPN, or registered nurse, read about the many resources such as the free online Male Nurse Magazine at www.malenursemagazine.com. Today there are several LVN & LPN schools, such as Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts that encourage the presence of men in nursing, and have male faculty role models.

At the first meeting on the clinical site the instructor will review with you what to expect during clinical time.  I happen to know the Antioch staff is wonderful.  You will get a lot of great experience during this rotation.   The staff there has many strengths and is always helpful.  They show compassion, integrity, and teamwork.  We will be doing hands on patient care.  I love clinical nursing.  To me, being at the bedside and working with the patients is the most rewarding.  To be a good LVN clinical nurse (or LPN Licensed Practical Nurse) you have to be multi-talented.  You have you learn the best approach for each of your patients as they all have different personalities and needs.  You’ll learn about different cultures, values, and beliefs, which can be very exciting.  For example, you’re likely to encounter different languages, lifestyles, and social roles.  You will be doing patient assessments daily.  We will be reviewing clinical LVN skills (and LPN nursing) in the lab at Gurnick.  The students usually love this.  This is a great time to ask me any questions you may have.  Yes, you are to be dressed in scrubs with your hair up and ready to take notes.

In June 2010 the American Holistic Nurses Association was blessed with having Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN as keynote speaker.  Mrs. Watson’s extensive biography includes her published theory of nursing “The philosophy and science of caring.”  Nursing theories are important for the student LVN or LPN to guide the way in development as a licensed nurse.  In the Spring 2010 AHNA Beginnings publication, Watson lists examples of how to implement the Caring Theory in her article Caring Science and the Next Decade of Holistic Healing: Transforming Self and System from the inside Out.  She states, “When systems begin to authentically embrace Caring Theory and its role in healing, and thus creating biogenic practices, the foundation for professional nursing shifts.

Within this article, she acknowledges the participants of International Caritas Consortium (ICC, www.cartiasconstortiu.org) for their efforts toward this nursing shift.  One of the simple examples that can be practiced not only by the ICC participants, but also in LPN schools and hospitals is hand washing.  Hand washing is not just used for cleaning our hands, but according to Watson this ritual can somehow “…energetically cleanse oneself…” which allows for “…pausing to set intention before entering a patient’s room.”

Another one of Watson’s simple, yet profound suggestions is to have magnets with positive affirmations and messages on patients’ doors.  This affirmative idea can be easily initiated by student nurses in any nursing program, including the LVN or LPN program.  One of the most intimate of Watson’s practices is to be “seeking” as we nurses look and connect to the “spirit-filled” person that might be hiding behind their diagnosis.   For more information about Jean Watson caring philosophy visit www.watsoncaringscience.org