Few men enrolling in NSCC nursing program

The number of men in the licensed practical nursing program at the Nova Scotia Community College is causing some concern in both the classroom and workplace.

The Stellarton campus in Pictou, Nova Scotia is one of 5 NSCC campuses offering the LPN program this semester. Photo credit: Flickr.com/Anna Webber

Allison LeBlanc, a 23-year-old licensed practical nurse in Halifax, says her job is about being open-minded, social and caring with patients - traits that aren't particular to women.

However, as she recalls her time at Nova Scotia Community College Stellarton campus, LeBlanc, who graduated from the LPN program in 2007, says there were no men in the program while she was there.

Since starting work as an LPN, she's only worked with four men in the same profession as hers.

According to the 2006 Census from Statistics Canada, 1,250 women in the province aged 15 and over earned income as a licensed practical nurse in 2005. And while there is no statistics table for men in the same profession, the total number of licensed practical nurses in Nova Scotia was 1,320, leaving an estimate of just 70 male licensed practical nurses.

"It would be great to have an equal mix and it would be good for the working environment," says LeBlanc. "I wish there were more men because they're just as good as women LPNs."

Ian Dares, a 35-year-old LPN student at St. Lawrence College in Ontario, applied to the NSCC program in 2007 and 2008, but says the wait list was three years at the time. He says his interest in becoming a licensed practical nurse came from 15 years of working as a patient support worker.

"I think it's rewarding. You can make a personal connection with people and really help them with their lives," he explains. "That's why I really enjoy nursing and patient care."

This year the college's LPN program is three per cent male, according to NSCC enrolment statistics. As for the 2009 figures for the Continuing Care Assistant program, all of the students are female.

"Underrepresentation in these fields by males . . . is always an issue we try to address," says Judith Limkilde, dean of Health and Human Services at NSCC. While she explains male enrolment in the program is no worse this year than previous semesters, Limkilde says there's still a shortage of men in helping professions in healthcare.

Derrick Walsh, an LPN teacher at the college, says there aren't enough male students in the LPN and CCA programs. He says the biggest problem, however, is that there's not enough promotion in Canada for males to get into these professions.

"I don't know if it's taboo to target males, but I don't see why that would be a problem if they target females," he said.

The college has tried offering more information about the LPN and CCA programs, as part of a pilot project last spring aimed at attracting more male applicants, said Limkilde. She explains that male high school students were brought on campus where men, who were already in the programs, offered information.

Limkilde explains that depending on where they're employed, LPN's are also able to join unions, including the Nurses Union.

And according to the 2006 Census, the average salary for licensed practical nurses in 2005 was $34,499.

As for misconceptions, Walsh says that there are still stereotypes about male nursing not being a "manly trade".

"Most of the men I've worked with have been fantastic nurses and most of the women I've worked with have been fantastic nurses," says Dares. "But I don't see the stereotype changing anytime soon."

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