By Matt Batcheldor

For the fourth time, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been recognized with the 2023 Best Workplace for Men in Nursing Award from the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN).

The AAMN is a professional organization that works to improve gender diversity and inclusion in nursing. VUMC received the award at the 48th annual AAMN Conference in New Orleans, which was held Oct. 19-21.

Criteria for the award included recruitment materials featuring men in nursing, strategic plans to increase gender diversity, historical evidence demonstrating an increase in the number of men in nursing, and evidence of male nurse involvement. About 10% of Vanderbilt’s nurses are male.

Among Vanderbilt’s gender-inclusive policies is the parental leave policy that allows new fathers as well as mothers to receive two weeks of paid parental leave. Nursing recruitment materials are inclusionary of males.

“At Vanderbilt, we welcome male nurses at all levels and all positions,” said Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC. “Male nurses are an essential part of the care we provide to our patients and families. I offer my warmest congratulations to all involved in this achievement. I am proud to stand with these men in nursing.”

A contingent of male nurses throughout VUMC prepared an application for the award, including Avni Cirpili, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. “I am very proud to be part of such a strong team that always puts the patients first,” he said.

The core team that developed the application for the award was inspired to create the Middle Tennessee chapter of the AAMN. Visitors are invited to the next meeting, which will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the Wadlington Conference Room at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The meeting can also be joined on Microsoft Teams here.

While acknowledging a stigma around men in the nursing profession globally, VUMC strives to make diversity in its workforce intentional and has long included men who are committed to providing quality, compassionate care for patients and families.

Making Diversity and Inclusion Intentional is one of VUMC’s three strategic directions, along with Design for Patients and Families, and Discover, Learn and Share. Increasing diversity in all aspects of the workforce benefits team performance and patient care.

Vanderbilt’s male nurses continue to be regularly recognized with institutional awards, including The DAISY Award, Five Pillar Leader Award and Credo Award. Male nurses hold leadership roles throughout the enterprise, including chairing or co-chairing dozens of unit boards. Vanderbilt’s men in nursing were an integral part of achieving VUMC’s fourth Magnet designation last year from the American Nurses Credentialling Center, the highest an organization can receive for the provision of nursing care and interprofessional collaboration.

“It was great to be recognized as a hospital system for all the great work VUMC does to diversify its workforce,” said Bryan Dejanovich, BSN, RN, MBA, senior director of Regional Hospital Integration at VUMC. “At the same time, we were able to learn from others how we can continue to be innovative in ushering in the next generation of male nurses into our workforce.”