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Male nurses haven’t always been such a minority. Although men comprise only about 6 percent of today’s total nursing population in the United States, nursing schools for men were actually quite common and abou t half of the nation’s paid nurses were male during the early 1900s. By 1930, however, the percentage of male nurs es dropped to a meager 1 percent, as men fled the profession for more lucrative occupations.That was the case for s everal decades, until the late 1980s, when inflation, nursing shortages, a rise in nursing salaries, and shifting attitude s about gender combined to attract new generations of men to the profession.

Research indicates that men and women enter the profession for the same reasons. Both men and women are interested in working with sick and injured people and they are seeking careers that offer challenges, reasonable job security and good salaries. And with many parts of the United States and other western nations facing nursing shortages that are expected to peak in the mid-2020s, when much of the current generation of nurses will retire,men will have a vital role to play in filling those gaps. Some researchers haveeven predicted that the nation’s ability to handle the projected shortage of nurses hinges on strong increases in the number of males entering the profession.

While the number of men in nursing programs is growing, the public perception of male nurses, which has unfairly carried a negative connotation through the years, persists and continues to keep them away from the field. Many male nurses also recount stories of patients assuming they are doctors or asking why they had decided against attending medical school -- as if being a nurse was a fallback position rather than a first choice. Others note that the scarcity of male role models,instructors and mentors has made it more difficult not only to enter the profession but also to advance their careers.

At the same time, nursing schools and organizations have launched initiatives aimed at recruiting men, and these efforts are paying off, albeit slowly.The population of male nurses is increasing by roughly 2 to 3 percent each year and it has been predicted that by 2020, males nurses will makeup about 25 percent of the total nursing workforce. Another factor that may spur the increase in male nurses is age. On average, male nurses tend to enter nursing at a younger age than female nurses and therefore have the potential for longer careers.

More information about men in nursing is available at the American Assembly for Men in Nursing Web site at aamn.org

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The economy could be affectingyour sleep patterns

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate continued to hover around 9 per -cent as recently as February of this year. With more than 13 million peo -ple still unemployed, the impact of unemployment remains fresh on the minds of many. Forced lifestyle changes, home foreclosures and fami -lies fighting to stay together are just a few of many well-known side effects of a poor economy that is only gradu - ally recovering.

One lesser known side effect of the sagging economy could be the negative impact it’s having on the sleeping patterns of millions of men and women. In an effort to find any job that can help pay the bills or even keep their existing jobs, more and more men and women are willing to work any available shifts. This has caused men and women accustomed to a standard work schedule, be it 9 to 5 or 4 to 12 or overnight, to rotate work shifts. Men and women used to work -ing 9 to 5, for instance, are finding themselves increasingly open to accepting a night shift one day and a day shift the next, all in an effort to land or keep a job.

While this flexibility is under -standable, it could be making indi -viduals more susceptible to a sleeping disorder known as Shift Work Sleep Disorder, or SWSD. SWSD can affect people who frequently rotate shifts or work at night. Such changes go against the body’s natural circadian rhythm, and men and women often struggle to get a decent night’s sleep as a result.

The American Sleep Association notes that the circadian rhythm oper -ates on a nearly exact 24 hour cycle,governing when the body should feel tired or alert and when a person should eat and perform other tasks.This is a natural cycle, and one that exists in plants and animals as well.When this rhythm is consistentlyinterrupted, as it is when a person fre -quently rotates shifts at work, the side effects are numerous and can make it very difficult for men and women to function properly.

Symptoms of SWSDThe most common symptoms of

SWSD are excessive tiredness and insomnia. When a person is exces -sively tired, no aspect of their life is likely to go unaffected. A person deal -

ing with SWSD will have difficulty concentrating and lack energy. This is especially troubling, as shift work positions exist in nearly every sector and often demand a worker’s concen -tration and alertness. Manufacturing positions, which often put workers’ lives in danger, are the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of shift work jobs. However, doctors, nurses,police officers, and firefighters are additional professions that utilize shifts. Excessively sleepy doctors who are struggling to concentrate can be a frightening prospect, as is an auto plant worker who’s struggling to stay focused on the job.

Side Effects of SWSDAn increase in accidents is one of

the major side effects of SWSD. It onlystands to reason that an excessivelytired worker, whatever his or her pro -fession, may be more prone to acci - dents.

Another side of SWSD is irritabil -ity and mood problems. Men and women who are not getting adequate sleep are more likely to be irritable and moody.

Dealing With SWSDThe sagging economy has forced

many people to accept SWSD. After all, many are willing to sacrifice a good night’s sleep in order to keep a roof over their family’s heads and food on the dinner table. However,men and women who plan to continue rotating shifts or taking overnight shifts need to recognize the impor -tance of making sleep a priority. The American Sleep Association rec -ommends people consult their doctor or a sleep specialist for advice of reducing the effects of circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Another approach is to consult family members and ask for their help in creating a quiet and peaceful set -ting in which you can sleep. In homes with young children, this can include informing children that the house must remain quiet while Mom or Dad are asleep. This involves avoiding noisy activities like vacuuming, wash -ing dishes or hosting guests.

SWSD has become a reality for men and women forced to work any shift to support their household in a trying eco -nomic time. To learn more about SWSD,visit the American Association at www.sleepassociation.org.

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