UW Oshkosh was named one of the best schools in the U.S. for men in nursing for the ninth time by the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) in October.
UWO earned the title as one of the nation’s “Best Schools for Men in Nursing” alongside other prestigious nursing schools such as Duke University (North Carolina), Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), Rutgers University (New Jersey) and Vanderbilt University (Tennessee).
Jason Mott, a UWO professor and president of the AAMN, said that the distinction is aimed at recognizing colleges and universities that demonstrate student success for men in nursing.
“This award demonstrates UWO’s commitment to increasing the number of men in nursing as well as creating a positive environment for men in nursing,” Mott said. “The recognition is a draw for UWO, as I have talked with male students who are coming to UWO because of it.”
According to Mott, UWO has earned the recognition more times than any other school since the AAMN began handing out the award.
University officials said that each year on its applications for the award, UWO highlights the outreach and service led by the school’s Men in Nursing Club, which looks to bring together both men and women to advocate for the profession and engage the community.
At this year’s 50th annual AAMN national conference in Orlando, Florida, UWO sent three students, Rebecca Volz, Jayden Campbell and Lily Nadolny, to accept the award.
Campbell, a junior from West Bend and president of the Men in Nursing Club, said that the award reinforces what he has been seeing on campus.
“To me, it shows the commitment and hard work that all nursing majors have put in both inside and outside of the classroom to better the community and further their education,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he encourages young men who are considering the major to not be discouraged by outdated stereotypes about who can become a nurse.
“You are the change that healthcare needs as diversity in nursing is a major issue,” Campbell said. “If nursing is your calling, dive in headfirst. You’ll have moments of doubt, but don’t let someone else’s opinion of what nursing should look like get in your head. You are just as capable and just as important.”
The university reported that about 15% of nursing students at UWO are male, with between 30-40% male representation in the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing and nurse anesthesia–related pathways.
UWO junior Jeremiah Ennen, a nursing anesthesia student from Buffalo Center, Iowa, said that he chose to come to the school because of the reputation that the nursing major holds.
“UWO’s DNP-NA program offers some of the most diverse clinical experiences, ranging from independent practice in rural settings to Level I trauma centers, providing me with the best clinical experience possible,” Ennen said.
Mott said that a welcoming, student-centered culture is what keeps putting UWO on the AAMN list.
“Being ranked amongst the top universities in the nation highlights the opportunities that we have at a university the size of UWO,” Mott said. “UWO has been and will continue to be a leader within AAMN and will have a strong role in changing the nursing profession nationally.”
