Male nurses still scarce, recruitment efforts lacking

Despite growing concern about the lack of male nurses in Barbados, there are still no formal programmes aimed at encouraging more men to enter the profession.

Director of Nursing at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Henderson Pinder, confirmed the absence of targeted recruitment efforts and said he would gladly support outreach initiatives, especially those that engage students directly.

“Right now, there are no direct programmes to attract [men],” he told Barbados TODAY. “But I think we might need to look at going to the schools now and showing men that yes, nursing is lucrative, it’s profitable, it’s a stable career.”

His comments follow recent remarks from senior officials at the University of the West Indies (UWI), who highlighted the low number of male nursing students and pointed to financial incentives such as stipends, while acknowledging that cultural perceptions continue to deter many from pursuing the field.

Pinder estimated that men make up just 10 per cent of the QEH’s nursing staff, a figure that has barely shifted in recent years. He noted that while male nurses often gravitate toward fast-paced departments like emergency and theatre, many still shy away from the profession due to lingering stereotypes.

“The males are primarily in a female-dominated profession, and as you know, that has its various gender biases, stereotyping, and cultural biases,” he said. “Sometimes, if pressured too much, some men feel like they’re not accepted within the profession.”

He believes that changing this reality will require more supportive environments, peer encouragement, and visibility, especially from male nurses willing to share their stories and mentor others.

“We also need to have that level of support from females because [men] need to feel accepted and appreciated when they choose this career pathway,” he added.

Pinder, a veteran in the field, urged young men to consider nursing as a respected and rewarding career that offers job security, leadership opportunities and room for growth.

“Nursing is well-respected, well-established. It offers longevity. It’s one of those professions you can have for the balance of your life, and men are generally leaders, so they have the opportunity to rise to higher levels,” he said.

Pinder stressed that increasing male participation isn’t only about balance, but also about better care.

“Generally, the report is that men are a little more caring when it comes to that intimate relationship with the patient, and somehow people feel a little safer in the arms of men,” he said. (SM)