Disclaimer: This article was provided by the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) in partnership with AMSN in recognition of Men’s Health Month.

When you hear "health equity," what comes to mind? For many, the focus lands on determinants of health, maternal health, pediatric wellness, or cancer screening. While these are essential, we often overlook a critical gap in our healthcare landscape: men’s health needs. As medical-surgical nurses, you are on the frontlines of patient care. You see the patterns every day: the 45-year-old in the ED with chest pain he has ignored for three days, the patient who views admitting to mental health struggles as a sign of weakness, or the father who avoids preventive screenings because he’s too focused on "pushing through" and managing a heavy schedule in his life. These are not just isolated incidents. They are symptomatic of a systemic and cultural issue that nursing is uniquely positioned to improve.

When seeking help feels like failure, patients stay away until the problem is unavoidable, often leading to worse health outcomes and more complex, expensive treatments in our med-surg units. The statistics are alarming. In the United States, men die nearly six years earlier than women on average.¹ They visit providers less frequently; often delay seeking care for serious symptoms; and face disproportionately higher rates of suicide, cardiovascular disease, and undiagnosed mental health conditions. This isn't merely a biological phenomenon. It is deeply cultural and results in societal expectations of masculinity creating significant barriers to care.

Men’s health nursing is not about treating men as a separate, isolated body system. It is about understanding the biopsychosocial factors that influence how men engage with healthcare. Nurses have the power to dismantle these barriers by providing gender-sensitive, culturally competent care. With male nurses comprising only about 13% of the workforce, their presence is not just a diversity metric.² It is a functional advantage in patient engagement, autonomy, and transparency. When male patients encounter male nurses, they often feel more comfortable discussing sensitive health issues like erectile dysfunction, prostate concerns, or mental health struggles. All nurses, regardless of gender, can use specific strategies to break down the stigma of men’s healthcare and improve outcomes:

• Normalize the Conversation: Proactively ask about mental health, preventative care, and lifestyle behaviors as part of routine assessments. By normalizing these discussions, you reduce stigma.
• Focus on Health Optimization: Shift from a reactive, "disease-only" model to a preventive one. Frame wellness in ways that resonate with male patients, such as how proactive care helps them maintain their ability to protect, provide, and engage with their families.
• Leverage Collaborative Care: Utilize interprofessional teams for comprehensive inpatient and post-discharge support. If a patient is reluctant to discuss a mental health concern, facilitate a handoff to behavioral health resources.
• Shared Decision-Making: Men are more likely to engage when they feel empowered. Use decision aids and plain-language communication to ensure they feel in control of their health trajectory.

Why Your Efforts Matter

Every shift offers opportunities to advance men’s health equity. Treat every patient encounter as an opportunity to ask broader questions about wellness, not just the acute condition. By starting honest conversatios and challenging limiting stereotypes, you are not just treating an individual; you are supporting them and their families and strengthening the nursing profession. Tailor your education to the patient’s context. Whether addressing language barriers, shift work schedules, or health literacy, meet the patient where they are. Your efforts today create healthier tomorrows for the men in your care, ultimately leading to a healthier society overall.

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Men in nursing occupations: American Community Survey highlight report. 2023. www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/acs/acsbr-022.html
2. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The state of diversity in nursing: 2023 data report. 2023. www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/research-data/diversity-report