The male community nurse

Headnote

As district nursing celebrates its 150th anniversary, Alison Blackman assesses how the role of men in the profession has evolved

Summary

Although nursing historically had been a male role, it was seen as women's work by Florence Nightingale. Since the middle of the last century men have been coming back into the profession. This article explores their place in community nursing.

Keywords

District nursing, district nursing: history, male nurses, community nursing: education

'And there is no trade or employment but the young man following it may become a hero.' So wrote Walt Whitman. On hearing that his brother had been wounded in the American Civil War (1861-1865), Whitman went immediately to care for him. His brother's wounds were not life threatening, but Whitman stayed to discover more about the experience of soldiers in the field hospitals. He subsequently worked as a volunteer nurse, feeding the wounded and treating gangrenous wounds. The experience changed Whitman's life forever and inspired his greatest poetry.

Nursing was a male-dominated profession from at least 250BC until the 19th century and the era of Florence Nightingale. Miss Nightingale had strong views on women in nursing and felt that only women possessed the traits of a good nurse, such as caring, nurturing and empathy. The training schools that were set up based on her philosophy refused entry to men.

In 1898, an article in The Nursing Record and Hospital World stated that there were no male nurses in England because there was no advantage in having them. It said there was no demand for male nurses and therefore no need to supply them.

Male orderlies supported the work of nurses by helping to care for the 'unmanageable' and 'delirious'. They were also in charge of cooking, gardening and general upkeep of the hospital. In 1936, the British Journal of Nursing published an article that expressed concerns about the shortage of nurses. It was agreed subsequently that ex-service nursing orderlies, both men and women, would be eligible to train as nurses. The training would last for 12 months with state exams after three and nine months.

By 1947 the British Journal of Nursing reported that male nurses were now allowed to take up senior posts as matrons or assistant matrons and to...