Use of Social Role Theory to address male stereotypes in nursing education and to boost enrollment

There has been a lot of awareness directed at diversity and inclusion within the nursing field of late. While most of these address the common social determinants of health/education such as socio-cultural, socio-economic, and racial disparities, the most significant disparity in the nursing profession remains gender disparity. On a national level, only 9% of all 4 million nurses are males. Despite a population of approximately 48% males within the city of Springfield, IL, according to the 2020 census, area schools continue to experience single-digit percentage enrollment of male students.

Literature suggests that negative stereotypes of male nurses are a major reason for male apathy toward the profession. The purpose of this presentation is to showcase a ten-part diversity and inclusion (DI) strategy implemented by St. John’s College of Nursing to dispel these stereotypes and to improve male student enrollment. This DI strategy employs the Social Role Theory of sex differences and similarities to craft a role-based biosocial mechanism narrative for male reconsideration of erstwhile gender-skewed perspectives of the profession. The target for this DI effort includes high school male students co-opted into a mentoring program; community-based male groups through community outreach programs; and interestingly, current nursing students, and registered nurses through various academic and non-academic programs. Post-implementation enrollment outcomes for the CON include an increase from 7% male enrollment in 2018 to 12% in 2020.

Ife Muyiwa-Ojo
DNP, MSN-Ed, MBA, NP-C, CCRN, CNE
Assistant Professor
St. John's College of Nursing

Biography

Dr. Ife Muyiwa-Ojo is an assistant professor at St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield, IL. He holds a masters’ degree in nursing education and received his doctoral degree in 2018. He is also a nurse practitioner and holds a masters’ degree in business administration.

Dr. Ife Muyiwa-Ojo is a member of the diversity and Inclusion committee at St. John’s College of Nursing and leads the Men Engaged in Nursing (M.E.N.) group. He is dedicated to cultivating, mentoring, and empowering minority groups and future male nurse leaders who will transform healthcare.

Phone: 217-725-0556
Email: ifeolu.muyiwa-ojo@sjcs.edu