The 41th American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) annual meeting and exhibit was held in Miami FL, on September 22-24, 2016. Julian Williams and Thomas George represented FNU and the diversity program as a recipient of the annual Student Ambassador essay contest hosted by FNU’s Diversity PRIDE Program. The essay contest is an initiative aimed at fostering student-leadership retention, professional networking and continued nursing education.
Frontier PRIDE attends AAMN 2016
The overall conference goal of AAMN focused on supporting the professional growth of men in nursing. The theme centered on promoting diversity and inclusivity to increase gender diversity, where currently male nurses make up 9% of the overall nursing profession. FNU PRIDE student Thomas (pictured far left) shares, “It’s interesting to think of men as being a minority group within nursing.” Both students remarked that AAMN was an empowering experience to be surrounded by the support of male nurses that care about the healthcare they provide. FNU PRIDE student Julian (pictured left, right side) states, “It was awesome to be in the same room, and learn, and to see what strides are being made to increase diversity within the realm of nursing.”
AAMN sessions focused on awareness about men's health issues, advocacy, education and the increasing contributions made by men in the nursing profession. Attendees heard from pioneers in nursing like Dr. Dan Suarez, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), and Dr. Eric Williams, President of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). Dr. Williams shared how he became the first male President at NBNA, and the importance of including gender as ongoing discussions within the field of nursing. Another highlight of AAMN allowed attendees to meet a fellow nursing professional, Evens (pictured left, middle), and learned that upon completion of his FNP program in December, will make him the first male NP in his country of Haiti. With gender diversity on the rise as more men enter the nursing profession, organizations like AAMN offer the support needed for male nurses to continue providing quality service. FNU PRIDE student Julian sums it up, “It’s important that we understand different cultures and customs…and I was excited that the conference actually touched on some of these main frames [points].” The networking opportunities provide a platform for the American Assembly of Men in Nursing (AAMN) to continue to serve as a prime target for FNU to increase visibility and diverse collaborations with the organization. FNU PRIDE student Thomas reflects on the conference, “I am a better nurse as a result, I’m better connected because of the networking, and I feel like I have a tool set now that will help me as a bridge maker to communities…” Click here for the PRIDE student ambassador’s video summary for AAMN.
Contributor, Wilvena McDowell-Bernard, FNU Diversity PRIDE Program Coordinator/Student Services ,10/11/2016
