JJC Establishes Men in Nursing Chapter to Grow Male Nurses

Joliet Junior College has become the first community college in Illinois to have a chapter of the American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN). The chapter aims to provide male nursing students with support and mentoring and help attract new students to the college’s program.

The AAMN exists to “shape the practice, education, research and leadership for men in nursing and advance men’s health.”

“Men represent approximately 49% of the population in the United States, yet they only represent approximately 12% of the profession,” said nursing professor Dr. Julio Santiago. “It is always important to be able to look at issues or situations from different perspectives. Not having adequate representation of men in nursing can create conditions that are not fully representative of our population.”

14% of JJC’s nursing students are male. Dr. Santiago wants to increase that percentage by encouraging high school students that a career in nursing is a great choice for males. The AAMN chapter also provides current students with opportunities to address men’s health issues.

“The goal of the chapter is to reach out to the community and educate them on the role nursing plays in healthcare. We want to demonstrate the importance of men's healthcare issues,” Dr. Santiago said.

The JJC Nursing program admits 96 students, 72 in the day program and 24 in the evening program each semester. You can find more information about the program on the nursing website.

For media inquiries, contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at sharvey@jjc.edu.