Scott C鈥�13, Neal C鈥�11, and Bryan C鈥�09 Johnson have gotten used to the raised eyebrows and curious looks they get when they tell people what profession they鈥檙e in.
All three are nurses.
鈥淚 sometimes get that look of sympathy,鈥� says Neal, 28, a former ICU nurse who is now pursuing certification as a nurse anesthetist. 鈥淭here鈥檚 really no getting around the clich茅.鈥�
While the brothers are still among a handful of male nurses at their respective workplaces (90% of nurses are women), their ranks are growing: The percentage of male nurses in the workforce has tripled since 1970, from 2.7% to 9.6%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And, says Dean Linda Duncan, men now account for 20% of every nursing class in North Park鈥檚 School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The brothers, who were raised by missionary parents in the United States and Guatemala, became nurses because they wanted to help others. Their nursing degrees also have laid the groundwork for immediate and rewarding careers.
鈥淲ith some majors, you鈥檙e not sure where you鈥檙e going to end up,鈥� says Bryan, 31, a pediatric nurse at Lurie Children鈥檚 Hospital. 鈥淲ith nursing, there鈥檚 a direct path to get a job.鈥�
The brothers saw North Park鈥檚 location in Chicago as another bonus. All three know nurses who trained at other schools, some in rural locations, who didn鈥檛 graduate with the same broad-based perspective and deep experience that North Park offers.
鈥淚 have some friends who, in school, only did rotations at an adult hospital,鈥� Bryan says. In contrast, North Park nursing students get a wide range of experience in everything from pediatrics to emergency care, and at a variety of world-class Chicago-area hospitals that work closely with North Park.
In addition to putting their professional training to work, the brothers say they are called upon, from time to time, to use their size and strength on the job.
Scott, 39, an emergency room nurse at Evanston Hospital, says supervisors often seek his help to assist with distressed patients. 鈥淪ometimes, a patient might need to be restrained for various reasons, and I鈥檓 the one they call on.鈥�
In Lurie鈥檚 pediatrics department, Bryan says that many young patients are more comfortable relating to nurses in their gender. 鈥淭eenage boys are glad when I walk in the room. It can be easier for them to ask me questions or tell me what鈥檚 wrong.鈥�
Similarly, Neal says he鈥檚 the one to lean on for his frail, elderly patients who have trouble getting around. They feel at ease relying on him for support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be able to help people feel safe,鈥� Neal says.