UW-Oshkosh among nation’s best schools for men in nursing—earning recognition for the ninth time

JakeBrabender, left, and Jayden Campbell, both juniors in the nursing program at UW-Oshkosh, are members of the Men in Nursing Club.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has once again been named one of the nation's Best Schools for Men in Nursing by the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN), marking the ninth time UWO has received the honor.

The recognition places UW-Oshkosh among some of the most prestigious nursing programs in the country, including Duke University, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia.

Jason Mott, PhD, RN, professor of nursing and president of the American Association for Men in Nursing, said the award recognizes institutions that demonstrate progress in areas such as recruitment, representation and student success for men in nursing.

"This award demonstrates UWO's commitment to increasing the number of men in nursing as well as creating a positive environment for men in nursing, "Mott said. "The recognition is a draw for UWO, as I have talked with male students who are coming to UWO because of it."

He noted that UW Oshkosh has earned the distinction more times than any other school since the program began, an accomplishment that underscores the College of Nursing's sustained efforts to recruit and retain men in the profession.

Echoing that sentiment, Seon Yoon Chung, dean of the College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM, said the national honor affirms UWO's leadership in preparing nurses who make a difference locally and nationally.

"This recognition reflects the kind of learning environment we strive to create-one that values collaboration, welcomes different perspectives and empowers every student to lead with compassion," Chung said. "Our students and faculty are showing the nation what it means to advance excellence in nursing together."

Part of UWO's application each year highlights the outreach and service led by the Men in Nursing Club, which brings together both men and women to advocate for the profession and engage the community.

This year, three senior student leaders traveled to the AAMN national conference in Orlando to accept the honor: Rebecca Volz, Jayden Campbell and Lily Nadolny, joined by Mott in his role as AAMN president. (Nationally, AAMN's membership includes a substantial number of women who support men in nursing and men's health initiatives-reflecting the organization's collaborative mission.)

For Jayden Campbell, a junior nursing major from West Allis and president of UWO's Men in Nursing Club, the recognition reinforces what he sees on campus every day.

"To me it shows the commitment and hard work that all nursing majors have put in both inside and outside of the classroom to better the community and further their education," he said.

Campbell also has a message for young men considering the field. He encourages them not to be discouraged by outdated stereotypes about who can or should become a nurse.

"You are the change that healthcare needs as diversity in nursing is a major issue," Campbell said. "If nursing is your calling, dive in headfirst. You'll have moments of doubt, but don't let someone else's opinion of what nursing should look like to get in your head. You are just as capable and just as important."

At UWO, roughly 15 percent of nursing students are men overall, with even higher representation, roughly 30 to 40 percent, in the Accelerated BSN and nurse anesthesia-related pathways, a pattern consistent with national trends in specialty interest.

Superb standing

Jeremiah Ennen, a third-year DNP-nurse anesthesia student from Buffalo Center, Iowa, said he chose to come to UWO because of its stellar reputation.

"UWO's DNP-NA program offers some of the most diverse clinical experiences, ranging from independent practice in rural settings to Level 1 Trauma centers, providing me with the best clinical experience possible," Ennen said.

Mott says that combination of outcomes and a welcoming, student-centered culture is what keeps UWO on the AAMN list year after year.

"Being ranked amongst the top universities in the nation highlights the opportunities that we have at a university the size of UWO," Mott said. "UWO has been and will continue to be a leader within AAMN and will have a strong role in changing the nursing profession nationally."

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