By Laura Gasque
The American Association for Men in Nursing has recognized the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing as a 2023 Best School for Men in Nursing, the Birmingham at-Large Chapter of AAMN as the Best Chapter for 2023, and UAB Medicine as a 2023 Best Workplace for Men in Nursing.
This is the fifth year in a row the School has received the distinction of Best School for Men in Nursing. Assistant Professor and President of the Birmingham at-Large Chapter of AAMN Somali Nguyen, DNP, CRNP, AGACNP-BC (BSN 2010, MSN 2014, DNP 2019), said the award emphasizes the UAB School of Nursing’s continued commitment to creating an inclusive environment for men becoming professional nurses.
“The School continues to have a higher male enrollment than the national average, as well as male faculty,” Nguyen said. “That doesn’t mean we stop here. We will continue to shoot for the moon and hopefully bring back more stars along the way.”
The Birmingham at-Large Chapter of AAMN also is the 2023 Best Chapter for Men in Nursing out of more than 60 chapters nationally. In February, it became the first at-large chapter for the organization, opening up more membership opportunities in the community. The School reestablished the Birmingham Chapter of AAMN in 2018, dedicating additional resources to recruitment, awareness, mentorship and community partnerships.
“This year has brought many accomplishments to our at-Large Chapter,” Nguyen said. “In addition to receiving these awards, we have established new partnerships with the Alzheimer’s Association in Birmingham and Brother Bryan Mission, an organization that helps those dealing with addiction find stable employment and housing. We’ve volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and in conjunction with our Men in Nursing Employee Resource Group at UAB Medicine, we were able to collect and donate canned goods and toiletry items to the Blazer Kitchen by introducing the CANstruction competition which brought in more than 8,000 pounds of food and 150 toiletry items for families in need. Lastly, we were able to offer the School’s first-ever men’s health mini-conference during Men’s Health Awareness Month. Everything we do is because we want BCAAMN to be recognized as the local professional home for men striving to become nurses as well as for those who are currently practicing.”
For the first time, UAB Medicine has been named a Best Workplace for Men in Nursing, recognizing its efforts to recruit and retain men in nursing. The award is a result of collaborative efforts of the Birmingham at-Large Chapter of AAMN and a number of UAB Medicine groups, said Chapter Vice President and Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program Manager at UAB Medicine Jason Hatcher, RN, MSN, NE-BC (MSN 2010).
“As BCAAMN Chapter Vice President, it is such an honor to have my employer receive AAMN’s Best Workplace for Men in Nursing,” Hatcher said. “Raising the profile of men in nursing at UAB Medicine has been a true collaboration among the BCAAMN, UAB Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UAB Medicine Men in Nursing Employee Resource Group, hospital leadership and human resources. While I already knew that UAB Medicine was an inclusive organization, I believe them receiving this honor is a testament to their ongoing commitment. It truly is an honor to work at a world class health system that supports and embraces everyone equally. I look forward to BCAAMN’s continued partnership with UAB Medicine and the School of Nursing.”
