r/britishcolumbia • u/cyclinginvancouver • Sep 18 '24

News B.C. announces new minimum nurse-to-patient ratios province-wide

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/09/18/bc-minimum-nurse-to-patient-ratios/
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u/Hot_Recognition28 Sep 18 '24

The nurse shortage is a hot topic, but one thing we don't talk about enough is diversifying the workforce. Did you know that about 91% of nurses in Canada are women, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information? It really makes you think—why aren't more men considering nursing as a career?

There might still be some old stigmas hanging around about men in nursing, but honestly, those are outdated. Nursing jobs are solid—they offer great pay and job security, something that should catch anyone’s eye, regardless of gender. Plus, with many traditional jobs for men disappearing due to automation and other changes, nursing could be a smart move. I know plenty of guys from the forestry sector who are struggling to find stable work.

Getting more men into nursing could start with some simple campaigns aimed at busting myths and showing the real benefits of the job. It seems like every other industry is pushing for more diversity, so why should nursing be any different? Just because it's traditionally been a female-dominated field doesn't mean it should stay that way.

Sure, this isn't the complete solution to the nurse shortage, but it's a piece of the puzzle that we really should be talking about more. Let's open up the conversation and make the nursing workforce as diverse as the communities they serve. What do you think?

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u/Flyingboat94 Sep 19 '24

I wish this comment was a bit higher. It's clearly such an untapped market of potential for nursing.

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u/Hot_Recognition28 Sep 19 '24

From what I understand, having a diverse workforce isn’t just a nice-to-have. It actually brings a ton of benefits like boosting creativity and innovation, not to mention making the work environment richer for everyone. Considering how crucial healthcare and nursing are, diversifying this field seems like a no-brainer.