For the second consecutive year, Rush University College of Nursing has been named one of the Best Schools for Men in Nursing by the American Association for Men in Nursing.
Faculty advisors Fred Brown, DNP, RN, CENP, and Aaron Franklin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, traveled to St. Louis to accept the award with the Men in Nursing student leaders.
"When we received this award for the second consecutive year, it felt like a strong validation of all the work we've put into supporting men in nursing at Rush," Franklin says.
He and Brown have worked together since 2013 when Franklin came to Rush after completing his BSN. Brown mentored Franklin and their immediate connection as men in the profession inspired Franklin to continue his education, completing the Master of Science: Clinical Nurse Leader in 2019 and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP): Systems Leadership in 2021.
“Rush University's College of Nursing has demonstrated an exceptional public presence promoting diversity in nursing, including being featured on local news reports and in magazine stories, as well as maintaining an active presence on social media to promote their chapter and diversity in nursing."
Franklin’s DNP project focused on reviving the Men in Nursing program at Rush, and he and Brown have worked to expand the program since 2021.
“I knew right away that Aaron had great potential for leadership, and I was proud to support his passion for reinvigorating the Men in Nursing program at Rush,” Brown says.
Today, the Men in Nursing program offers students the opportunity to form relationships, volunteer in the community and continue building interest in the nursing profession among men. They host on-campus events for students and nurses across Rush to foster mentorship and camaraderie. The organization has also adopted part of the highway on the west side in Chicago and holds cleanup events in the community.
Lee Gaveras is the student president of Men in Nursing. He came to Rush to complete the Generalist Entry Master’s program. He chose Rush because of the focus on quality patient care, health equity and the community.
“Representation is incredibly important in health care, and I am honored to lead a group that is dedicated to helping produce a more diverse healthcare community,” Gaveras says.
The review committee at AAMN noted that Rush is helping attract more men to the profession. “Rush University's College of Nursing has demonstrated an exceptional public presence promoting diversity in nursing, including being featured on local news reports and in magazine stories, as well as maintaining an active presence on social media to promote their chapter and diversity in nursing.”
“I am extremely proud of what we have achieved and I know our future is even brighter together,” Brown says.
