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For the third time in the last five years, UVA School of Nursing earned the American Association for Men in Nursing's "Best School for Men in Nursing" award, one of a small handful of U.S. nursing programs selected for the honor.

The recognition comes as UVA School of Nursing launched its first-ever American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) chapter — the only one in Virginia — and held an inaugural interest meeting with students, faculty advisor James Nisley, and Ryan Darensbourg, staff advisor to the group and a student success specialist.

According to School data, a little over 10% of the School's current undergraduate students is male, more than 15% of its graduate students is male, and about one in five faculty members at the School is male. Nisley, a nurse for more than 41 years, says while he'll continue to promote the nursing profession to men, the new award and AAMN chapter honors position the School as a welcoming place to nurses from every background.

“This recognition reflects the welcoming and supportive culture we’ve built here at UVA — one where all nursing students and faculty feel valued, connected, and encouraged to thrive,” said Nisley. “While we still have work ahead to increase representation, this award acknowledges our progress in creating an inclusive environment that supports men who choose nursing as a career.”

The AAMN chapter at UVA is currently open to faculty and students, though the group may consider allowing interested clinicians to join as well, Nisley said. Their first order of business will be to elect student officers, develop bylaws, and work to align guiding mission and vision statements with that of the national organization, which are to “shape the practice, education, research, and leaders for men in nursing and advance men’s health, and “to be the association of choice representing men in nursing.”

Nisely added that the AAMN chapter’s purpose is to “provide a framework for nurses, as a group, to meet, to discuss and influence factors that affect men as nurses.”

Once off the ground, the group plans to offer service and volunteer events for members, plan forums on topics such as men’s mental health, provide mentoring for junior members, and may ultimately even open its doors to practicing nurses as well, according to BSN student Ariel Till.

But the first order of business is to build community among male nursing students and their allies.

Being a guy in nursing school “can be a tiny bit isolating,” said Till. “Cliques can form surprisingly quickly, and sometimes, guys get left out. So having a community and mentorship is good. This chapter is another level of that.”

His advice to new male nursing students? “Don’t fret," he said.

“At the end of the day, we’re all still people, even if there’s a difference in gender,” said Till. “People here are still nice, they’re still here with the same values, TC [Senior Assistant Dean of Students Theresa Carroll] is still awesome to have, so you don’t need to place a huge emphasis on being a guy. UVA’s a good place to be, but you might take those extra steps if you’re a guy here to step out and join the chapter, meet more people, and find your place.”

The AAMN "Best School for Men in Nursing" award, given for the last 18 years, recognizes nursing programs that have made “significant efforts in recruiting and retaining men in nursing, providing men a supportive educational environment, and in educating faculty, students, and the community about the contributions men have made and do make to the nursing profession." 

“The launch of our new UVA AAMN Chapter is an exciting next step,” Nisley added, “giving our students and faculty a platform to connect, mentor, and continue conversations that strengthen belonging within the profession.”