A new club at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is giving the male student population a place to come together. It’s a club DNP student Adrian Bermudez, BSN, RN, CCRN, says he’s been trying to start since he was an undergraduate student at Pitt Nursing.
“I wanted to create a safe space for males within the School of Nursing to have a place to both network and connect with other students at different levels of their academic journeys,” says Bermudez. “I will still be a DNP student at Pitt for the following two years, and I hope to both start the club and provide it with the necessary foundation to allow it to continue to grow for many years to come.”
Bermudez says the goal of the club is to help provide mentee/mentor relationships that all members can participate in, something he said was vital during his time as a BSN student.
“Whether it be talking about different types of nursing jobs, different types of graduate programs, study strategies for specific nursing courses, or talking out our interests outside of the classroom, I hope everyone involved can get something out of the club,” says Bermudez. “I could not have finished my BSN program and gained acceptance to graduate school without the guidance of upperclassman, and I hope to give back and help out those students who are younger than me.”
One of those students is Thomas Kelly, BSN ’24, who is also helping to spearhead the club’s start on campus. The third-year student transferred to Pitt Nursing from a branch campus and said the transition was a lot easier thanks to his three clinical instructors, Regis Kearney, Connor Yates and Bermudez.
“They all have been fantastic resources for my foray into nursing school, none more so than Adrian,” says Kelly. “I hope I can enable students to get the same help I have had because by forming this club, we can create an environment where men in Pitt Nursing, of all levels, can come together and learn from one another.”
Dr. Julius Kitutu, associate dean for student affairs & Alumni Relations, chief diversity officer and associate professor, is the faculty sponsor for the new club and says this it will have a major impact on men within the School of Nursing.
“The male population in the nursing profession is very low,” says Dr. Kitutu. “Coming together as a club will develop a safe space for information exchange on what works, or does not work, while as a male nurse student and/or in working as a nurse.”
From mentoring, socializing, recruitment of male prospective students to presentations from successful male nurses, participants will also have a chance to have discussions aimed at developing each other’s skills, participate in activities that will help with mental health and well-being as a student, while also addressing some of the issues in the local communities. Whereas the club leadership will be all students, male faculty will be invited to help run the club and offer guidance. The faculty will be encouraged to willingly serve as mentors to students.
The club also plans to invite guest speakers to give insight into their education and specialty.
“We hope that with the creation of this club, that students will plan to meet outside of the club and form lasting friendships,” says Kelly.
“We are still working on getting the word out about the club, but the friends that I have told have all seemed receptive and excited about the idea,” says Bermudez. “Some of my friends agree with me and believe a Men in Nursing Club would be great for the School of Nursing and provide another outlet for students to connect and converse. Some of my friends in graduate school said they wished the Men in Nursing Club was offered to them while they were in their undergrad BSN programs.”
While the club is still in its early planning stages, the group hopes to meet once or twice a semester. Their inaugural meeting is planned for March 16, 2023.