ANA Officially Recognizes ‘Men’s Health Nursing’ Specialty
In a landmark move for both nursing and public health, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has officially recognized Men’s Health Nursing as a specialty practice area, adopting The Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice as the profession’s guiding document. This decision positions nursing as the first healthcare field in the United States to formally define and standardize care specific to the health needs of boys and men.
“This recognition affirms nursing’s responsibility—outlined in our Code of Ethics—to confront persistent, preventable disparities in care,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the ANA. “Designating men’s health as a nursing specialty sharpens our capacity to provide focused, evidence-based care that uplifts men, their families, and their communities.”
Men’s health disparities have long been a concern in public health. Data consistently show that men experience higher rates of early mortality, suicide, occupational injury, and substance use, while often delaying primary or preventive care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American men, on average, die nearly six years earlier than women and are less likely to seek medical advice until conditions have advanced.
The creation of a formal men’s health specialty aims to correct these gaps by anchoring men’s health within a structured framework of nursing practice, research, and education.
“Men’s health isn’t just a men’s issue,” said Jason Mott, PhD, RN, president of the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN). “Healthier men and boys mean healthier families and healthier communities.”
The Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice emerged from a multi-year, nationwide collaboration led by Julian L. Gallegos, PhD, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, and Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CCRNP, FAAN, with participation from the American Men’s Health Nursing Alliance (AMHNA), the AAMN, and numerous nurse experts across the country.
“From the beginning, our goal was simple but ambitious: to ensure that boys and men are no longer invisible in our frameworks of care,” said Gallegos. “Having an ANA-approved scope and standards gives clarity, accountability, and professional identity to this critical discipline.”
By creating a dedicated nursing specialty, the new standards give nurses a framework for education, clinical practice, and research, all focused on improving male health outcomes from childhood through older age.
Academic programs may soon include targeted coursework on men’s health patterns, communication, and psychosocial factors. Clinicians might see new certifications or continuing education opportunities specific to men’s health.
Ultimately, the initiative places men’s health equity on the national agenda, signaling a broader cultural shift toward more inclusive, gender-informed care. By grounding men’s health in the ethical and scientific foundation of nursing, the ANA is helping reshape how the American healthcare system sees—and serves—half its population.
