American Nurses Association Recognizes Men’s Health as a Nursing Specialty
Approval of Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice marks a historic milestone for the profession and advances health equity for men
SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) has officially adopted The Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice along with formal recognition of Men’s Health Nursing as a specialty within the nursing profession. This marks a significant advancement in how healthcare addresses the unique needs of boys and men across the lifespan, and establishes nationally recognized expectations for professional practice, education, and ethical responsibility specific to men’s health nursing. With this recognition, nursing becomes the first healthcare profession to define a nationally recognized men’s health specialty supported by a formal scope and standards document.
“This recognition affirms nursing’s responsibility within the Code of Ethics for Nurses to confront persistent, preventable disparities in patient care,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. “Designating men’s health as a nursing specialty sharpens our capacity to provide focused, evidence-based care that advances the health of boys and men, uplifting and strengthening their communities.”
Jason Mott, PhD, RN, American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) President, added, “Men’s health isn’t just a men’s issue. Healthier men and boys mean healthier families and healthier communities.”
Men’s health disparities remain a critical public health concern. Boys and men experience higher rates of premature mortality, suicide, occupational injury, substance use, and delayed engagement in preventive care. The establishment of Men’s Health Nursing as a specialty creates a structured framework for addressing these challenges through focused education, clinical practice, research, and policy engagement.
The Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice reflects a multi-year, nationwide collaboration led by Julian L. Gallegos, PhD, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center Board of Directors, with Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CCRNP, FAAN serving as co-lead, alongside the American Men’s Health Nursing Alliance (AMHNA), and with the support of the AAMN, and nurse experts from across the country.
“Having an ANA-approved scope and standards provides clarity, accountability, and professional identity for nurses who focus on men’s health,” said Gallegos. “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 Dr. Gallegos. “Establishing men’s health as a nursing specialty creates the infrastructure, accountability, and professional identity needed to close long-standing gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for male patients across the lifespan.”
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About the American Nurses Association
As the oldest organization representing more than 5 million registered nurses, the American Nurses Association stands at the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The association harnesses The Power of Nurses™ to champion the profession and drive transformation in healthcare. Through legislative and political advocacy, comprehensive educational services, and the profession’s leading Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards, the association empowers nurses across every specialty and practice setting. The association is committed to ensuring healthy work environments, shaping pioneering policies, and cultivating partnerships that enhance both the nursing profession and the broader healthcare experience.
MEDIA CONTACT: newsroom@ana.org