Student Club Becomes Chapter of Men’s Nursing Association

SHU’s Men Entering Nursing organization recruits and supports male nurses

The American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN) recently recognized Sacred Heart University’s Men Entering Nursing (MEN) club as a certified chapter.

The affiliation is an incredible milestone for MEN, founded in 2022. Sacred Heart joins a prestigious group of only 66 other schools from around the country that host certified chapters and is one of only two universities in the state with the distinction. The accreditation enables MEN to tap into networking events, make new connections and earn awards and recognition.

Cameron Ottaviani ’26, SHU chapter president, is excited about the new certification, saying, “I can happily say that we are no longer a club since we are now nationally recognized as a chapter of AAMN.” Ottaviani oversees the chapter’s day-to-day operations, from running meetings to leading projects for the executive board.

“As president, I am the first line of advocacy for our chapter. I am the one who will publicly speak about our organization and share the greatness that lies within it,” Ottaviani said. “Being the president of the University’s chapter is so rewarding because I get to lead a group of people into growth, support and the forming of new relationships.”

The chapter offers a supportive place for men in SHU’s nursing program, as they represent only about 7% of enrolled students. Professor and faculty adviser Norman Weller is proud of the University’s ability to provide for a group of students who needed to feel a sense of community, especially post-pandemic.

Men Entering Nursing focuses on student retention and community building. It’s not only for men, however: women in the nursing program make up a significant portion of the membership, providing support to their male counterparts.

Since MEN was founded, male retention in SHU’s nursing program has risen 10%. This spring, the nursing program’s graduating class will include more than 10 males for the first time in its 11-year history.

The chapter also works heavily recruiting high school students to study nursing. Members often visit local Bridgeport and Fairfield high schools to give potential students information.

Nursing professor and faculty adviser Christopher Sage spoke to the importance of the recruiting visits. “It makes a huge difference when high schoolers, males in particular, see another male student promoting the nursing program,” he said. “It helps them envision their future career a little bit more clearly.”

Sage and Weller emphasized that none of these efforts would be possible without continued support from the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing, including Karen Daley, dean. 
 
Vincent Buccheri, chapter vice president, said MEN has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. When MEN started, he imagined it would provide a community and inspire the next generation of male nurses, but the group has done even more than that.

“The most rewarding feeling I have had thus far is seeing people I talked to at open houses before they were accepted into the school, who are now in the nursing program, and being able to help them,” he said. “One of the main reasons I joined is because of how rigorous this program is. I had a person who supported me when I was a first-year student, and now I want to be that support for others.”

All involved in the chapter take pride in what they’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. Sage and Weller agree the chapter provides a safe place for students to grow and make lifelong bonds. They said seeing students succeed and discover a passion for caretaking is priceless.