The ANA’s newest specialty designation highlights the need for targeted strategies to improve male health outcomes.
On February 26, 2026, the American Nurses Association (ANA) officially recognized men’s health nursing as a distinct nursing specialty by approving the Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice.
This development marks the first time a health profession has defined a nationally recognized specialty focused on the health needs of boys and men, backed by a formal professional framework.
What does specialty recognition mean in nursing?
Within nursing, a specialty is a clearly defined area of practice with its own body of knowledge, ethical expectations, competencies, and professional standards.
The ANA’s specialty recognition process ensures that specialty practice areas meet certain criteria, such as “identifying a need and demand for itself,” “having a well-derived knowledge base, particular to the nursing specialty practice," and “adhering to the overall education, licensure, and certification requirements of the profession.”
The recognition of the men’s health nursing specialty gives nurses who focus on men’s health a professional space in the broader nursing profession, with expectations for education, clinical care, research, and advocacy.
Rationale behind the men’s health nursing specialty
Female patients face significant and well-documented health disparities. However, there are persistent disparities affecting male patients that also remain an important public health concern. Evidence shows that men experience:
- Higher rates of premature mortality
- Greater occupational injury and substance use
- Lower engagement in preventive care
These persistent gaps highlight a critical need for focused clinical knowledge, research, and public health efforts tailored to male physiology, psychology, and health behaviors.
By elevating men’s health nursing to a recognized specialty, the ANA aims to close longstanding gaps in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
“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,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the ANA, in a news release.
Building the men’s health nursing framework
The Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice was developed over several years through a collaborative effort among nurse leaders, clinical experts, and professional nursing organizations. Key contributors included Julian Gallegos, PhD, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center Board of Directors, and Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CCRNP, FAAN, who served as co-leader of the initiative, along with the American Men’s Health Nursing Alliance.
This framework defines:
- Core competencies unique to men’s health nursing
- Evidence-based expectations for nursing care across clinical settings
- Ethical responsibilities for practice and patient advocacy
These structured standards will help unify nurses who care for male patients, giving them a shared language and expectations aligned with the profession’s values.
What changes for nurses and nursing education?
Nurses working with male patients, whether in primary care, community health, acute care, mental health, or specialty clinics, will now have:
- A clear and defined scope of practice guiding clinical decisions
- Shared standards to support quality care delivery
- Professional metrics for evaluation and improvement
This recognition supports more consistent, data-driven, and culturally competent care tailored to male patients. However, it also means that incorporating men’s health topics into nursing curricula will be increasingly important. Educators can now build content around sex-specific health concerns, informed by the new specialty standards.
Elevating male patient care and health equity
This specialty aligns with broader healthcare goals of health equity and population health. Men often seek care later and less frequently than women, contributing to worse outcomes for chronic conditions and preventive health measures. By formalizing men’s health nursing, the ANA:
- Promotes research on male health behaviors and outcomes
- Encourages nurses to advocate for male-specific health policies
- Improves public health messaging for men and boys
“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 in the ANA statement. “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.”
Conclusion
The ANA’s recognition of men’s health nursing is a major step toward closing gaps in male health outcomes. With formal scope and standards now in place, nurses have clearer guidance and a stronger professional identity to improve prevention, engagement, and equity in care for male patients.
