On January 1, 2013, nurses will be recognized with a float in the historic Rose Parade. This will mark the very first time in the parade’s 124-year history that nurses have received such an honor.
The float, titled “A Healing Place,” was inspired in-part by the election of Sally Bixby, the first Registered Nurse to serve as president of the Tournament of Roses. Built using funds raised by the nonprofit Bare Root, Inc., the float will feature 10 riders; each selected to represent diversity in Registered Nursing.
Bob Patterson, RN, MSN, will represent the American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) aboard the float. With over 30 years of experience in various clinical and leadership roles, Patterson is an active advocate for men in nursing. According to the New York Times, men make up approximately 7% of the nursing workforce in the United States. Patterson’s presence aboard the float is seen as an important step toward raising awareness of nursing as a men’s profession and dispelling stereotypes about nurses in general.
An estimated 300 million viewers worldwide will also take note of the scrubs and lab coat bearing the AAMN logo which has been donated by men’s scrubs store Murse World to be worn by Patterson during the parade. According to Murse World co-founder Scott Topiol, “It is very important for us to support Bob as he appears on the worldwide stage as an advocate for men in nursing.” As a recent graduate of the Registered Nursing program at Los Angeles City College, Topiol also understands what it is to be among the minority in nursing.
Earlier in 2012, AAMN and Murse World entered into a strategic partnership in order to help promote the needs of men within the medical uniform industry. According to Murse World co-founder Alex Mayzels, “Male nurses have traditionally been forced to wear so-called unisex scrubs which simply don’t fit well. We felt that since Bob would be representing nursing as a men’s profession on board the Rose Parade float, his scrubs should also look smart and professional.” Members of the Murse World staff plan on attending the upcoming Rose Parade in person to support Patterson and the other riders.
Murse World is the world's first scrubs store exclusively for men. They sell men's scrubs by popular brands such as Dickies, Cherokee, Landau, Koi, Iguana Med, Ecko Unlimited, Med Couture and more. Murse World has quickly become a uniform leader among men in nursing and other healthcare professionals.
The American Assembly for Men in Nursing is a national professional nursing organization with local chapters. AAMN's primary priorities are to promote the recruitment and retention of men in nursing and to promote men’s health.
