Men living in rural environments are known to have poorer health status than women and have a shorter life expectancy in every age group than women.

I am currently employed by Bendigo Community Health Services as a Nurse Practitioner (Men’s Health). My role is multifaceted including health education for community groups, development of health promotion resources and population based health assessment in a clinic situation and in the workplace.

The Men’s Health Nurse Practitioner (Bendigo Community Health Services) forms part of an interdependent multidisciplinary team that provides primary health services to men over 16 years of age. The role utilises a health promotion approach combined with clinical services, to address the health needs of rural men. A health promotion approach has been used, as many men’s health problems are preventable and related to factors such as lifestyle, health-risk behaviour and poor health care service utilisation.

The Men’s Health Nurse Practitioner role encompasses fundamental elements of preventive practice and supportive nursing care such as providing a therapeutic environment that facilitates trust, acceptance and informed decision making. In this model the Nurse Practitioner assesses health education requirements and opportunities for action, provision of advice about how to negotiate the health system and provides clarification of terms, concepts and health consequences.  Practices undertaken by the Nurse practitioner encompass elements of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.

The men’s health model of practice is based on the men’s health assessment. Community and workplace screening sessions, in addition to educational sessions are also used to engage men in settings where men congregate and can make easy contact.

Today is a busy day.

I will be presenting an introductory men’s health talk to a heavy manufacturing industry. The workplace has 400 men employed and have asked me to conduct “men’s health check ups” for employees that are interested. It is important for the men to meet me first to allay their fears and create a male friendly environment. Many of these men have never had a check up before.
I then have an appointment at ABC radio to talk about the upcoming men’s health week events. Health promotion to the masses is important it creates the inspiration for many men who may later consider engaging in local men’s health services.

I will see a client at 1pm who cannot attend the regular men’s clinic, which is held of an evening to suit those men that work during the day.

Preparation of a power point presentation for a local Rotary club event is the next item on the agenda and will need to be completed for the following evening.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent checking diagnostic results and reviewing health care plans for the Men’s Health Clinic that will be running this evening from 4pm to 8.30 pm. The clinic allows for a 45 minute consultation for new clients and a 30 minute consultation for those men that return for a review. 60% of the clients attend for a men’s health check up which entails a detailed risk assessment related to their age. The assessment covers important issues for men and include past medical history, family history, weight and exercise levels, lipid and glucose analysis, prostate and bowel cancer screening, alcohol and other drug use, sexual health issues including erectile dysfunction, mental health concerns, depression and social and family issues.

Today has been a busy day but the satisfaction of seeing an increasing number of men engaging in preventative health practices in the Bendigo region is pleasing. It provides a high level of job satisfaction and creates growth in an area that desperately needs acknowledgement.

As a Community Health Nurse I was able to complete many of the desired tasks relating to the promotion of men’s health. However, It became evident that progression to the role of Nurse Practitioner (Men’s Health) would allow me to operate in a more holistic and timely manner with undoubted benefits for rural men. The opportunity to research the men’s health model of practice came as part of the Nurse Practitioner Demonstration Project. It allowed me to develop a model of practice that was specifically designed for rural men. The project used evidence based practices when available, significant community consultation and evaluation and trial of practice under the watchful eye of other health professionals. Nurse practitioner status has enabled me to diversify, expand and mobilize my practice to engage men in environments that are more suitable for positive health care outcomes for rural men.

Men’s health clinicians are in high demand and I would encourage any one interested in this specialty to consider the extra training. It is a relative new area of practice, very exciting and would require some one that is innovative and motivated.