By Jim Siegel
Gannett Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - As the statewide nursing shortage becomes more critical, a state board is recruiting men and minorities.

"If we don't do something now, in 10 years we're going to have a real problem," said John Brion, executive director of the Ohio Board of Nursing. "We are not replacing nurses as quickly as they are leaving, and the population needs more urgent health care.''

The nursing board recently unveiled a new marketing campaign, "Nursing Rewards ... It's About You," to highlight the benefits of a nursing career. The ads, which started in movie theaters and will move on to billboards and TV as money is raised, feature a number of male and minority nurses.

Just 4 percent of Ohio's 185,000 nurses are men; 8 percent are minorities, the board says. That compares to 5 and 12 percent nationally.

"If we can increase those by a few percentage points, it would go a long way toward solving the shortage and creating a more diverse workforce," Brion said.

Black male nurses like Ardelius Boan are a rarity. He has been a nurse at the Ohio State University Medical Center for more than three years, but knows it's still viewed as a field for women.

"Some men believe they shouldn't be a nurse. But it's not like that anymore," said Boan, who's working toward a master's degree that he hopes will lead him into an administrative position.

Ohio issued 4,913 new nursing licenses in 2002, compared to 6,875 in 1995 - a decrease of 28 percent.

According to the Ohio Labor Market Information, the starting hourly wage for registered nurses is $19.05.