Changing the Face of Nursing: Aultman’s First Male Students

Changing the Face of Nursing: Aultman’s First Male Students

In the fall of 1952, the quiet corridors of Aultman School of Nursing changed forever. On September 21, 1952, two young men — Robert L. Crankshaw and William R. Whetstone — stepped through the school’s doors as part of the first group of male nursing students ever admitted. Their arrival drew curious glances from students in crisp white uniforms and cautious looks from instructors who had never before taught men in the program. Nursing in the early 1950s was still widely viewed as women’s work, and many in Canton questioned whether the young men would last even a semester. But Robert and William carried themselves with quiet determination, understanding they were entering not only a school, but a profession in transition.

The early months were not easy. The men were excluded from many of the traditions long established for female students, and they often felt isolated during lectures and clinical rotations. Some patients refused treatment from them, while a few physicians treated them more like orderlies than future nurses. Though they faced skepticism, the two students leaned on each other for support, and encouraged one another through demanding exams and exhausting hospital hours.

As the years passed, attitudes slowly began to shift. Faculty members who had once doubted the experiment started praising the men’s professionalism and dedication. Younger students no longer stared when Robert and William entered classrooms; instead, they studied beside them as equals. On September 13, 1955, Robert made history by becoming the first male graduate of Aultman School of Nursing. William’s journey followed its own unique path, the school records list his graduation on November 24, 1955. Together they helped reshape the identity of nursing in Canton and opened doors for countless men who would follow in their footsteps. Their courage was not loud or dramatic, but steady and enduring — the kind of courage that quietly changes history one patient, one classroom, and one determined step at a time.

Men have played a meaningful role in the nursing profession throughout United States history, although nursing has traditionally been viewed as a female-dominated field. In recent decades, the number of men entering nursing programs and healthcare careers has steadily increased as perceptions of the profession continue to evolve. Approximately 12% of nurses in the United States are male (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). Today, males make up 13% of the nursing student body at Aultman College. Male nurses serve in every area of healthcare, including emergency medicine, critical care, education, military service, leadership, and advanced practice specialties. As more men pursue nursing careers, they also serve as role models for future generations, encouraging greater diversity and inclusion within healthcare education and practice.