[majgr]

In Poland it is opposite. Public Health Service raised salaries for nurses, since average age of nurses was around 54 years old. This is seriously demanding job, so I assume not a lot of people were willing to take it. But when salaries were raised more men appeared.

[kurthr]

It's a very demanding job, physically and emotionally, as well as, specialized training and liability since you literally have people's lives in your hands. You have to deal with people at their worst. Pay is quite high, and it's challenging to get into a nursing school program, but still only ~10-12% male (and about 1/3-1/2 are gay). Social dynamics are really different in nursing from school, to work, to supervision and management.