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2010 Nurse of Distinction Mac Stroupe may have retired from Moses Cone Health System last year after 32 years, but he’s still actively involved in the nursing profession.

Stroupe, 62, has maintained memberships in the American Nursing Association and the North Carolina Nursing Association, he’s renewed his state nursing license and basic life support training (CPR), and he’s pursued continuing education programs and workshops.
The Greensboro resident also is the volunteer medical adviser for the National Conference for Community and Justice’s “ANY-TOWN” summer program, a weeklong diversity and leadership training program in Blowing Rock, N.C., for Guilford County high school students, and he’s on the health ministry at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Those commitments don’t even include the time he spends ministering his nursing skills to family and friends, or his efforts on the community boards of The Servant Center, Triad Health Project and PFLAG. Despite his extensive list of activities, he says he’s still found time to enjoy golf, reading and working in the yard in the past year.

Stroupe recently took time to answer a few questions about nursing careers. His responses have been edited for space and clarity.

• Since retiring last year, how have you stayed involved in the nursing profession?
It’s interesting since I’ve retired, there are all kinds of health care opportunities. My mother has Parkinson’s. She spends a week with us every month. I can keep up with her medications and talk to her doctors, as well as provide personal care. My wife’s mother is getting elderly and has health problems. I often help her. I’m available if she has questions. One friend who had a
total knee (surgery) done asked me to give her a shot every day.

There are lots of opportunities for nursing care in retirement. I always will be a nurse.

• One of the initiatives you said you planned to pursue in retirement was an effort to encourage men to consider nursing careers. What progress have you made?

I have been very limited so far (because of family commitments). I am willing to meet and talk with individuals and groups.
I do believe that nursing will be a satisfying career, a professional career, for men who are interested in helping others and who have an interest in the sciences. I think those two are a good match.

Men who are traditionally teachers and counselors lend themselves to going into the health care field.

There still is a shortage, and I think there always will be a shortage (regarding the number of men versus the number of women in nursing).
(But) gender is not an issue in nursing. The bottom line is patients want competent nurses.

• What advice do you have for men and women interested in nursing?

Nursing was an extremely satisfying professional career for me. With my academic interests in studying biology and my desire to help others, nursing turned out to be the perfect fit. If you have the interest and aptitude for the sciences and in helping others, you should consider nursing.
Over time, I think the most important component of this field is the desire and motivation to help others.
I spent most of my nursing career working in the hospital (1977-2010). I was able to do several different roles with training and additional education.

Even though nursing is not just limited to the hospital setting, I just never left the hospital environment. Nursing opportunities are available in many other settings that include long-term care, surgical centers, academic institutions, home health care agencies, clinics and schools.

• Do you have any tips for high school students interested in nursing?

(Stroupe’s nursing credentials and education include a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Appalachian State University (1971), a Licensed Practical Nurse credential from Caldwell Community College (1972), an associate degree in nursing from GTCC (1980) and a Master of Science in nursing, with a specialty in nursing administration, from UNCG (1992).)

There’s a focus on science in nursing, but I think nurses need to be good communicators, be well-rounded.

You don’t need to take anything special. I think once you get in college is where you need to focus into your sciences. Nursing classes cover the basics.

There are health careers programs in the high schools, and I think that helps the students see everything in the health care field, not just nursing. There are a huge number of fields you can go into, including radiology, nutrition, pharmacy and physical therapy.

• Do you have any advice for nurses new to the profession?

I spent a lot of time with nurses who were new to the field in my job as a nursing educator the last 10 years at Moses Cone, planning orientation programs for new nurses.

We strongly believe that getting a good one to two years of medical-surgical background is a good starting point. Sometimes going into a specialty in the beginning will limit you.

You have to get into the hospital. There are so many specialties.