Javier Palmer, the 2026 Nursing Student of the Year, is on a mission to convince more Jamaican men that nursing is a career for them. His goal is to break the long-standing stereotypes that have painted the profession as “women’s work.” “I intend to be one of the frontline soldiers to say nursing is not just for women. It is for men and women, and men can do this,” the 24-year-old third-year nursing student at Knox Community College told THE STAR after claiming the national title on Friday. Palmer made history alongside three other male finalists in this year’s competition—a first for the event, according to organisers. During his reign, he plans to focus his platform on attracting men to the field while encouraging them to prioritise their health. “I want to host a nursing expo that would include male nurses, male nursing students and other nurses from the community. It would target men between the ages of 19 and 35,” he explained. “One end of it is making sure men take care of their mental, spiritual and physical health because, as Jamaicans, man nuh like go doctor. We have to push that because society is built on the backs of men and we have to ensure they are okay.” “Additionally, we need more men in the nursing profession, but there are stereotypes in society to be challenged. I want to encourage more young men to join nursing.” For Palmer, having four male finalists on stage signals a shift in societal perception. “If you look back probably 10 years ago, there wouldn’t be four male nurses entering this competition. Maybe in the next two or three years, my project and what I have done today can inspire more young men in Jamaican society to say, ‘You know what? I want to see what nursing is all about.’” He believes public perceptions of the job remain overly narrow. “I want to open society’s eyes and young men’s eyes to the fact that nursing is about more than delivering medication and dressing sore feet. It is such a diverse field and you can go into many different avenues.” The moment Palmer heard his name announced as the winner, a lifelong dream became reality. “My heart was pounding because it was the moment that I had dreamt about and wished for. To finally hear my name as the student Nurse of the year, I am just truly grateful and humbled for the experience and the opportunity to represent the Nurses Association of Jamaica.” The competition evaluated contestants across three categories: practical skills, interview performance, and public speaking. Palmer admitted the speech segment presented the steepest challenge. “It is not easy to stand in front of a room full of people and talk. Other persons would rather do anything else than that,” he said with a laugh. “I put in countless hours of preparation. I went through different frameworks on how to write and deliver a speech, and thankfully the topic was close to nursing, so I was able to speak confidently from my own knowledge.” For Palmer, choosing nursing felt like the natural convergence of his childhood passions. “Ever since I was about six or seven, I’ve always been interested in science. I’ve also always loved talking to people because I like to understand them.” “Nursing is the perfect mix of art and science. You’re hands-on while you’re constantly learning. Every day you ask yourself, ‘What can I do better? What can I learn? How can I improve to provide tip-top care for my patients?’” The youngest of four siblings, Palmer grew up in the small farming community of Cascade, St Ann. He credits his parents’ relentless work ethic and sacrifice for shaping his journey. “They are go-getters. No matter what needs to get done, they show up and get it done. I will always look up to them for those characteristics.” Having his sister in the audience made the achievement all the more meaningful. “From the look on her face, her body language spoke to me that she is super proud of her little brother, and I’m glad I could be a source of pride for her.” Fellow finalist Rannel Chambers, representing the Caribbean School of Nursing at the University of Technology, felt that reaching the finals was a major victory in itself. “I felt like a winner. I’ve gained connections and met a lot of talented people. We are the future of the profession, and now we can work together to improve nursing.” “I wish more males would enter because it’s our profession as well. Some men are afraid because of the stigma, but I wasn’t. I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare.” Nurses Association of Jamaica President Dawn Marie Richards praised the four male finalists, calling their presence a significant milestone for the profession in Jamaica. “We’re seeing an influx of more male students into nursing. They are stepping forward and breaking the glass ceiling around the perception that nursing is only for women.” Richards dismissed lingering biases against men in the field and offered a clear message to the next generation. “I would say to aspiring male nurses: step out of your comfort zone and step into nursing. It is an international profession. Anywhere in the world you go, you can get a job because you are a nurse.”