Luke Yokota MACN is a Registered Intensive Care Nurse at Queensland’s Princess Alexandra Hospital and also the Chair of the Australian College of Nursing Men In Nursing Working Party. Luke has become a passionate advocate for diversity in nursing – a profession where men currently make up just 10%.
Luke spoke with Australian Health Journal at last year’s Australian College of Nursing National Nursing Forum in Hobart, about his background and importance of supporting men entering the nursing profession. He talks about the patient choice that needs to support their needs, that can only happen when the stigma and stereotypes are removed.
Luke spends much of his time outside work in the ICU as a sessional tutor and lab instructor, supporting nursing undergraduates and medical students. As chair of the Men in Nursing Working Party, he works tirelessly to increase the awareness of men in nursing and address the barriers and negative perceptions they face when entering the profession.
Luke’s effort to inspire men to choose a caring profession includes writing and collating articles for an eBook about men and nursing, and public speaking.
Recently Luke was a nominee for the 2020 QLD Young Australian of the Year.