We’re the Less Than 8%: What It’s Like Being Black Male APRNs in Advanced Nursing
Nursing has long been a female-dominated profession—and for Black men in the field, the experience comes with its own unique challenges and rewards. From battling stereotypes to becoming role models for future nurses, the path is rarely easy, but often deeply meaningful.
These themes are front and center in a recent episode of Nurse Converse, where host Everett Moss II—himself a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)—sits down with fellow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) Mike Supplice and Geremy Wooten. In a candid conversation, the three explore their journeys into nursing, what inspired them to pursue advanced practice, and the responsibility they feel as representatives in their communities.
They also reflect on the emotional weight of their roles, the power of mentoring, and the deep fulfillment that comes from simply being present—for their patients, their colleagues, and the next generation of nurses.
Earning Their Way to the Top
Each APRN started in bedside nursing, but their clinical work laid the foundation for something bigger.
Everett began his career in EMS before moving into emergency nursing and flight nursing. Exposure to high-pressure, high-acuity environments eventually led him to anesthesia.
Mike’s journey started in cardiovascular intensive care (CVICU), covering trauma and open heart surgery. He was drawn to the complexity of the cases but wanted to understand the decision-making process behind patient care. That curiosity led him to pursue both a master’s and a doctorate in nursing practice.
Geremy also began in surgical trauma ICU and later worked in oncology critical care. After years at the bedside, he earned a master's in clinical nurse leadership. But it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic—and the death of a close relative by suicide—that he was inspired to return to school again, this time for psychiatry.
“I felt like I could be more impactful,” he explained, noting that his personal growth pushed him to consider how he could help others—especially healthcare workers and Black men—better care for their mental health.
Their transitions into advanced practice were motivated by a need for more responsibility, a desire to better serve their communities, and the belief that they could be leaders in spaces where few people looked like them.
Life Lessons That Go Beyond the Bedside
While nursing school taught them how to manage ventilators and interpret lab results, life outside of healthcare shaped who they are as providers.
For Mike, growing up in a Haitian family came with high expectations. “If you’re not in a medical field or a lawyer, then you’re a failure essentially,” he said. His parents enrolled him in a high school program that introduced him to healthcare early on. That exposure gave him a head start, “I was able to get my CNA just by joining this club.”
Geremy credited his experience in fraternity life with helping him build the resilience he needed to navigate a challenging academic path, including the obstacles he faced just getting into nursing school. That experience taught him persistence, patience, and the importance of pushing forward—even when setbacks and delays made the journey more difficult than expected.
Everett grew up admiring his father’s strong work ethic and his mother’s attention to detail in her clerical roles. Their influence taught him the importance of both reliability and professionalism—traits that have shaped his approach to nursing. He’s carried those lessons into his role as an APRN, recognizing that clinical skill alone isn’t enough; there’s also an administrative side to healthcare that requires confidence, communication, and the ability to navigate leadership spaces.
Their non-clinical experiences helped them adapt, lead, and connect with others—skills that can’t be taught in textbooks but make all the difference in patient care.
Navigating Bias with Confidence
Even with advanced credentials, the three APRNs have still faced assumptions rooted in appearance.
Mike recalled being in a white coat, tie, and stethoscope when a patient assumed he was from dietary services. On another occasion, he was directly asked if he had passed his certification boards. Rather than react with frustration, he stayed professional. “In the state of Florida, you cannot practice without a license,” he told her—and then calmly continued the admission process.
Geremy said the assumptions were especially strong early in his career when he wore long dreadlocks. Over time, he learned to stay grounded in his identity and training. Now working in psych, he often hears difficult or offensive comments from patients in crisis, but he doesn’t take it personally. He understands that mental illness can sometimes reveal deeper issues—including bias, but he says, “I made a professional promise to myself and to y'all. So I'm here to do my job despite what you may be feeling.”
Everett acknowledged that bias can often be subtle. While he hasn’t been explicitly questioned about his credentials, he’s aware of how appearance and race can shape perception. In those moments, he holds onto this mindset: always remembering who he is.
“That’s one thing nobody can take from you,” he said. “They can’t take the boards that you pass. They can’t take the hard work that you put in. Don’t give away that power.”
Together, they highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, professionalism, and remembering that bias—whether intentional or not—doesn’t define their worth or expertise.
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Moments That Make It Worthwhile
Even in a demanding profession, there are moments that remind you why you chose this path.
Everett shared a story from a hospital in San Antonio. After helping a woman through an emergency C-section, he didn’t expect to see her again. But a month later, she recognized him while he was walking to the cafeteria and said, “thank you for getting me back home to my baby.” That moment, he said, nearly brought him to tears. “It’s just a reminder that what we do every day is important.”
Geremy told the story of a young man who came into the hospital twice for unintentional fentanyl overdoses. The second time, his girlfriend—who had overdosed alongside him—did not survive. Geremy mandated inpatient psych treatment, and the man, though grieving, was grateful. “That was a turning point,” he said. He knew he needed help and Geremy was able to guide him there.
For Mike, the defining moment came when he was asked to give the commencement speech at Florida A&M’s nursing school graduation. Years earlier, he’d barely made it through the program and never imagined returning to campus—let alone as a speaker. Having earned both his master’s and doctorate since then, he described the opportunity as a full circle moment and a powerful reminder of how far he’d come.
These stories reflect the emotional highs and lows of healthcare—and the lasting impact that APRNs can have not only on their patients but on the profession itself.
Representation Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential
The episode closes on a message that applies across all specialties: representation matters. And for these three APRNs, being present—in leadership roles, at the bedside, and in the community—is part of the mission.
Whether it’s mentoring students, helping patients feel seen, or serving as a quiet example of what’s possible, their impact goes beyond clinical care.
