WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Recent Hondros College of Nursing graduate David Conley is finally living out his dream.

The Coshocton native just began his new journey as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Mt. Carmel St Anne's emergency department in Westerville.

• The demand for nurses across the country is expected to draw more men into the industry over the next decade
• More than 735,000 jobs expected to be added across the country by 2024
• 12 percent of registered nurses across the country are men 

As a teenager, Conley worked as an EMT at Riverside Hospital, but after five years, his career took another path. 

“I tried to go to nursing school a little bit. I feel like I was too immature. I was making stupid decisions. Got into something else. I worked at Jimmy John’s as a district manager here, local,” said Conley. 

But he never gave up on his dream and Conley says he always wanted to care for others.

His second chance came at the age of 33 and Conley believes he’s a better person because of it. 

“I believe that your goals are reachable more when you're older. You know, you see them and you can actually really get ahold of them,” said Conley. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12 percent of registered nurses are now men.

That number is up from 2.7 percent 50 years ago, and the bureau says the nursing industry will add more than 735,000 nationwide by 2024.

Hondros has 400 in its program, 10 percent are men and that number is growing.  

“With advancement in medicine and in the technology that's with it, we're living longer. Our life expectancy is longer and so we need more nurses to take care of those people. We do have that part that is retiring and you know I'm going to throw in nursing faculty shortage. Because without the nursing faculty, we're not going to have nurses,” says Director of Nursing at Hondros College Carole Sullivan. 

For Conley, he’s most proud that he’s breaking down stigmas and that his position has the opportunity for advancement. 

“Something that I wanted personally was a position with advancement and longevity. And with seeing chief nursing officers at Mt. Carmel being a lot of men, that brings a lot of hope for me that it's not going to just stop at being a floor nurse, that there's many avenues for advancement,” said Conley. 

And his advice to those in nursing school no matter your age or background: 

“There's opportunities out there. Just keep going for what you want. You'll eventually get it.”