Just curious if any guys in here have had OB yet. I am starting my clinicals next week for it and i am not really looking foward to it along with my other 3 comrads in my class. Just wondering how you got through it and looking for any pointers or tips

I went through OB last spring and it really wasn't a problem. I did everything my female classmates did without any problems. The important thing is just to remain professional and concentrate on taking care of your patient, if you do that then you will do fine.

Paul

There is a male L&D nurse somewhere here on allnurses... he could probably give you his perspective... his call sign may be "dayray" (forgive if I got that wrong!)... you could try a search. :) Just be professional, look at the positives (you could be doing worse things... birth is pretty amazing!), and if the gender thing bothers you, remember that most OB's have traditionally been male.

Joe,

I didn't have any problems during my OB rotation, but I admit I was real nervous about it at first because I felt the women would freak at the idea of a guy as an OB nurse. But, as was mentioned in an earlier post, you have to be professional because the women will be watching you---especially when you're doing physical assessments and assisting with lady partsl exams. If you can do that then you'll be alright. Just remember to introduce yourself in a professional way FIRST, explain everything you're going to do, always ask the patient for permission before you do anything, and be good about providing privacy.

I was very sure I would hate OB, and it turned out to be one of the most fun clinical rotations I've done so far. It was also my easiest rotation so far because most of the patients I had were very good about prenatal care so they were already very healthy and there wasn't a whole lot of pathophysiology to deal with. During the entire rotation, the only meds I had to give were pitocin, MgSO4, and occasionally, insulin. I think some guys are scared of the idea of a baby coming out of a uterus, and also of the idea that most pregnant women won't want a man taking care of them. Maybe the latter is true in some cases, but if that happens you just have to move on and not take it personally.

I was in total awe of the whole childbirth process, and I never really appreciated it until after I witnessed my first live birth. It was a jaw-dropping experience to watch that baby coming out. There were only two OB physicians and one CNM to deliver all the babies on the unit, and they were very good about involving the students in everything. The nurses were constantly busy runinng around from patient to patient, and they asked us to help them do everything. It was also during OB that I finally got to do my first foley catheter on a real patient. Our instructor was amazing. She kept floating us from NICU to L&D to new born to post partum to high risk on different days, so we got to see and do a little of everything (in the NICU we were only allowed to observe). The time always seemed to fly, and before we knew it the rotation was over and we were doing evals.

OB wasn't anything like I thought it would be. Its not just a bunch of pregnant women laying around and being miserable with childbirth pains. Its quite interesting if you let yourself get into it. I loved doing maternal histories and assessments, and the the non-stress and contraction tests, especially on young mothers who're pregnant for the first time and really excited about having the baby. You've never seen a smile so bright until you see it on the face of a mother who hears her baby's heartbeat for the first time. As you're talking to the mothers about their experiences with the pregnancy, fetal development, diet, development of any unusual signs and symptoms, etc. you're getting great material for your written assignments. Also, the women just LOVE to talk about their feelings, experiences, and expectations about being pregnant and giving birth so you'll get some killer material for your psych profiles, too.

Go into OB with an open mind and you'll do just fine.

I'm no guy but there is a fellow in the class ahead of ours who was telling us about his experience (we are in the OB area now). He said that he did have two patients "kick him out" but otherwise it was great. I felt bad about the two that kicked him out becuase I thought, wow, most Gyno's I've dealt with as a woman have been men. I choose a woman now, but would be ok with a man again and/or a male nurse.

So hopefully you will have lots of women in OB that don't care what gender you are! Its not about gender, its about communication and caring! So best of luck to you! And CONGRATS for doing this! More male nurses is a great thing, my Hubby is even interested in Nursing. :):):):)

Just an update finished with finals. I ended up pulling a C in OB lecture and an A in ob clinical. Also made a B in peds lecture and an A in clinical and an A in Research.

I was very nervous about it too. Fortunately my instructor had the wisdom to assignm me a lady who was on her fifth child and had an epidural rather, than a very young patient on her first child and in a lot of pain.

It worked out well. Seeing two live births is an experience I'll never forget.

Glad to read you made it through o.k. Good luck in the rest of school.

Just curious if any guys in here have had OB yet. I am starting my clinicals next week for it and i am not really looking foward to it along with my other 3 comrads in my class. Just wondering how you got through it and looking for any pointers or tips

In my expericence, I have never perceived one moment of hesitation on the part of my female patients to allow me do do whatever exam is necessary, including perineal exams. They understand why I am there, and in most cases have made the call that summoned me. What I DO see is a reluctance on the part of some(not all) female nurses to allow male participation in anything that requires a female patient's clothing to be removed. I think it is because they identify with the female patient more so than a male patient. I think they don't even realize they do it. Example. I bring in a 20 something year old male, who made the mistake of turing his back on his mixed drink in a crowded club. We pick him up, he's about glasgow 13, combative. We had seen a rash of this kind of problem in a span of about 2 weeks. Most victims were female. Most were only unresponsive, or profoundly inappropriate. The common denomitator was that they would suddenly regain full consciousness, almost like when you wake up a hypogycemic patient with D50. OK, I bring this guy in, he's kickin our butts, we've have him tied to the cot with cravats. We move him onto the hospital bed while giving report. Its in a cold room. They strip him completely, tying his hands and feet at the four corners of the bed. No Cover. AT ALL. Then he wakes up. One makes a comment about his 'stuff' (lack of impressiveness thereof) with us in the room( and the patient possibly comprehending) . Now, when I bring a female trauma patient, these same nurses trip all over themselves, each other,and equipment, to throw a blanket across her, even before the doc can finish his primary survey. They are protective (not a bad thing), and they seem to identify more with a female patient in a vulnerable postion than they do a male. I do not wish for them to treat a female with less respect or concern for her dignity, just for them to distribute that empathy a little more broadly.