1st day Male in L&D

[Dayray]

I just graduated from an LPN program. I really liked my L&D rotation so I put in an application. The Director is great and she offered me a job working as an LPN in OBGYN/PP and too cross train me as an OB tech. She even offered to pay for an IV certification class and work around my schedule when I start the RN program next fall. OB technicians act like scrub nurses during C-sections, prep patients for sections, start catheters, admit patents and help during deliveries.

I am male and the staff is all women. Today was my first day to "follow" an OB tech and start to learn that part of the job. The tech was great she treated me wonderfully and didn't have a problem with me being male.

Everything was going great my preceptor showed me where things were and I watched as she assisted with a C-section. She is a really good teacher and very nice.

I know that there are going to be some problems as a male working on L&D and especially being that I am the first (that I know of) in this hospital. My first problem popped up today, An RN asked us to strait cath a patient. The patient had been acting a little nervous from the time she was admitted but voiced no concern about me being present. My preceptor asked the patient if she would like for me to step out and of course the patient said yes. I understand that my preceptor was trying to make the patient as comfortable as possible and I'm sure she wasn't being malicious. My thinking is that if I were in the patient's position, I would be uncomfortable with anyone regardless of sex being in the room during such a revealing procedure, if they didn't have to be. Asking if I should leave implies I don't need to be there so if it had been me I would have said no too.

To make things worse a C-section patient came in with her boyfriend so my preceptor and I went to admit and prep her for surgery. As soon as we walked in the boyfriend said "I don't want any F***ing students in here." My preceptor assured him that I wasn't a student that I was a nurse (I'm actually still waiting for my permit so this wasn't entirely true). We continued to ask admission questions and take vitals. When it came time to start prepping the patient my preceptor asked the boyfriend if it was all right if I stayed. The boyfriend once again said he didn't want students in the room. My preceptor tried to explain to him that I wasn't a student but I could tell he wasn't buying it so I volunteered to leave. In this situation I can absolutely see why she asked if I could stay, The boyfriend acted like a person who wasn't afraid to cause trouble and voiced a concern about students but I wonder if I should have done something differently.

I left the room and went to the nurse's station and someone asked if I had been kicked out. The Lead Clinical Nurse overheard and said "See I was afraid this would happen, this is the second time today" she was of course talking about patients not wanting males in the room. I explained to her that the boyfriend thought I was a student but she didn't say anything.

Okay so now that you have read my long-winded story, here are my questions and concerns:

I think things will get better when I'm on my own and not an "extra" person in the room. But what if they don't?

Should patients be asked if its okay for me to stay if they appear uncomfortable?

Should they be asked if it's okay for me to stay if they don't appear uncomfortable with me there?

I am concerned about my patient's comfort and privacy but if this keeps up I won't be able to learn my job much less do it. How do I balance that?

I'm sure I will run into patients that request a female nurse. How should I deal with?

How much is too much? If I have too many of these situations should I just look for another job?

I really want to work on L&D I like the atmosphere and think I can make a difference there.

Id also like to hear any other suggestions or opinions you have in general (both good and bad) about male nurses in L&D/ women's services.

[l-andrée]

Some female patient might feel inconfortable with having a cath inserted by a man... Thought, from experience, it doesn't happen very often that someone actually refuse (can't remember any event). But we try anyway to have those procedures (cath, pre-op shaving, etc) done by a same sex nurse. I agree with all the posts here, why male obstetrician and no nurse? why the sex of a nurse changes anything in his/her competencies?

Students are another matter thought. Some really don't want any. I think it's the patient choice, even if they refuse for not very good reasons. Everybody has to start somewhere, right?

I'm sure you'll be a great nurse, doing what you like. Keep us posted.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Hey, I say stick to your guns :) I don't understand the double standard that some women have with the male gynie & oppose a male nurse. Someone else posted that they didn't care who was in the room, as long as they were compassionate care givers. . .AMEN!!!!!! I also think you should try walking in first & being the one to intro the "2 nurses." It certainly couldn't hurt.

Good luck:)

[pammers]

I just became a new grad & am struggling with what area to go into. I really enjoyed my mat/child rotations (alot) & communty helath with new mom/babes. I was thinking of starting in pp & then maybe moving around to antepartum & l/d & other ob/gyn areas. I truly detest med/surg (not that i can't do it but just really don't like it). Im 29yrs & have a previous degree in psych & also worked as an undergrad nurse in pediatric psych. Everybody tells me that pp is boring & i'm going to lose all my skills as a nurse & that i should force myself to do at least a year of med/surg. I see it that i'm not exactly a spring chcken anymore & want to do something that at least i like & would enjoy rather than come home to my fiance every night being a grumpy, crying B****!! I feel really lost!! Please any suggestions or comments would be appreciated!! thanks

[pammers]

oops sorry i posted wrong:)

[Jenny P]

Dayray, the only person I kicked out with either of my deliveries was the labor nurse with garlic breath! LOL!

Working in ICU, our male nurses do all of the cares of their female pts. and vice-versa; straight caths and all. If you approach the pt. in a courteous, caring and competent manner, we rarely have a problem with the male-female procedures.

When we have new nurses, we tell our pts. that this nurse is new to our area so an "old nurse" had to show the new one the ropes (if the pt. and family have any problems with a preceptor and orientee). Sometimes it's necessary to praise the pt. for allowing an orientee to do a procedure; as the preceptor, I will thank the pt. and let them know that they have helped me teach an excellent nurse a new skill (especially if things went well). I've even had to assist an MD putting in a different type of central line and instructed him on how to do it; then thanked the pt. afterwards.

Your primary concern is always the pt's. comfort level; you will run into female pts. anywhere that may be nervous about a male nurse doing personal cares. Respect the pt. as an individual and always listen to them with your ears, heart, and eyes (if they verbally say "yes", but their body language and demeanor say "no"); then decide what is best for the pt. Sometimes it's necessary to step out, even if you miss the chance to learn a new procedure.

Good Luck!

[Dayray, RN]

Thank you all for your responses and kind words. I will be more assertive in the future and plan to talk to my preceptor next time I work. I think I may have gotten a little bit of studentitis and forgot that I was there as care provider rather then just being there to learn.

[ohbet]

This wont help much but I must relate my experience as a male student nurse during my L/D rotation: BAD VIBES.

Good luck brother.