Anyone else feel like they got "shafted" in clinicals?

Nursing Students Male Students

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I'm in my 2nd semester in an accelerated program. I'm the only male in a group of 7 students for our summer rotation of Med/Surg II, Peds, and Maternity. I was literally the "odd man out" when it came to patient assignments the entire summer and put in less favorable experiences. For example, I have classmates who have had 3 births while I've just managed 1 because they would be assigned to the L&D patients most likely to deliver early in the day.

When it came to signing up in the fall, I signed up for a different group that will be 8 people, 4 of which are guys so I won't get screwed like this again.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
If I'm focused on pushing out an 8lb bowling ball I would venture to believe that I don't care who's looking at what as long as I'm getting my pain meds.

As someone who did push that 8 lb bowling ball out, once I got that epidural in place I felt so wonderful that a whole nursing school cohort could have been in there watching and cheering and I would not have cared less :) I finally understood why women in labor want to kiss their anesthesiologists.

If I ever give birth again, I wouldn't mind a male student in there. Actually, one of my nurses in the delivery room was in fact male. That didn't bother me at all--he was there doing his job, and he did it well.

I think its unfair that guys may get the short end of the stick in L&D clinicals...but I can accept it only if that is the patient's wish. Now, if the patient is OK with it and your instructor or the staff decides for no good reason that you can't watch a delivery because you're a guy, that's pretty messed up.

My experience in being excluded in OB is similar to many already voiced. I'd like to add that the impression given to me by some of the nurses on the floor was less than warm as well. By that I mean I got the impression I was an 'unwanted observer' as a male student. I felt the attitude was that I would never be accepted nor work in OB, so I wasn't treated with the same level of cooperation as the female students were. I learned a fair amount, but I was on the outside looking in, and yes, I would never work in OB so I guess the attitude by the nurses is well founded.
Certainly,I will return the favor whenever I am the patient and tell the femalenurse to go find me a male nurse for my intimate care needs.

haha, I found the pregnant women didn't usually have a problem with the males it was their mother that had old fashioned views. What struck me as really funny is they had no problem letting the male doctor do his thing but wanted me out of the room when her female parts would be exposed. Honestly, I didn't mind because it meant I could study for exams instead of pretending to be interested in something I am not.

I did however have good experience in the nursery.

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

If I didn't have to do an OB rotation I wouldn't. Not gonna offend me one bit to be asked to leave.

I would be upset if I was missing out on something that everyone else was able to learn from and was reflected in a later test. That just sounds wrong. But, like many have said, it really depends on the patients, staff, instructors...I hope when my turn comes, it isn't even an issue.

Specializes in Endoscopy, OR, ICU, HIV, Bariatrics.

Keep in mind that the girl nursing students often say that the guy nurses are the most patient and best teachers. You'll be one soon! Plus, a lot of the patient's think you're the doctors, this can be a good and bad thing.

I gave birth to my twins lady partslly 9 years ago. This thread brought back memories of the two nursing students that watched. One was a male nursing student that my husband kept telling to come closer so he could get a better look. His face is one I will always remember, lol. He was horrified and enjoyed it all at the same time I think. He cried a little. ;). I never even considered not letting him watch just because he was a guy. The other nursing student inserted my catheter (after the epidural). I won't forget the look on her face either. Now, a nursing student hopeful, I am really going to try to keep the look of horror to a minimum while focusing my attention on nether regions, lol.

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

If not for my VERY AWESOME clinical instructor, I would have despised OB. She made my experience worth it. Did not particularly care for L&D, I saw 2 C-sections in one day, never saw a live lady partsl delivery and I was cool with that. Loved the nursery, and more particularly the NICU. Hated mother/baby, despite the fact that I always lucked out with mothers who were cool with a male nursing student (seriously, could not care less to feel your fundus but you liked me and you felt better, that is all that mattered). And don't get me started on the nurses. Estrogen City. Hated the vibe, never ever want to visit that unit again (thankfully it's at a different hospital than where I hope to work entirely). Currently doing clinical/capstone on a med/telemetry unit. The mostly female staff is awesome and they like me. If I end up working there I could be happy as a clam for a little while :)

Specializes in Med surge, ob,pediatrics,GYN,dialysis,ER.

Kind of funny how that works...students versus real world with us males....in my school, it was the instructors and other students (Female) that assumed the patients wouldnt want a male nursing student...tsk tsk,....still goes on today....funny thing is,,,im a labor and delivery neonate nurse now...never had a patient say she would rather not have me...its all in the approach, I even assist with breast feeding and infants latching on a daily basis. The reason i went back to eXCELSIOR TO GET MY RN (which im 3 classes away from finishing now)...was due to the horrid discrimination i faced in nursing school based on gender, and pre conceived notions..WOmen have faced adversity for years in law enforcement,,,,etc. Guess its our turn:)

Theres a lot of female pt who will request to not have a male nurse perform a cath on them.

Do female nurses/students get kicked out of cat lab when they have to insert a catherter into a guy and for most men, their "member" ALWAYS has a mind off their own and often get hard due to having a female doing the procedure??? I know becuase Iǘe spoken to female nurses who this happen to and it embarrassing for both the patient and the nurse. Lets be frank! noone says hold up I'll get a male nurse for this patient and to be honest I'm not sure if that male patient would want a male nurse either...you know we got big egos...lol

Hey well there is one sure solution for male nurses to get OB rotations...get married and plan to have a baby to be born during your clinicals, I garranttee you will have a new respect for your wife and women. For those who think they are not missing out, sorry but you are.

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

Yeah comming back to this thread now OB wasn't that bad.

I still have a lot anxiety about my OB clinical this summer. Really not looking forward to it just want it to be over with. Its weird because its not something I thought about going into Nursing school and definitely NOT something I would ever consider specializing in but guess just have to somehow survive it to go to next year and closer to graduating :(

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