Just finished OB rotation

[newmale2nursing]

I know the OB rotation can be a hot topic in the Male Nursing Student Forum. I just wanted to give my $.02 since just finished my rotation.

First off, I think it must have a lot to do with the clinical instructor. I was lucky enough to have had my best clinical instructor so far. She is a NICU nurse at the my clinical site, and I think that helped a lot too.

I found that the majority of the staff was very helpful. Most of the patients were fine with having a male student nurse. You have to remember, a lot of their MD's are men too.

The first time you do a postpartum assessment, I will admit, is a bit awkward. But certainly no more so than inserting a foley!

My rotation in L&D was great. I was able to go in on a lady partsl birth and also a cesarean. Since I'm planning on going the CRNA route, any time I can get in the OR is a plus.

So basically, I just wanted to let you all know that the OB rotation can be a good experience. Yes, there is a lot of anxiety surrounding it as a male student, but you may actually end up liking it.

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

It's got to be because for a Very Long Time, physicians, including OB's, have been predominantly male and long history has overridden a natural desire on the part of most females to limit male access to their more intimate functions.

The delivery of babies was once a job for (mainly female) midwives, at least in rural areas, so there was no problem. The influx of women into medicine in the last 50 years or so has not been paced by the entrance of men into nursing, and changing from a male OB to a female one would not be jarring at all for most women for obvious reasons. Similarly, many women prefer a female OB (my wife does).

I am not stating this well (my head is full of Microbiology ATM), but in a nutshell:

I think the resistance of female pts to the presence of men other than the father of their child and their OB's when they are giving birth is more a matter of historical acclimation than discrimination. The acceptance of the father is for obvious reasons, he is "the trusted male" or at least the one who got her into this situation :). The male OB is accepted because in the popular conception, male doctors, in this function at least, are capable of being perceived as professional agents rather than as, well, men.

It will take a while for mothers-to-be to accept male nurses the same way, but it's never going to happen if we aren't allowed to change the meme.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

the previous post got to my exact point..how can staff nurses introduce to a patient that "oh there is a guy out there can he come in", obviously unprofessional introductions is the first key. To be frank I got no interest in being an OB nurse, but its up to the female staff to introduce men in this profession properly. As an EMT getting the opportunity to make emergency deliveries was actually the most rewarding part of the job, ...so we don't see it as a job where are patients die or just blood and gut all the time...to be a part of bringing in new life was just awesome! Females need to give us a chance. When we were having our 1st child we denied meds students, because only there was a chance of complications, and we were very nervous like most 1st time parents... but I will have no problem next time, well it will be up to my wife...because I see now how hard it is for men to go through ob clinicals

[Screen name]

L/D = worst rotation thus far. Nurses are rude to each other - somewhat towards me. I've had to excuse myself from the first two lady partsl births because I could sense some awkwardness.

What gets me is that it's not even me being there that is awkward. It turns that way because of other people in the room. The patient may start out fine with me being their, but the sister, mother, or girl friend of the soon-to-be-mother continually make comments about my presence. Just stupid "picking" comments that don't really serve any purpose other than to try and draw attention to me and what I'm trying to do (participating, learning).

I excuse myself (or the nurse gives me a sign) and I leave the room. Another female nursing student even asked if I could come back towards the end of the pregnancy and they declined. All the while the husband is standing across from me totally fine with me being there and I think they actually appreciate it - the extra male presence in the room.

[suanna]

The instructor is a big key. My first acute care rotation was L&D. The instructor was 7 mos pregnant, and announced the first morning to the group that she "dosen't think men belong in nursing, dosen't want men in the rotation, but the school insists on it so we will just have to try to make the best of it", (I'm a guy). She spent the next 7 weeks trying to kick out every guy in the class. The closest I want to get to L&D is the grandfathers waiting room. I love babies!!! but I have no love for the process of thier delivery.