L&D rotation as a guy

[pharho]

Hello everyone:

I'm going into my second year and will be doing a L&D rotation.. I do believe they will be shortening it to 2 weeks instead of the usual but would like to hear from any guys how their experiences were on that rotation and any tips that could suggest. I'm really looking foward to the rotation, so that is a positive things..

Thanks

Terry.

[franko98]

I just finished 2 weeks in L&D and I loved it. I saw many births and actually got to help set up sterile field and coach "mom" because "dad" wasn't there. I also got to attend 2 c-sections. I feel I was very lucky. I did run across the occasional "I'd like a female to help me" and that is understandable. The people I had the most problem with were the nurses on that floor pretty much ignoring me. That was not the best feeling one can have in nursing school.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

My L&D rotation was cool. I got to see a lady partsl delivery and c-section twins. Maternity was stupid because my instructor had to accompany me whenever I had to do an assessment. Newborn was cool because I like babies, and NICU was really interesting because everything is miniturized.

Come and work with me up at NY Pres in the NICU!! We'd love to have another guy to work with....And you'd love the ECMO, cardiacs and postops we get all the time...

Steve

[Cartman1532]

I graduate in May 08 from an accelerated program (12 months), I am in OB/LD right now--My first day I assisted with a Vag birth and did the full infant assessment, shots, eye antibiotic and bath. OB is great--the nurses are fantastic and my instructor is great-she says we will be doing somthing signifigant everyday. Dont sweat it--Just get through it and finish school. The more guys we can get into nursing the better it is going to be.:beer:

[RNDude]

One thing that I have never heard of, though, is a male student measuring cervical dilation. I don't even recall the female students doing that assessment, just the licensed nurses and MDs.

[MikeyJ, RN]

Aside from the really nasty charge nurse, I had a great time during my Ob rotation. I was scared to death of the rotation but it turned out to be an awesome experience. The women never batted an eye when I would enter the room to do an assessment, or when I was present for a delivery. I only had one female patient that did not want me in the room when a foley was being inserted, but that was the only instance.

Post-partum and high-risk were EXTREMELY boring! I am not sure how the nurses stay sane on those floors. Post-partum consisted of a basic assessment of the mom which focused mainly on their c-section sutures or lady partsl condition along with S&S of hemorrhaging, lochia, and S&S of infection. We would also do a quick assessment of the newborns at their bedside. Otherwise they are healthy and need very little attention.

L&D was quite exciting when you are able to see a birth. Otherwise it is very boring! Although, triage was a ton of fun and I learned the most in triage.

The nursery was fun working with the babies, but I am not a fan of bathing, feeding, and changing diapers all day long. That got very old after a while. However, it did solidfy my desire to enter pediatrics.

Overall I had a wonderful experience. There is a ton to learn on your Ob rotation, and I probably learned more during that one rotation than any of my other classes thus far. You really need to walk in with an open mind, and show that even though you are a male, you are very interested in learning and want to participate as much as possible.

[bra2917]

"Annointed,"are you a male-OB nurse? If so I am interested to find out if you encountered any problems getting the position. It's something I have wanted to always do, but was afraid to even think I could get employment if I chose that career path. I am a first year nursing student and would like any advise you can give? Thanks.