Male student enters OB room. What do you think?

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I was doing my OB clinicals and entered a patient's room to deliver a food tray. Stupid move on my part, but it got me a complaint from the patient and kicked out of my OB class. I'm allowed to repeat next year.

Undone

158 Posts

Are the OB patients not allowed to eat? Is it because you didn't knock?

BeachsideRN, ASN

1,722 Posts

Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Patients in labor are not allowed to eat at most hospitals so that in the event they need an emergency c section there is low risk for aspiration related to anesthesia.

Red Kryptonite

2,212 Posts

Specializes in hospice.
Patients in labor are not allowed to eat at most hospitals so that in the event they need an emergency c section there is low risk for aspiration related to anesthesia.

In complete disregard of the fact that labor is an athletic event and women need nourishment, and that if hospitals would get the hell out of the way with all their stupid policies and non-evidence-based practices, vastly fewer women would need cesareans!

I stuck around long enough to realize I didn't belong , about 20 secs, instructor was in the room. I did knock.

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Was the complaint related to the fact that you are a male student? Would this have happened if a female student inadvertently delivered a meal tray? I can't believe you were dismissed from the program for this.

Strict NPO in labor drives me up the wall. If you are a low risk mom without an epidural or pitocin, there is no data to support this practice. GRRRR. Honestly of all the non-evidence based things we do to women in labor, this is probably one of the least harmful, but it just serves to reinforce the idea that labor is a disease process.

mirandaaa

588 Posts

Specializes in PCT, RN.

I'm a little confused...

Why would delivering a food tray get you in trouble and kicked out?

Is it as keylimesqueez said, because they are not allowed to eat?

Surely they would have something indicating that they were not allowed food. I don't know enough details but I don't feel as if just the simple act of bringing the food tray is a warrant for dismissal.

Essentially I upset the hospital, instructor and patient. I was not welcome back by any of them. Patient was in labor and I "stared" at the patient. My staring may have been realizing I wasn't welcome. I did not see anything, the patient was completely covered. I thought the same thing about if this situation was a female student would the outcome be the same? It was a stupid move on my part, maybe I should have ensured that the patient wanted me in their room and/or was escorted by my instructor. I believe the food tray was complimentary for the father. I set it on the far wall way away from the patient. I was never within less than 15 feet of the patient.

Like I said, stupid move, but wondered what folks thought. I believe I am through with nursing.

Red Kryptonite

2,212 Posts

Specializes in hospice.
Patient was in labor and I "stared" at the patient.

Uh, yeah.....had I been that laboring mother I would have complained too. How long did you stare?

Uh, yeah.....had I been that laboring mother I would have complained too. How long did you stare?

I was in the room for such a short period of time I didn't even realize I had a problem. I do remember the patient's face so I must have looked that direction. I believe I was in the room maybe 20 secs.

Red Kryptonite

2,212 Posts

Specializes in hospice.

It does seem like dismissal from the program is a bit harsh for such an event. But, as one of my instructors told us, it's the things you screw up that you never forget! So take this for the learning experience and do awesome on your next chance. How long do you have to wait, and what will you do in the meantime?

NICU Guy, BSN, RN

4,161 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

Did the patient refuse to have male students earlier or did the instructor state at the beginning of clinical "Patient in room X doesn't want male students"? You are a nursing student in OB clinical. It is not as if you sat down, got out some popcorn and your phone and started taking pictures of her. Obviously you were unaware that she was in the process of delivery instead of just having contractions.

Given a clinical failure was way too excessive. Is there more to the story or past issues during OB clinicals? This incident makes it appear that you intentionally wanted to "see something" under the guise of delivering a tray to the husband.

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