Obstetrics Clinicals SCARE me so much im considering dropping out :(

13thSpade · Apr 7, 2012

I know what you're going through. I was the only male student in our class, and my OB rotation was hell. I was already a nervous wreck going into it, and the staff made it 10 times worse. I wasn't allowed in any rooms, didn't get to practice any skills, and did nothing for the entire 12 hours of my clinical days. It was bad enough that my instructor let me round with the (male) doctors one day. My instructor was a helpful as possible, I ended up doing 3 shifts in the nursery (babies don't care if you're male or female). It will be over before you know it, and you can always remind yourself that you never have to go back!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2012

Male OB-GYN's are still more common than female OB-GYNs. You know that that means? Most of the women you take care of will be used to having a man looking at their parts. And if they are in labor at the time, they aren't going to care who is in the room with them.

You'll end up realizing that your fears are much worse then the reality. The majority of your patients will be fine having a male nursing student. YOU will probably be more comfortable then they are, at first.

I've never really understood the stigma against male nurses/nursing students in OB. Like I said, most OB-GYNs are male. They don't seem to think it's awkward that they spend their days looking at women's lady partss. Why should male nurses feel any different?

caliotter3 · Apr 7, 2012

Now that some time has gone by, hope all is going well.

BCRNA · Apr 8, 2012

Don't worry about it. I was in my early twenties when I was in nursing school. I didn't do anything in my OB rotation, nursing is reverse sexist that way. Do whatever they will let you do and just move on with it, it really isn't that bad. Even if it is an attractive young girl, there will be nothing sexy about the circumstances. Will need to learn to be professional anyway.

Jack245 · Apr 8, 2012

I'm actually looking forward to mine. My instructor has already assured me that she wants me to have the full range of experiences as the women do, and I do not need to worry at all about that. Plus as she so astutely pointed out, many of us, if we aren't already, will experience being there when we have our own kids, so we get a leg up in that department. Maybe that makes me odd, but meh, I'm excited to start OB next term.

DPU-RN · Apr 23, 2012

seeing as you originally posted this a while ago, you either have been making it through clinical okay, or you fainted and dropped out, lol. For anyone else who is going to start soon and has the same concerns, just a couple things i wanted to say. Some people already wrote these things, but the first thing you have to remember is that many of the women on this unit are used to having male healthcare providers. The hospital where I did my OB rotation had majority male residents, and so if you go into a room with the mindset that its not going to be awkward, it won't be. You won't be doing things alone and so the first few times let the nurse you are paired with know that you haven't worked with this population before so you feel more comfortable letting them take you through step by step. Also, as someone else pointed out, the nurse you're paired with will ask the woman whether or not she is comfortable with a male student. Most are, some aren't.

Even though you might be scared, nervous, etc, if you go into the room calm, collected, and act professionally, things will go fine..

canadiandude · Apr 24, 2012

Thanks for all the great advise. My clinical won't start for another month so I'm still waiting to implement some of the tips I read on here. I keep telling myself to be brave and that this hospital experience is just another obstacle i need to overcome in my quest to become the best nurse I can possibly be. So lets hope I don't faint on my first day :) .

veggie530 · Apr 24, 2012

I'm 24 and I just finished my OB rotation in March, and I have to say that the best thing I told myself was to act like I've seen a lady parts/pair of breasts before (lol). Seriously, you're a nursing student so you DO belong there and you're a health care provider -- act like it! You'll do great and it isn't nearly as bad as your imagination can make it. If you portray confidence and act as if it's "no big deal" that you're a guy in OB, no one else will typically act like it either, excluding cultural considerations. I only had 2 patients want me to leave the room, and one was a young woman with her young husband that didn't want me in there during breast feeding... and the other preferred a female to do her catheter. 2/30ish or something like that isn't bad.

I actually enjoyed my clinical experience so much that I'm strongly considering trying to get a job in OB after I graduate. If you would have spoken to me before I went through that rotation you would have thought I'd never look back. Good luck and have fun man, it goes by fast.

guest042302019, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

I agree with all the previous comments. I liked the post about the various "hats" we wear. Basically, all the different roles we have in life. Husband hat, boyfriend hat, friend hat, work hat, in-public hat, etc.

I'd like to elaborate on the post that discussed, "learning more about the female anatomy." Of course, there are females in your class. Maybe some mothers? Try to share your concerns and fears with them. They may be able to reassure you and give you their experiences about being in labor with male staff. You could discuss your concerns with your instructors. Maybe there is a select few of students that you feel you can trust and confide in. Yes, OB and L&D are dramatically different settings than other floors. But, aside from the baby, you're going to touch, clean, palpate, and inspect lady partss and breasts throughout your nursing careers. We have female patients on every floor. I can't think of a floor that wouldn't. It sounds like you've got a bit of anxiety around the ladies. Brings me to my next point.

This post also addresses sexuality. Are you comfortable with your physical self? Are you comfortable with the physical parts of females? Being both comfortable with one's self and comfortable with a female's body is part of the issue. As I don't know your age, which really doesn't matter, it sounds like you've been having trouble with the ladies. Believe me, I've been there. You're concerned about the white elephant. Maybe it's already there, but the pressures of the OB and L&D unit intensify it. Personally, I still am not 100% comfortable touching anyone's genitals. I think I'll get over it with time. But, may I make some suggestions.

In your personal life, you have had difficulties with the ladies. Understandable. It's a tough scene and while there is "many fish in the sea" that doesn't mean one has good luck fishing. There is sexuality pressures all around us. It's particularly stressful when one hasn't had a physical relationship with a female when the world around us is constantly encouraging us too. And, there is constant reminders in movies, magazines, or advertisements. It's everywhere! So, now does that make you weird or different that you haven't? Absolutely not! It will come in good time. In fact, waiting, in my opinion, is a wise decision. But, it appears you may have some built up anxiety about the female issue which is transferring into anxiety about female patients. Plus, being in OB makes it 10X worse. If you can't actually become physical with a female in your personal life, give yourself a break. Hard to do though, giving yourself a break I mean. But, I think with a enough mental preparation, you can take off the "personal hat" and put on the "work hat." Positive thinking. Think to yourself, "I know that have had female issues in my past but I know that I can take care of a female in a hospital. Why? Because I care and I want to be a nurse." Considering the different roles may help you separate yourself from your personal life from your nursing life.

I think what you'll find is once you get in the OB setting then you may get acclimated. You'll get a feel for your surroundings which should help. You've got a lot of thoughts racing through your head. What if this? What if that? Do I have to do this? The truth is that our mind creates these assumptions based on nothing. We have garbage thoughts all the time. Once you're aware that a lot of those thoughts your having are not necessarily accurate and are based on assumptions, you can try to let it go. Identification of the thoughts are key. Then, you can let em' float away like a duck on a river.

I may be wayyyy off base about your thought process. I'm by no means a psych doc nor have any special training in mental health. But, I feel like I can relate to your situation. Hence, what I said. I hope this helps. And, good luck!

Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2012

today was a really slow day on the labor and delivery floor. only 3 moms in labor and two deliveries. i got to be there for the big moment for one of them. amazing. i had tears and was glad i was allowed to share the experience. mom and baby are healthy. it's amazing to see the efficiency of a birthing room. well.... no wonder us moms are so worn out afterward.

this was my experience today. there was a man who was a flight nurse that was cross training there along with l&d rns . this mom and baby need competent help, and most don't care about gender when the time comes. they just want someone who can give respectful and competent care. my role today was pretty much an observer. all i could really do today is take a temp and that's it. i wish i could have done more, but i saw how the procedures were done and that's important. i was with the transition nurse (baby assessment).

you sound fine on the respect part and the competency will come with time. i agree with wearing your "nurse hat" or "game face" or whatever you want to call it. it isn't about you. it's about the job that needs to get done.

i'm a 3rd semester adn student and i love it!

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2012

Yeah it's seriously not bad at all dude. Dare I say I actually enjoyed my time at OB clinicals. Not something I'd make a career of, but . . .

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · May 2, 2012

I was the same way and not too interested in learning about obstetrical care, but I got through it. They turned out to be perhaps the easiest clinicals. The teacher knew I wasn't into it and never forced the issue. I stood in on some deliveries, and yeah it's gross, but I'd actually delivered a baby on my own years before so it wasn't new. I will say that in the nursery rotation I never touched a baby, lol.