Advice for a new Mom/baby nurse, with a twist

RunBabyRN · Mar 9, 2014

Good luck with your assignment!

One of my L&D nurses when I had my son was a male, and I took no issue with him at all. He was perfectly professional, and did a great job with me.

I would say to review your textbooks, and go in with ears and eyes open. Soak it all up like a sponge. The experienced nurses on the unit can have a lot to offer. You'll spend a lot of time assisting women with breastfeeding, assessing lochia and involution, and doing peri care on women with very tender peri areas! It would be unrealistic to have a standby, IMO, every time you performed these tasks. That said, if you are uncomfortable with these without a female standby, discuss it with your chain of command.

There is a lot going on psychologically when a woman is going through labor, delivery and postpartum. Lots of hormone shifts, role changes, emotions run high, everyone's short on sleep, mom and baby are struggling with breastfeeding, etc. Be sensitive to this aspect of the job, as it's a big part of it.

lovemyjoblandd · Mar 22, 2014

Hi! I'm going to make you feel better (I hope) about this. I was in the army for 10 years, the first 6 enlisted, the last 3.5 as a RN. I started in med-surg and then transferred to postpartum (after much begging and pleading). At my LDRP we had 3 male M6 (LVN) nurses work postpartum. They didn't love it, but they didn't really mind it either. Of 3 years working on that unit, I never once heard of a patient complaint because their postpartum nurse was a male. Anytime that one of my male nurses was uncomfortable about doing something (breastfeeding help, etc), the rest of us were happy to pitch in. Don't let yourself get worked up over it. I think you will find it's really not as stressful as you might think. Also, army wives/soldiers are used to getting whatever is thrown at them. They know it won't really do them much good to complain hahaha. Good luck and keep us updated.

Cutandstitch · Mar 25, 2014

Thank you for the responses!

I

lovemyjoblandd · Mar 25, 2014

Are you new to the army, new to nursing or both?

Cutandstitch · Mar 25, 2014

Neither. I was a CNA and PT care tech civilian sector for four years before I enlisted and did 4 years as a medic before doing the lpn program.

lovemyjoblandd · Mar 25, 2014

Oh okay so a M6 :) after i wrote the reply i realized none of those options may be correct lol. Anyways, best of luck to ya. I imagine where you are headed is gonna be a pretty busy place in the LD realm. Read up on your lochia and funduses :) In all seriousness most of postpartum is assessing those 2 things. Army doesnt keep it's people long. 48 hours for c/s and first time vags, 24 for everyone else. Your mostly gonna wanna make sure your uterus stays firm and is involuting as expected, lochia is as expected, pericare (you wont believe the power of tucks, dermaplast and proctocream. Teach EVERY vag patient to use them), watch for hemrrhoids- they can turn ugly fast on a fresh vag delivery and they are super painful, ice to perineum for the first 24 hours, then warm sitz baths. Frozen cabbage leaves are a nonbreastfeeding womans best friend. Those are the best tips i can think of for now.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Mar 30, 2014

lovemyjob has some great tips! Another thing I would add, is go in and do your assessment and teaching with CONFIDENCE! When I was in labor with my son, I had a resident doc before my OB got to the hospital. He was so soft spoken, he made me nervous, and I didn't want him there for the birth! When my other son was born, my OB had a male flight nurse following him. He and I had some good discussions, because I could sense his relaxation and confidence.

Gennaver, MSN · Apr 4, 2014

So I just graduated from nursing school through the Army. I was just informed that my first assignment will be in the Mom/baby unit at my new hospital.
While I'm able to appreciate certain aspects of postpartum care, I know the sentiment exists among some patients and caregivers that LDRP is not the place for men unless they are OB/Gyns, even though it might be a minority opinion.
I am uneasy moving into this specialty because my background , while varied, does not include Mom/baby. And the only knowledge I have comes from textbooks, my wife's experience delivering, and my rotation through mom/baby during school.
Can anyone give some advice as to how I can prepare better to relate to the Moms before I start orientation? Or how I can navigate the potential obstacles I may face as a male nurse in this specialty?
A more specific question that is burning in my mind: during my assessments, would it be prudent have another set of eyes in the room with me or is that as unrealistic as it sounds?
Thanks for the input in advance!

Hello,

Currently there are men working in OB at my Army hospital, some are civilian some are Army. All are welcomed by us as caregivers and most of the patients rave about the care from the men. Occasionally there will be a family that prefers women only and generally that is easily understood and accepted by all staff and we accommodate.

I hope you would not be offended on the chance it may happen but, your coworkers will likely NOT be offended or upset with you for being a man, at all.

I also think it is very natural and wise to have some uneasiness being new to OB, if someone wasn't then I'd think they didn't have a good grasp of what Labor and Delivery involves or the potential complications.

I've only been an OB nurse for just over 2 years. It takes time.

Jen

edit: Oh, LVN! You are much needed!

Cutandstitch · Jan 14, 2015

So I figured that enough time has passed for me to be able to reply with some confidence. I appreciate everyone's input tremendously. Bar none, everything that was offered was accurate.

One thing I was not prepared for was the level with which I empathized with the patients and families who were/are uncomfortable with a male nurse in this specialty. I think it's strange how a male OB seems ok but a male OB nurse seems odd to some people. I imagine much of my unease going in to this specialty was because I didn't think I had any place being there.

I know that my future most likely will not center around OB care. However, it's been wonderful expanding my knowledge and comfort zone. I've learned how fulfilling a therapeutic relationship can be for a nervous hi risk first time mom as she struggles to maintain the pregnancy just one more day for her baby. I've met some outstanding nurses who are masters of their craft and have learned so many technical things from them that I never deemed interesting before this. Ive learned that new dad's can have a comical (to me) leer sometimes when doing peri are or helping with breastfeeding. I've shared some of the happiest times of people's lives and helped them navigate the drastic changes that tiny people can bring. And I've gotten to hold the hand of grieving parents that will never get to take heir little boy home.

No, OB may not be my career, but I'm damn proud of what I have learned and accomplished since I got here. Thank you for the support and advice!

crj96 · Jan 18, 2015

So glad to come on to this thread in time to hear the update! I work on a Mom/Baby floor that is entirely women, but the OBs are all men (except one). Interesting, isn't it?

I think the single most important thing for a postpartum nurse to possess is compassion. Yes, they need to get up out of bed on their own, but they need someone that understands it's going to be really difficult and painful the first time. If you're impatient or short with them, they'll pick that up really quickly! Postpartum patients are far more difficult from a psychosocial standpoint than many med/surg patients, and I see that because our floor also has med/surg overflow. They're typically used to being healthy and this setback is new, unexpected (they didn't think it would hurt THIS much!) and painful. Being compassionate, patient, and willing to listen goes a LONG way in this specialty.

If nothing else, you're learning great skills to carry you through to whatever specialty you take on next!