Men in OB/Peds Nursing....Any thoughts?....

[Wild Irish LPN]

I remember seeing something posted along these lines a while back, but it never really "got going" so I thought I would open it up for one more try....I am about to finish my LPN Program, and then will be in pursuit of my BSN starting in August....I am in the midst of my Maternal/OB course and have found that I really love this type of nursing....so fascinating and amazing to me.....until I actually have a rotation in my BSN program, I have no "real world" nursing experience in this realm, my experience is as a Dad of two boys and the shared birth process/pregnancies I had with my wife....I loved every minute of her pregnancy and studied up on all the details as a prospective Dad, I read numerous books on the subjects involved and was rivited....that was long before I considered nursing....

Now here I am in nursing school and I rediscovered my passion for this amazing event....but I have (maybe in my own mind) a problem....you see, I am a guy....and even though I am open minded and have a passion to pursue this specialty, I feel like it may be poorly accepted by my fellow female classmates, but most importantly my future patients....Is seeing a man in OB nursing really all that odd or out of place?.....be honest, would you have any concerns or modesty if I were to walk into your room to care for you?....or is this just something I need to get over?.....I have loved all my nursing experiences so far, but this is the one area that has really peaked my interest the most....so I open it up to all of you veteran nurses for some good advice, I m all ears.....

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

It's fine to discuss how patients might or might not feel about a man taking care of them. It's also fine to encourage the OP to "go for it". However the only thing that really counts are the nurse managers who will, or far, far more likely, will not offer him a job in OB. I guess it wouldn't hurt to apply, all they can do is say no and who knows? You might just get lucky and apply with one of the tiny minority would would even consider hiring you. The rest will discriminate aginst you based on gender.

I'm not saying you're completely wrong; however the trend is shifting in my neck of the woods (a conservative part of a conservative state). It's far more likely than it was even ten years ago to find a man working either in L&D or mother/baby. We've had men on mother/baby and right now there is a male L&D nurse on L&D.

[VioletKaliLPN, LPN]

I just thought of another angel.. If for some reason their male partner could not make it, your strong manly hands would be awesome for squeezing the hell out of .

In all seriousness though, I think it is awesome that you have such an interest in women's health and maternity. Right now we do not have enough men who are passionate about health care, especially women's health care, and it is fabulous to see a man who wants to be an advocate for women.

[carrie_c]

I think the nurse manager where I work would hire a male. But she is younger. It might be the older ones who might object. But like someone else said, a lot of women now having babies don't always have a man with them, so they might welcome a male nurse.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I'm not saying you're completely wrong; however the trend is shifting in my neck of the woods (a conservative part of a conservative state). It's far more likely than it was even ten years ago to find a man working either in L&D or mother/baby. We've had men on mother/baby and right now there is a male L&D nurse on L&D.

*** I have been in nursing for about 16 years. I have observed an anti men in nursing bias during all that time. I would agree it is getting better and I think it will continue to do so. That's great there is a male working in your L&D. I have known a very few men who managed to get jobs in L&D but only a few. I wish we could talk to him and get his perspective. I have heard stories of men who were hired into L&D only to be chases out later.

[Wild Irish LPN, LPN]

It's fine to discuss how patients might or might not feel about a man taking care of them. It's also fine to encourage the OP to "go for it". However the only thing that really counts are the nurse managers who will, or far, far more likely, will not offer him a job in OB. I guess it wouldn't hurt to apply, all they can do is say no and who knows? You might just get lucky and apply with one of the tiny minority would would even consider hiring you. The rest will discriminate aginst you based on gender.

As far as peds goes, well that is very different. Men kick butt in peds and are very well reguarded. Men doing peds face only the normal anti men in nursing bias that is persistant throughout nursing, not the especialy virulent bias faced by men wishing to do OB.

Thank you for your honesty and heart felt feedback...I guess being that I am a nursing student, I have yet to feel any push back because of my gender...I am sure it happens, just as it happens in the business sector with women....it isn't right, it isn't fair, but it is reality....Peds is a dual passion of mine, perhaps this is a "safer" route to go, but I sure would like to see progress....perhaps I can make some head-way in that direction by excelling in Peds, and use my advocate status speak up for some XY representation in that realm....

[Wild Irish LPN, LPN]

I would refuse any male being in a labor/delivery room with me except my husband.

I am not trying to provoke you in any negative way, I promise....but can you share with as to why you feel this way?....I am curious....

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I am not trying to provoke you in any negative way, I promise....but can you share with as to why you feel this way?....I am curious....

Maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable with a male stranger looking at her bits? I haven't had children yet, but when I do, I would rather have an older female nurse who has gone through the birthing process than a male nurse who doesn't have a clue about what it is like to be in labor/ be pregnant. And some cultures forbid it. It is something you will have to respect.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

an older female nurse who has gone through the birthing process than a male nurse who doesn't have a clue about what it is like to be in labor/ be pregnant.

Irrelevant. You don't have to die from cancer in order to be qualified to work as an oncology nurse.

[Wild Irish LPN, LPN]

Maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable with a male stranger looking at her bits? I haven't had children yet, but when I do, I would rather have an older female nurse who has gone through the birthing process than a male nurse who doesn't have a clue about what it is like to be in labor/ be pregnant. And some cultures forbid it. It is something you will have to respect.

thanks for your input....but as a nurse do you have to have had a MI to care for a Cardiac patient?, or to have experienced head trauma to care for a car accident victim?....I get it, we are dealing with a woman's body....modesty and our American culture (along with most others) are a bit repressed when it comes to the female anatomy, we almost foster a culture of shame about it and that is due to our nature of sexualizing everything....I guess the way I see it is that it is medical procedure and process....I get that one would like to have an experienced nurse helping them through this time, a nurse who can relate....but you know what?, I am that nurse too....I was with my wife through every phase of our pregnancy and took the ride with her....just because I didn't feel the physiological pain of child birth doesn't mean I couldn't provide outstanding care and empathy, I could....does this really just boil down to the fact of our cultures repressed/dysfunctional feelings about our bodies?.....if so then that is a sad statement in itself.....

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable with a male stranger looking at her bits? I haven't had children yet, but when I do, I would rather have an older female nurse who has gone through the birthing process than a male nurse who doesn't have a clue about what it is like to be in labor/ be pregnant. And some cultures forbid it. It is something you will have to respect.

*** Hey if a female wishes not to be cared for by a male I am down with it. I understand and will, if possible, arrange for a female nurse. This has happend to me many times during my career and it is understandable and I respect their wishes, if possible.

However to say a male doesn't have a clue is biased. For example I have never had life support withdrawn on me and died. However I am really good at it and am often requested by our docs when the time comes to withdraw life support. I even wrote the protocal used at my hospital. I am also good at taking care of gun shot wounds. I have been shot myself but I can tell you being shot didn't give me and specific insight to caring for people with gun shot wounds. My training and experience did. There are also some world famous OB-GYN physicians that are male and they don't have any personal experience with delivering a baby or suffering from female only illnessess.

[carrie_c]

I am a labor and delivery/postpartum/newborn nurse, and I have never had a child. But that doesn't mean I can't still take care of women and babies. I think it's wrong to assume that just because you haven't had the experience, you are incapable or not 'compassionate'. Female nurses take care of male patients all the time, yet we don't have a member.

[RNnicu42]

I was recenetly hired onto a perinatal unit (L&D, post partum, antepartum) with 4 other new grads. One is a male. During our classes he does get asked frequently why he chose OB and his answer is always that he has the passion for this field. When talking to management, the reason they hired him over the other few males that applied was because he showed an unwavering confidence. This seems to be a theme among male perinatal nurses on my unit. Whether they are uncomfortable or not caring for women, they do not show it and always act confidently and professionally. I commend them for their confidence.