Are you Man Enough to be an OB nurse?

postmortem_cowboy · Mar 2, 2007

Can I do it, yes, would I rather not, yes... There's just something about being a male nurse doing that and in that setting that just says "wrong" all over it for me, for a doctor, yes maybe that's a safe area, but for a male nurse, not so safe... Besides that I had a bad experience in OB/L&D in clinical for LVN school, and it's just not a floor that i'm comfortable with, or would enjoy working on.

Wayne.

KckStrt · Mar 4, 2007

sure i could deliver babies.... but i don't want to deal with the pregnant moms. i love pediatrics, i am doing my internship at st. louis children's hospital emergency department, i graduate in may 2007. don't want to take care of pregnant women... i can have one of those at home, anytime!

The Limey · Mar 4, 2007

I don't think it's entirely appropiate for men to work in OB in nursing. Not because they aren't competent, but because of the comfort level for the patient (and the family). If I were a gambling man I'd stake large sums of money on the vast majority of women (and their partners!) being more comfortable with a female OB nurse than a male. I felt uncomfortable as a student in my Maternity rotation because I could sense the discomfort of my patient and family.

Pianoforte · Mar 10, 2007

This is a VERY interesting question. I LOVED my peds and OB rotation. There are probably 150+ nurses employed in either L&D or PP and only one is a male. Because of my interest in public health and health education, I would LOVE to work in either, but I don't think I could get hired. I thought I had a good "alibi" being gay, but my course coordinator, also a seasoned legal nurse consultant, didn't think that would fly. Major bummer!

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Mar 16, 2007

I could probably do it if I had to, and do when I have to float there, but I'd MUCH rather take care of the baby than mom.....all the lochia and pad counts, eeewwww......

As unconfortable it seems a patient would be for a man to be an OB nurse, most adult female patients I have encountered have had no problem with me caring for them, as long as I present myself as professional and remain tactful.

Larry77, RN · Mar 16, 2007

Don't know nuffin 'bout burfing no babies here...lol

Um no thanks...in an emergency ok fine but on an everyday basis not interested. Had one born once about 3 minutes after I rushed her up to OB...phew close one...

vamedic4, EMT-P · Mar 16, 2007

Though I'm not a nurse yet...I'll stay away from OB...closest I ever came was a lady who spoke only French with a breech presentation in my ambulance. Both feet sticking out..can you say "please don't push" in French? Neither could I.

I'll stick to peds.

vamedic4

BULLYDAWGRN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

I won't go near the l&d floor, see enough pregnant girls in er.

Jokerhill · Mar 17, 2007

There are two where I work and it is rare that there is a problem with it. At first the family may have a problem but when the get to know them they want them because they know what they are doing, and care. I work in the NICU and mostly go to high risk deliveries all shift and recover Babies that otherwise would be dead and am well appreciated (we do a lot of codes). Most of the families think I am a MD, when I tell them, after the fact, I am a nurse they are shocked. And I have delivered babies one last week in the parking lot in our discharge area on my way in to work, I don't think the family cared that I was a male at that time.

danh3190 · Mar 29, 2007

I'm nowhere near being a nurse yet, but I would hate to work in OB. I could probably convince most patients and families that I'm professional and can be trusted, but who wants to work in an atmosphere where you HAVE TO convince people to let you help them?

gitterbug · Mar 29, 2007

Lordy, I am female and I hate OB. Everything that could go wrong in clinicals went wrong in my OB rotation. Too long to describe but guess who made the top grade on all pre-test for boards in OB in the history of our nursing school? Yep, it was me, but you would have to use a whip on me to get me to ever work it.