As a young male, what can I expect during my OB/Newborn rotation?

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

What you can expect is to mainly observe, and not get a lot of hands-on experience, at least in L&D.

As far as the concern about sexual harrassment - don't do anything other than talk without another staff member or student present. It's a good rule for any male in OB (and something I know all our OBs - male and female - adhere to).

Right or wrong, the midwives and nurses don't worry as much about that.

PetiteOpRN · Jan 4, 2011

Student nurses DO NOT do ANY intimate exams.

Male health care providers always have a female coworker present when performing gynecologic or breast exams (even physicians).

Observe, ask permission, and treat patients and families with respect, and you shouldn't have any problems.

caliotter3 · Jan 4, 2011

As a male in this arena, you should always choose to have a have another staff member, preferably a female, to accompany you. This is just good all around practice. Best wishes.

anon695 · Jan 4, 2011

It depends if the patients are willing to have a male nursing student or not. I'm female and while we didn't do lady partsl exams as student nurses, we did some other things that many women may not want a male nursing student to do. So the male students often got put in the nursery with the babies, if they were not assigned to mothers. So, expect to be doing newborn assessment, newborn vitals, diaper changes, newborn injections, etc.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

IF somebody appears uncomfortable in your presence, simply apologize, excuse yourself and leave the room.

You will likely also be spending time in post partum (kinda like a med surg floor), newborn nursery and NICU. Its not all L&D. Also, you will likely see a C section which is like a surgical setting more than anything else.

By the time all is said and done, you are likely not going to be seeing too terribly many lady partsl births or spending lots of time in L&D (as opposed to post partum, NICU, etc)

Spikey9001, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

It depends if the patients are willing to have a male nursing student or not. I'm female and while we didn't do lady partsl exams as student nurses, we did some other things that many women may not want a male nursing student to do. So the male students often got put in the nursery with the babies, if they were not assigned to mothers. So, expect to be doing newborn assessment, newborn vitals, diaper changes, newborn injections, etc.

Sounds fun!

Spikey9001, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

IF somebody appears uncomfortable in your presence, simply apologize, excuse yourself and leave the room.
You will likely also be spending time in post partum (kinda like a med surg floor), newborn nursery and NICU. Its not all L&D. Also, you will likely see a C section which is like a surgical setting more than anything else.
By the time all is said and done, you are likely not going to be seeing too terribly many lady partsl births or spending lots of time in L&D (as opposed to post partum, NICU, etc)

I understand... but I'll still be very "involved" with the family as far as teaching and whatnot. Cause last semester it seem more patient focused and less emphasis on family teaching etc... (It was LTC and basic med surg). This semester seems to be the exact opposite.

SnowStar4 · Jan 4, 2011

my male classmates were required to have a female with them at all times when examining a patient. people understand this and are willing to help. there were a few instances where they were removed from a delivery due to request. not because they did anything wrong, but because of being male and not having an active role in the birth. usually the patient was fine, it was the husband/partner/baby daddy that wouldn't let them stay. our instructor complied since no one needs the extra stress on their big day. most people are fine with it though and very welcoming. birth is usually a happy occasion and it is a great rotation.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

There is A LOT of patient teaching in OB.

Bone up on newborn baby care, postpartum norms, and breastfeeding info, and if you can do pt. teaching in those arenas, your nurses will be eternally grateful.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

i've never had to get intimate and close with women in that way before. to be honest, the only time i usually do deal with women intimately is if i'm going to have sex with them (excuse me if that's not tactful).

oh please ... i've read worse. people need to lighten up about sex around here.

what are some things i can do to to convince my future patients and their families that i am doing this from a professional standard and trying to be "perv" or anything like that?

:eek: i had to read this a couple of times, because at first read it sounded bad, but now i see you forgot to include a crucial "not" in there ... :lol2:

best advice has been offered by others, and even by you yourself: always insist on a female staff member being present with you whenever you conduct an intimate exam or procedure. good practice to start as a student and carrying into your nursing career.

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

We had several males during our OB/peds rotation. Some were African American, Asian, young/old etc.. They didn't seem to have an issue.. They remained very professional, they focused on postpartum education, bleeding, pericare, newborn care etc.. Once they "showed" the new moms how much they knew and were wanting to help them, the mothers reaction to them were just how they treated the females.

I didn't see a birth, c-section or do a lady partsl exam. The lady partsl exams were a no no for students so you might not have to worry about that part at all; but we did a lot of funtal checks post birth, assessed for and educated on bleeding..

Brush up, know your stuff and be confident in what you know and not the sex that you are.. Let your education shine through. The mothers will be fine with you and the ones that aren't, don't take it personal.