Men in L&D

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just wondering, after reading a post by Andrew on another thread how guy nurses are accepted in L&D. Do you think that the patients respond to you like they do to your female co-workers? Do they act differently towards you? Have you ever had a patient request a female nurse? Just wondering how that area treats its males.

Thanks!

BrandyBSN

it also reminded me of my clinical experience with male classmates during my college years...these boys :rolleyes: (as i should call them ,coz we were in our early 20's then) were very enthusiastic whenever we have a primi in l&d...same as the giggles i heard when we watched a female classmate put a catheter to a male patient for the very first time...:) ...but after a while, i guess you get "use" to these kinds of things...the only uneasiness :o i notice is from the patients themselves...i don't have a child yet but based upon what a close friend of mine said when she was having contractions..."you're in so much pain that you don't even care who's in the room, the only thing you're focused on is pushing this beach ball out "...:D ...well then.................

Scares the hell out of me.

I can remember back in nursing school... I had a couple of old nuns as instructors... NO WAY were they going to allow a man in the L and D! I spent my whole rotation in the nursery! (not complaining... I was only 19 at the time, so it was actually a relief!)

However... since then, I have witnessed the births of both my sons and resent the fact that I was not allowed to view and participate in such a wonderful experience.

But, on the same note... I would NOT pursue a position in that area of the hospital... I am just fine right where I am.

:) Tim

I recall a similar encounter as a student, with an ageing midwife, who marched 15-20 of us to the other end of the maternity hospital to witness a new mother breast-feeding. (Don't ask!) We arrived at the door to the room, and she turned to the three males and told us to wait outside! The mothers, on the other hand, proved more enlightened, when asked, and I learned a lot. They did seem more coy post-partum.!

I really do not understand the public's perception of male nurses. After all, females allow their male doctors to view their private parts what difference does it make if it is a male nurse. I am going to deliver my 4th child in December. My OB is male. I would not mind if the nurse is male. I doubt if that will happen because from what I understand many hospitals do not allow male nurses to work in the L&D area. What a shame. :cool:

Interesting thread...

I have never known a male L and D nurse. Probably due to my limited work in that area. However...

As a mom of three, I have had a male deliver two out of my three. I didn't have a problem w that obviously but I think I would have had a prob. w/ a male RN in the room. I can't exactly say why, but as a prior post eluded to the idea of having more men in the room at that time isn't too appealing!:eek:

It has nothing to do with professionalism or abilities, I just feel it would be harder to hear a man tell you after 23 hours of pitocin and excrutiating contractions..."your're still at only 2 cm my dear"

------->> Where is my testical vice when i need it?!!!;) Or a guy that is not my husband telling me to " try to breathe through the pain" It just doesn't come across the same way that it would from a female that most likely can totally sympathize with what you are going through.

Steph

I work with a male nurse who recently transferred to our birthing unit. A few of the nurses we work with thought there might be a problem like some of the patients not wanting a male nurse during labor or postpartum etc. How will they take it when he does pt. teaching, breast feeding, lady partsl exams. How will the husbands react. Well he's been up there several months now and has had no problems whatsoever in regards to his gender. As a matter of fact several of the moms were dissappointed if his shift ended before they delivered or if he was going to be off the next day. And they have requested him to be thier nurse. You might think that a female would be more apt to sympathize or be more understanding than a male in this situation but believe me that has not been the case. I have never breast fed, given birth, or ever been pregnant. So I wouldn't have a clue to how a woman feels during any of this. I can sympathize and try to be as understanding as I can but I do that all the time now with any of my pts. We all do. As far as teaching or being supportive during labor, he is wonderful doing this and always has been even when he worked ICU/telemetry. He absolutely loves babies and children and one of the high points he has had so far was teaching a nine year old male child about caring for his newborn sister. He really got that kid involved with the proper way to bath her cord care and even breast feeding. He said it was really great teaching the whole family and it was just such a supportive atmosphere. Who knows, maybe this little boy will grow up to be a nurse!

One of the kindest, most competent, funniest nurses I ever worked with was a guy in L&D at a big inner-city hospital. He was married to a nurse-midwife, and was also certified as our ultrasonographer. I don't believe I ever heard a patient complain, probably because he was so bussiness-like and at the same time, warm and nice. He was about 6'6", BIG, and could be very intimidating-appearing. But let me tell you, he knew his business and I learned so much from him (and his wife) He also never had some of the problems us "little women" had--like the crack mom in labor who yanked out her IV and proceeded to try to wrap it around my neck.

He was a jewel--Ben, whereever you are, thanks!!!;)

I see no reason for a good male nurse to not be accepted in L&D. Like tonchito said, male OB/GYN's check pts, etc. For most women, this is acceptable...although I know a few women who prefer female docs, so they would be the exception to the rule. From what I've read about the good ones here on this thread, there should be more of 'em!

I wouldn't have a problem being assigned a male nurse in the delivery room. Like an earlier poster said--in the end, the Janitor could have come in and I wouldn't have given a damn:) (And it's not a Beachball, it's a BOWLING BALL- LOL) So the gender of my nurse would not have been an issue for me at least.

A caring and competant nurse is a caring and competant nurse in any field- sex has nothing to do with it. You go guys!

Kim

My floor is about 30% male. There's really no difference except muscle mass. Guys are GREAT RN's!!

Thinking back to when my son was born.....I don't think I would've cared if the nurse was male or female, just get this kid outta me!!! lol:D

I don't work L&D but I remember my rotation there many years ago as a student nurse in Seattle.

I was assigned to a young oriental woman who had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy. I was very nervous but I guess it didn't show. I remember being warned by the instructor that because she was oriental she may object to my being a male. Anyway...all went well and I made it through the rotation.

:)

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