Poll: Male Nurses in the OB? Ok or No Way???

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. Male Nurses in the OB

    • 203
      OK, all the way
    • 34
      No...explain
    • 40
      Neutral

277 members have participated

Hey All,

I have to write a scientific methods paper for pysch. Please tell me what you think about male nurses in OB, specifically the delivery room. I am not looking to start a huge debate just taking a survey.

Thanks Everyone!!!

Kris

Specializes in Operating Room.
Sometimes,seeing a male face can make you feel better,especially if your husband/partner is unable to make it on time(that way you have a male face to curse at, get mad at,etc...)lol:roll

:rotfl:

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I was delivered by a male OB. All of my siblings were delivered by a male OB. I see a male GYN. What is the difference in this or a male OB nurse? In my opinion, it should not even be a question.

Hey All,

I have to write a scientific methods paper for pysch. Please tell me what you think about male nurses in OB, specifically the delivery room. I am not looking to start a huge debate just taking a survey.

Thanks Everyone!!!

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a student, I had the obligatory OB experience, and found that I was more uncomfortable than the woman that was in labor. I also had a bit of a problem with post-partum assessments, such as asking about lochia and breast tenderness, but quickly got over that and kept as professional as I could. I think if a male wants to work in OB, and he's good at what he does, go for it as long as the patient is o.k. with his presence.

Leads to another question tho, what to do when the pt requests a female, and one isn't available? That's happened to me numerous times, and not only on the OB floor.

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There should be no reason why male nurses shouldn't be in OB. I know of some patient's who had a problem & while in nursing school, during OB rotation, the male students had to always be accompanied by the teacher. It's ironic because most OB/GYNs are males and no one has a problem with that.

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My favorite debate.

Yes I know many of the nurses here were once patients delivering their children. Honestly though do we as nurses feel differently about the sexual stigmatism than non medically trained individuals do? I think we do. Knowing that this is a nursing forum I am not one bit surprised by the overwhelming "OK" response. This question would be better asked in a public forum of non-medical trained individuals to get a real feel for how women of childbearing age feel about this.

I personally am a male nurse and my favorite rotation where I did the best in school and enjoyed the experience the most was L&D. Unfortunately I probably will never work there do to the stigmatism that the patients feel as well as the patients FAMILY. I am the last person that would want my patient to feel uncomfortable.

I am a 30 year old fit good looking male. (not cocky just trying to make my point) 15-30 year old fathers in with their wives, gf's or whatever have problems with me, not necessarily the female giving birth. Hell I almost got hit assisting a male doc when he checked the cervix when the boyfriend walked in.

I have never before in my life experienced sexual discrimination and it sucks. I feel for women who have experienced it because it is hurtful and it affects the way you handle yourself and the situations you find yourself in.

When my patients say the want a new nurse because I am a male it bothers me and I am sure it bothers others as well.

I do think though that society created this problem and it will soon (10-20years) be a problem no longer.

Many moons ago ALL MD's were male and ALL Nurses were female. There are still individuals alive today who remember this era. Mater of fact, most of the hospital clientele fit this category actually. Things are changing. Soon there will be as many male nurses on a floor as there are female. Just as there will be as many female docs as there are male, the later of course happening faster. This is because women are fighting sexual discrimination and are winning their battle. As men we will have to do the same in certain circumstances. (i.e. my hospital will not hire men into the "Mother, Baby" unit.) But in the end it is what the patient wants that really maters.

We are there to serve them, they are our customers let us not forget.

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Hey All,

I have to write a scientific methods paper for pysch. Please tell me what you think about male nurses in OB, specifically the delivery room. I am not looking to start a huge debate just taking a survey.

Thanks Everyone!!!

Kris

Male nurses in OB? No way! :lol2: Also, we should wonder about all those male doctors who work there as well :idea: . Just a thought, but if no one objects to male doctors, why should they object to male nurses? What's the difference in where they are looking at? Most of the male nurses that I have worked with are the epitome of compassion and caring. That's why they got into nursing-because they are nurturers. Now, I know that there are plenty that get in for the money, but why do you think that they might get into OB? I think that the patients might relate to them just as easily as the female ones just as they would relate to female doctors as they would male doctors.

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant/ Army Medic, LVN.
They do not have to justify their answers.

I agree, but the poll clearly asks for a "No" respondent to explain.

I am simply interested in hearing from BOTH sides. Differing opinions are often helpful for a healthy conversation/debate, and I'm interested in hearing other people's point of view. (More than a simple "No").

Thank you for your concern.

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Well I think it is the male nurse's decision if he wants to be a nurse in L&D. The only downside is if the hospital requires a female employee to be in a room when a male is checking a cervix. That would put a lot of strain on other female nurses if they had to stop what they were doing all the time to go with a male nurse. As for me personally, I wouldn't mind a male L&D nurse.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I agree, but the poll clearly asks for a "No" respondent to explain.

They're probably not in the mood to get told why they are wrong for feeling the way they feel, which is why no one voting no is explaining.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Well, I'm a NICU nurse, a guy, and I spend a LOT of time running into L&D rooms to attend a high-risk delivery, or precipitous one. No, I'm not the one holding her legs and telling her to push, but I am a member of the delivery team, whose sole mission is to ensure the survival and health of her baby. I've never had a mom/dad/other question my presence. I always introduce myself [if I have time] and yes, I often am at the "business" end of the pt. However, I love this aspect of NICU nursing, and would never give it up......

SteveRN21

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Hi kris,

I am a 4th year BSN-student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Philippines). One of our Masteral students is actually conducting a survey about male nurses in the OB ward. Anyway, she's currently working in the US, new york, she's here just to complete her MAN degree. For your survey, here in the Philippines female patient is quite hesistant to permit male nurses to do OB procedures, but what I've heard in the US it is ok for the patients but not for the nursing staff, that is according to survey conducted by one of the MA student in our university. I hope you've found my information useful. Good luck! God Bless!

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I WORK IN LABOR AND DELIVERY I AGREE WITH YOU MALE NURSE ARE GREAT, BUT AS A PATIENT PERSPECTIVE I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT A MALE NURSE DOING A VAG EXAM ON ME ALL DAY, NOT THAT HE WOULDN'T BE COMPETENT IT WOULD JUST MAKE ME FEEL UNEASY. :wink2: :nurse:

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