OB/Maternal be an elective class for male nursing students

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Seriously, I just spent $300 on a required book for my OB class not to mention countless hours this semester I'm gonna be at clinical.

Only like 1% of Male nurses even work in the OB field (obvious reasons), so why should this even be a required course for us guys? It's just frustrating knowing we have to dedicated an entire semester to this when we can take another class like Research/med-surge that will actually benefit us.

inb4 what are you gonna do when you have a pregnant patient??

Why are you spending $300 on a book for nursing school? The only time I spent more than $100 on a single book was a "specially made" textbook for our school. Buy used online.

Also, I've never worked in OB but I've used what I learned in the class many times. Especially on the NCLEX.

I think the most frustrating thing for the OP (I hope) is the fact that men are discriminated against regarding working in these units. I don't understand why it is generally considered taboo for a male that is a nurse to work in an OB/GYN department. I have no particular desire to, but If such a fellow wanted to work in such a unit it is considered taboo among their peers. That's odd because there are plenty of men working as MDs in these units that are not subjected to taboo, and are not considered perverts or whatever the issue is. Why is that?

This is silly. Ya, men don't go into those fields, but in general men don't want to. I have a cousin who makes more than a nurse practitioner does and he only has a H.S. diploma. Know what he does for a living? He is a window washer for skyscrapers. If any ladies here want that job, or think they are being discriminated because they are not represented please raise your hand... cuz I don't want that job either.

Even if you stick within the nursing prof. I can point out a job that is DOMINATED by men making 100k+ a year, and all it takes is 3-5 years experience. Oil platform nursing. Guys in the Gulf of Mexico need health care too when they are working, so there is a demand. You get stuck out in the middle of the ocean for 3 month stretches at a time, but you can make some great money.

I will concede that there is a VERY small minority of men who want to be in OB. I would approximate that with about the same amount of women who want to be center for the Chicago Bears. Sometimes life just doesn't work out the way you want it to. At my weight of 210lbs I have no hope of ever being a jockey in the Kentucky Derby lol.

(FYI, text sucks, my sarcasm is meant to be light hearted)

Have worked with several male L&D nurses and one of them in particular was one of the best nurses I've ever known. Sure, they're a minority, but they certainly can and do go into OB.

Specializes in CCRN.

A lot of male nurses go to ER and ICU. You'll see pregnant patients there. And female reproductive health concerns of half your patients, no matter your specialty. You don't get a pass on certain parts of the job because you're male

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I think the most frustrating thing for the OP (I hope) is the fact that men are discriminated against regarding working in these units. I don't understand why it is generally considered taboo for a male that is a nurse to work in an OB/GYN department. I have no particular desire to, but If such a fellow wanted to work in such a unit it is considered taboo among their peers. That's odd because there are plenty of men working as MDs in these units that are not subjected to taboo, and are not considered perverts or whatever the issue is. Why is that?

Are men discriminated against getting jobs in L&D or do only 1% want to work in L&D? Do you have proof that its considered taboo or are you assuming? Because like you said plenty of male doctors deliver babies.

I hope you're never my nurse. Quite frankly, your attitude sucks.

Specializes in ICU + 25 years as Nursing Faculty.

I have 36 years as an RN with XY chromosome. I have never worked a day in L&D.

HOWEVER, I have used my OB training many, many times.

  • When I worked in the ED... I wished that I was BETTER prepared to care for pregnant women. We saw lots of pregnant women who had problems LONG before delivery.
  • I have cared for post-partum women in the ICU.
  • I have cared for post-partum women on the med-surg floor.
  • I have coached many dads on how to support breast feeding so that mom and babe can be successful.
  • I found my OB training to be helpful when I became a dad!

I cannot decide which is more worrisome, your ignorance, or your attitude.

Best of luck,

GrumpyOldBastard

Specializes in Oncology, OCN.

I don't have any desire to work in OB but my OB rotation was pretty cool. Lots of important information to learn about and the care of pregnant women is applicable across many departments not just OB. One of my male classmates enjoyed his OB rotation so much he decided he wanted to work in OB. Took a bunch of networking on his part to be taken seriously but he did get a job offer in L&D so it's possible. Most of the guys in my cohort enjoyed their OB rotation, none resented the idea of having to take OB.

You say this as if you're not in a field dominated by women... Women are humans. Babies are humans. The point of nursing school is to expose you to all different types of environments & I strongly believe there is ALWAYS something to learn especially in health care.

Suck it up & view it as a learning experience. There's always going to be things that do & don't fascinate your interest.

Your attitude sucks

Folks have been very nice to you on this thread. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder.

Are you failing OB? Struggling? If so, know that your response to difficulty is everything in nursing. You need to be able to self reflect, find your deficits and fix them quickly. Those that can't or won't do this will not make it as a nurse.

You either need a miraculous attitude adjustment or another field of study. Stat.

nope, it's barely August so obviously it's the beginning of the Semester. Haven't made anything less than a B and I go to a top BSN program in my state. Please, continue taking shots acting like you know me. Lmao.

I've been in Nursing school for 4 semesters already and I know B.S. when I see it. And Male nurses taking a whole semester class dedicated to a workplace that has 1% job outlook for Male Nurses is complete fluff BS

I hope you're never my nurse. Quite frankly, your attitude sucks.

Yeah. I suck because I'm a dude who is spending about $1000 in tuition plus $350 on e-books and 100+ clinical/simulation hours + class time to take a semester long course in a specialty where men have a 1% job outlook.

You don't know me at all from an internet post. I promise.

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