How will our new grad Male RN work in L &D?

[ragingmomster]

Our unit has hired a male new grad RN to work in L&D, he starts later this summer. I do not have any experience with this situation because I think it is rare and I only have 2 years experience in L&D.

Some of our nurses are concerned with having this RN do checks without a chaperone and insist that having a male RN will be like a millstone around the neck of the rest of us who are already overworked.

Not one to turn up my nose at something new, I am looking for RNs with experience in working with a male RN in L&D. Better yet, any male RNs willing to share their experiences so that I can share information with my co-workers.

[FocusRN]

your saying that you interview your prospective doctors put a whole new spin on this . . . . . it isn't that they are women per se . . . .it is that they pass your interview process to boot.

nothing wrong with that. at all. but it changes your argument because you weed out all the "cold" or "unfeeling" or "non-empathetic" female docs prior.

that brings in another question though - just because someone doesn't have a good bedside manner, does that make them a bad doc? i know one particular doc who is not all that friendly but i'd choose him over the touchy-feeley doc in a heartbeat in an emergency.

i'm not saying you can't choose who you want - i'm not saying you should choose a male doc. i'm simply saying that being a female doesn't guarantee anything.

we females are not perfect . . . . or perfectly empathetic.

steph

when talking about an ob, it must (for me), be a woman per se. that is the first requirement. and of course i inteview them, but if they don't meet the "woman" requirement first, they won't make it only my list.

i have not only interviewed ob, but dentist, internalists, and a host of other areas. unless, i am in an emergency situation , my health care provider will go through an interview process. it is just good common sense.

nothing about my arguement has changed. early one i listed, a few of the reasons why i would choose a female ob over a male. i never said that being female was the only criteria for a healthcare provider in the gyn area.

and no, just b/c someone doesn't have a good bedside manner, doesn't mean that they are not a good or great healthcare provider. but, i would prefer a good or great healthcare provider that has a good bedside manner. this works for me b/c i am a naturally confrontational person with people with bad attitudes, and coldness (outside of my patients). so i would rather have a healthcare provider, that i wouldn't get in to it with on a regular basis. that is just me.

i never said that being a femaled guaranteed, anything but the fact that a female is not a male ( let's not make this too complicated). i also never said that females or perfect or perfectly empathetic.

[Dayray, RN]

Take my advice, shake it off, don't bring it home, and stop letting people steal your joy. They don't care about you, so why should you care about what they may say, think, or feel?

First, I apologize for your loss. Second, who cares if people start with "men are lazy", "who would want a male" nurse? You in reality don't have to prove your self to anyone. But since, you give other people the power to validate or reject you, you are giving them that power, and making life much harder than it really is.Let me let you in on a secret, people will always question you. They will find any reason too. And do you know why? Because those people, have nothing better to do in their lives. They have no joy, so they have made it their mission, to make it harder for any one that they think they can prey on, and you let them. As long as you let them, they will do it. If someone questions you, in no uncertain terms set them straight, then shake it off, and be happy. And a word of advice, coworkers are not freinds, and never mix the two. Keep home at home, and work at work.

You shouldn't take comments or jokes here and there. I would advise that you don't. Why should you? And again you only have to prove yourself to people if you give them that power. Lastly, it happens all of the time. The smart women, won't take sh*t off of anyone, the others will get preyed upon until they run away.

Ty your right, Ive been letting it get to me too much. I'm sorry for coming on so strong. It's just been gettign to me. I am quite worried aboyt somethigns that are going on at work. Someone or several someones have been turning me in for all kinds of crazy stuff. charting is the main thing, Ive been called by the manager for complaints of other nurses sevral times and the complaints have been proved false not just overblown or exagerations but completly false along just bad stuff happenig all around. The really bad thing is that a patient care issue came up and rather then respondign to it, I just said i needed some time off. It was soemthign blown way out of porportion but of course it looks like I was in th wrong becuse I didnt respond.

I just freaked out that people were "reviewing my charts" and looking for reasons to turn me in. In fact there have been several times that I have just couldnt spend the emotional energy to fight thingds ppl say and have just steped back and watched. I'm feelign better now (I think) and need to fix a bad reputaion before it hangs me. lol or maybe im just rantign again lol I dunno

[Jolie, BSN]

Dayray,

I didn't respond to your earlier posts because they seemed uncharacteristically "sharp" on your part. I now know and understand why. Please take care of yourself and your professional practice. It would be a shame to lose your expertise and your contributions to OB nursing.

[KellNY, RN]

I just freaked out that people were "reviewing my charts" and looking for reasons to turn me in. In fact there have been several times that I have just couldnt spend the emotional energy to fight thingds ppl say and have just steped back and watched. I'm feelign better now (I think) and need to fix a bad reputaion before it hangs me. lol or maybe im just rantign again lol I dunno

OMG-What's in the L&D water cooler lately? I'm being harassed for the same junk lately, stupid charting stuff. And for whatever they're really latching on...6 weeks ago a family member died and now they called me up saying I need to show a death certificate or I'm getting written up. For calling in ONE day to attend the wake/funeral, with 2 days notice given, when other staff volunteered to cover me? BS ...but I digress. I'm glad that you clarified.

I hope that even though you may still consider me discriminatory, I do support male nursing--even in OB. Like I've mentioned, we have a male L&D nurse, and he's been here a long time. For the most part he gets along with everyone (except for some of the, ahem, "strong" personalities there....trying to be nice here...lol).

From what I've seen he's a great nurse, and I never pass off my "discrimination" the patients I bring down to him. In fact I say something like "And Joe will be you're nurse--he's really great, and I know he'll take great care of you" or something like that, because he's one of a handful of noc RNs on L&D that I like.

So to again address the OP's concern-there should be no problems having a male RN on the unit. Yes, some Pts may refuse (as is their right), but most won't bat an eye past "Oh wow. A male OB nurse"

And if staff has a problem with it, it's their problem, not his. If they bother him about it, contact the union (if you have one).

[FLOBRN]

We hired a new grad male RN here in my L&D unit in central fl last year. He is fantastic. Some of the staff initially resisted the idea, now they are all wanting him to work with them.

The best part is after only a year we have pts coming in and REQUESTING him as a labor nurse.

Guys in L&D are no different than women. some are fantastic, some are ok and some should work in a different dept.

FLOBRN

[leosrain, BSN, RN]

Our unit has hired a male new grad RN to work in L&D, he starts later this summer. I do not have any experience with this situation because I think it is rare and I only have 2 years experience in L&D.

Some of our nurses are concerned with having this RN do checks without a chaperone and insist that having a male RN will be like a millstone around the neck of the rest of us who are already overworked.

Not one to turn up my nose at something new, I am looking for RNs with experience in working with a male RN in L&D. Better yet, any male RNs willing to share their experiences so that I can share information with my co-workers.

I personally believe that forcing men to have a chaperone is sexist and against the law. Until females are required to have a male chaperone when caring for males, I refuse to accept this practice.

The day I have to have a chaperone is the day I quit. I refuse to be seen as a criminal without cause.

Sean

[leosrain, BSN, RN]

. I have never and will never have a male OB, nor would I ever have a male RN in L&D as my nurse. No sexual discrimination, it is just my choice..

It IS sexual discrimmination, you just feel it is justified. These sexist attitudes need to stop. It's no wonder males are so afraid to be nurses.

*sigh*

Edit: Removed remarks which I decided were not necessary.

[Jolie, BSN]

Like it or not, it is a patient's right (male or female) to determine who they will accept as a caregiver. To force your care on an unwilling patient amounts to battery.

[k_cole21]

I've traveled to 10 different hospitals and it's never been required to have a chaperone for the physicians. If you are on a unit with 2 laboring pts, yes it could be a burden for co-workers. What's going to happen when it comes time for the pt to push for 2 hours? Can't have 2 nurses just b/c one's a male.

I have worked on a unit with 3 male OB nurses (one was a charge nurse). LOVED THEM!!!!! They were a great addition to the unit and it helped to have some testosterone on the unit (other than doctors). The pts loved them & so did the physicians. I think you all should be open minded and give it a shot!

[FocusRN]

I did say that MY PREFERENCE is a female b/c I PERSONALLY wouldn't not feel comfortable with a male OBGYN or L&D Nurse.

As I said in MY CASE it is NOT discriminattion, IT IS MY PREFERENCE.

Sigh.....Hopefully the day will soon come when some people get over themselves and realize that they have no idea what is going on in someone ele's head, no matter how intelligent they think they are.

[crissrn27, RN]

Don't know if it is the norm or not, but around here (Ok, so its a little hick town in the South) we always have our male OBs chaperoned when doing a pelvic exam. At the hospital, in offices, where ever. I think, once upon a time, some crazy so and so said a doc raped her or something, and they feel better with someone with them. It shouldn't have to be like that, but if I were a male nurse I would want someone with me. Anyone could cry wolf, and its much more likely to happen to a male thats doing a pelvic on a female. I'd rather have a trusted co-worker with me, and on my side, than it just be my word against hers kind of thing. The repercussions from a crazy woman saying that a male touched her/raped her could mean the loss of the job, your reputation, and possibly some portion of your freedom.

Not that it is right, just how it is. I wouldn't want all that depending on some woman I don't even know. It is sexist, and I am sure it has happened to a female somewhere along the way, but probably to alot more males. I have seen this happen with male CNAs in the nursing home, a pt or their family will say they touched them inappropriately, and they lose everything, and the police are called. After a couple of these incidents the DON started telling the male CNAs just to do the men. Just my 2 cents.

I really think that male nurses would do well in L and D, just our pt population would make it hard on them. I, personally, would have had no problem with a male L and D nurse with my labors. It is a stereotype in the worst way, that male nurses shouldn't be in L and D, the general public has problems with this. Has anyone seen "Knocked Up"? Classic scene when they get to L and D and find out a male is their nurse. I won't say anymore, in case you guys want to see it, but movies like this keep the stereotype going.

[FLOBRN]

I personally believe that forcing men to have a chaperone is sexist and against the law. Until females are required to have a male chaperone when caring for males, I refuse to accept this practice.

The day I have to have a chaperone is the day I quit. I refuse to be seen as a criminal without cause.

Sean

I would have to agree with you. We never required our guy L&D RN to have a chaperone and it's never been an issue.