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.

[Dayray, RN]

I'm sorry ragingmomster, I didn't notice your post after mine. It kind of got lost in all the fighting - I tried to Pm you but your box is full.

No, there isn't a rule about chaperones for male nurses. The rule for doctors is simply a guideline and not really a rule.

The problem with such a rule for male nurses is that as nurses it would really cripple them. There aren't always enough nurses to support such a rule. Also there are times when leaving a patients room and looking for someone to "help you" would delay care. Such a rule would make a male nurse a liability to the unit not to mention a disadvantage to a patient. It is really very hard to be both a new grad and the first guy on the unit. Everyone will be watching him and judging him. Such a rule is likely to cause resentment from other staff members. "I hate working with him, I always have to go into his patient rooms and watch him".

I'm not sure if he has started yet but the best thing to do is to let him decide such things on his own. I personally just use my judgment and call for help when I feel that the patient is either a particularly vulnerable one (very young, mentally different or doesn't speak English) or if the patient is inappropriate with me or makes me uncomfortable.

Someone had suggested having him do everything else but cervical exams and I strongly advise against this. If a patient says something like that to me I quickly hand them over to someone else. I'm either a nurse or not, I'm not going to get your drinks or make your bed if you don't trust my professionalism.

Luckily 99.9% of patient's wont have problems with him. It is very rare that patients will have an issue with him unless they are asked before he comes in the room.

Ive been doing this for 6 years and have never had a patient complaint or any feel like I was molesting them. I have however at times in my career had other nurses make comments or even complaints about me doing things to patients. I in fact had many such complaints investigated by managers and the patient always said that they had no such problems and that they were happy with my care. It is one thing that he will always be an easy target for. If a nurse doesn't like him it's the easiest way to hurt him.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Closed for repairs.

Will reopen after a mint julep.......or two.......

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have stayed out of this discussion, for a lot of reasons, but feel the need to add just a bit of of food for thought.

I have worked with male L/D nurses who were excellent, competent and compassionate as any of the ladies were----- and have witnessed no problem whatsoever with their female patients and their significant others or family members "accepting" them in the vast majority of cases.

It's not that hard to make it work. FIRST OFF, it takes the RIGHT attitude of ALL the staff, male and female. Something as simple as making the introduction at shift change like:

"this is Mark, your nurse for today, as I go off. You and your baby are in great hands with him and just call if you need anything".

----NOT----

Sending him in "cold" with no prior ice-breaking introduction, or WORSE:

"your next nurse will be a male, is that ok?"

watch your body language and tone as well.......

Yes, unfortunately, I have heard women say this and act uncomfortable when introducing a male nurse to a patient. Now when you bring it up like that, what do you think people will say and how might they respond? You are already opening the door for negative responses/reactions and ultimately, their refusal. Are you sure that is not what you subconsciously may be trying to do? There are a lot of female OB nurses and managers who feel men have no place in OB nursing.

It's about attitude. Men have been in nursing a long time now----and L/D as well. I had men caring for me in a military hospital when I was an OB patient. I also work with a couple. Like I said, they have no problem with the majority of their female patients/family members. The few who do refuse a male nurse usually do on deeply-held religious grounds, or perhaps, were victims of rape or incest------they don't tend to refuse just due to the fact the nurse is male and "do not like the idea". I might add, these same ladies nearly always choose female midwives and doctors, for those same reasons.

A very important fact we must remember is, we have quite a bit of influence as to how well *any* nurse is accepted on our unit. I would begin by looking in the mirror and asking myself the tough questions, if I had problems working with a given nurse, just due to the facts of gender, race, sexual orientation, or any other traditionally discriminating factor.

Just , as I said, food for thought while we cool down a bit here.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thread reopened.

Let's keep to the topic and answer OPs questions:

• 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.

Please do not make responses personal and be respectful.

Thank you.

[Johntaasu]

When it comes L & D competence I believe I am gender blind.

However, it all boils down to the prefessionalism of the Nurse and the training ( hands-on) received and acquired.

As a father of five, I am proud to say that four of my children were delivered by male Nurses. They did a good job. My wife was happy and I was also. Without any intent of discrimination I can say that my wife prefers male nurses to female when it comes to OBGYN - because she believes the male Nurses treat their patients with more dignity than the female. Unfortunately, I am a male LPN but I have no bias against female Nurses. It is a question of individual competence. Female Nurses are not necessarily the best in all L & D units. No ill feelings from my female colleagues, please, I am sharing a life experience.

[brissie]

What would you think if a nurse said, you know what, muslims shouldn't work in this unit, after all you know all muslims are terrorists and ya just cant trust the little fellas. We are going to have to follow him/her around everywhere to make sure they don't plant any bombs. Is this discrimination?

[ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN]

What would you think if a nurse said, you know what, muslims shouldn't work in this unit, after all you know all muslims are terrorists and ya just cant trust the little fellas. We are going to have to follow him/her around everywhere to make sure they don't plant any bombs. Is this discrimination?

Exactly the kind of response which got this thread closed the first time.

Please do not respond.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I will ask one more time, please stay on topic or else the thread will have to be closed, for good. Thank you.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Thread reopened.

Let's keep to the topic and answer OPs questions:

• 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.

Please do not make responses personal and be respectful.

Thank you.

In case anyone forgot the original intent of this thread, here is Siri's reminder. Please respect this. Thanks.

[Dan.Ed]

I love this topic! because it has absolutely no perfect answer! I'm sure there are great places where everyone is very accepting of having male L&D nurses, but there are none that I know of in Birminham, Alabama where I live. Yes, I've catheterized females by myself and yes I've had chaperones, too. I always prefer a chaperone but reality can get in the way. I've never been accused of misconduct, but at the same time all it takes is one false accusation to ruin a person.

My best professional opinion (25 yrs nursing, Masters degree, icu, psych, nurse manager, home health, family nurse practitioner) is that a male L&D nurse might do well in a metropolitan area where people are more openminded. Even so, have a pt family member present if no nursing chaperone is available.

Oh!, and ask the doctors on the unit. If they are against it, I pity the guy.

[brissie]

I would like to apologize for causing any problems associated with my last posting. I had not read each posting beforehand. I had just quickly read a few postings on a couple pages and got the wrong idea about the thread. Again I apologize.