I'm a Man, Can I be Successful as An OB Nurse

[AlmostANurse321]

I'm a man who is changing careers to nursing. I'm married and have kids. I thought I wanted to do something like ED nursing, because it is "action packed." I'm in the middle of my OB class, and I love it.

I love having kids. I think babies are amazing. I really want to go for an OB job. I've read some older threads - some from over a decade ago - but I'm wondering how it is these days.

On paper, there's no reason I'm not qualified. I'm in the top 5% of my class and have excellent clinical reviews. Also, I have great rapport with patients. During clinicals, I've been put with difficult patients because I'm good with them.

I'm not just interested in getting the job, because I suspect that I'd get hired just to prove that they weren't discriminating. My question is whether I can succeed on a labor and delivery floor or will there be barriers that a ?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Check out the men in nursing forum, I imagine there are men who have succeeded in L & D.

I had a male nurse after my last delivery. I am not shy, but somehow I STILL remember baring it all for him to check my episiotomy.

Consider NICU.

Best of luck with your decision/ career

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I'm strictly med-surg at the hospital even though here lately, I can't tell. But, only personally speaking, I can't imagine a woman of child-bearing years, and especially one that has just given birth, being comfortable with having a male nurse....nor her significant other. OB is not all about the kids, ya know?

But there again, I'm very old school and very set in my ways, the relic that I am.

[Sour Lemon]

I'm strictly med-surg at the hospital even though here lately, I can't tell. But, only personally speaking, I can't imagine a woman of child-bearing years, and especially one that has just given birth, being comfortable with having a male nurse....nor her significant other. OB is not all about the kids, ya know?

But there again, I'm very old school and very set in my ways, the relic that I am.

There are many women who feel that way ....no doubt. And yet, they often have male doctors.

[klone, MSN, RN]

A lot would depend on the geographic region as well as how many nurses your local hospital typically staffs on a shift.

If you work at a facility that sees a high percentage of Muslim women, they may not want to hire someone that wouldn't be able to take care of many of the women who come in.

If you work at a small facility where there may only be 2 labor nurses on a shift, that might also prove difficult. They would need to allow for another staff member to go in as chaperone every time you do a vag exam.

I personally would not have a problem hiring a male L&D nurse if he was the better candidate.

My unit, which is an LDRP, has a male nurse. He doesn't do labor, but he does do mother/baby, so takes care of postpartum women.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

There are OB RN's that are male, but I agree that your career aspirations should be tempered by your targeted patient population. Most women I know of would prefer a female to deal with labor and postpartum issues. It is only after kids that a lot of women don't care. take it for what it's worth.

[Susie2310]

There are many women who feel that way ....no doubt. And yet, they often have male doctors.

Women usually personally select their male doctors as they do their female doctors. This is very different from having a male nurse assigned to them in OB.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

I agree with PP to consider NICU. You get your baby fix and there are definitely action-packed days to be had.

[Sour Lemon]

Women usually personally select their male doctors as they do their female doctors. This is very different from having a male nurse assigned to them in OB.

True, but selecting a female doctor is different from having a "strange" female nurse assigned, too. And your selected doctor may not be the one who delivers the baby, either. I saw at least three OBs from my doctor's group while I was in the hospital. I'd met two of them at the office (in passing) prior to my delivery, but the third one, who delivered my baby, was a total stranger to me.

I'm not saying there aren't barriers to being a male working in women's services, but some of them don't seem to make a lot of sense. I don't think I'd bother with the hassle if I were a male, personally ....but the specialty area has never appealed to me as a female, either.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Women usually personally select their male doctors as they do their female doctors. This is very different from having a male nurse assigned to them in OB.

I had a male nurse post partum. I did not have a choice. I do have a choice for my primary care physician. My PCP and any specialists WILL be female. But that's a whole nother thread.

[Susie2310]

True, but selecting a female doctor is different from having a "strange" female nurse assigned, too. And your selected doctor may not be the one who delivers the baby, either. I saw at least three OBs from my doctor's group while I was in the hospital. I'd met two of them at the office (in passing) prior to my delivery, but the third one, who delivered my baby, was a total stranger to me.

I'm not saying there aren't barriers to being a male working in women's services, but some of them don't seem to make a lot of sense. I don't think I'd bother with the hassle if I were a male, personally ....but the specialty area has never appealed to me as a female, either.

Having a female nurse assigned is not the same as having a male nurse assigned to a woman who for any number of reasons is not comfortable receiving care from a male nurse, particularly in an area such as OB, where such an intimate level of care is given. Women are almost always comfortable with receiving care from female nurses in general and in OB particularly; women are often not comfortable receiving care from male nurses in general, and in OB particularly. Yes, women may have their baby delivered by a doctor who is not their selected doctor, but this doesn't alter their feelings in regard to their preference for a female nurse in OB.

[Sour Lemon]

Having a female nurse assigned is not the same as having a male nurse assigned to a woman who for any number of reasons is not comfortable receiving care from a male nurse, particularly in an area such as OB, where such an intimate level of care is given. Women are almost always comfortable with receiving care from female nurses in general and in OB particularly; women are often not comfortable receiving care from male nurses in general, and in OB particularly. Yes, women may have their baby delivered by a doctor who is not their selected doctor, but this doesn't alter their feelings in regard to their preference for a female nurse in OB.

All true, just not entirely logical...