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 ?
I'm still a new RN, but during my clinicals, the clinical excellence award for OB was given to a dude. He's young, not married, no children, and did AWESOME. Our instuctor, an old (old) OB nurse said she'd never given that to a male, never would have thought to, but he was just that good. And my classmate said he'd love to work in OB/L&D. However, he could not get a job in L&D due to lack of experience so he's in med/surg.
My experience in L&D was that the women didn't care if their nurse (or nursing student) was male, but often the husband did.
If you have the aptitude, there's no reason why you shouldn't do it.
I have seen male students turned away just because they are a man. However I live in an area with a large Muslim population and that is often the reason. I had a male student after delivery, and a male med student observing during delivery. I know they are there to learn, but oftent times the husband or boyfriend of the pateint have issues with a male nurse.
If L&D doesn't work out you could always try for NICU.
From my clinical experience, you may encounter negative attitudes from RNs. During my first OB rotation, the RN would say in a long drawn out voice, "Let me go check with the patient and see if she wants a male student in the room". In those cases, the answer was always no and I got a lot of time sitting at the nurses station. I did get to take vitals and while taking vitals on one patient, she asked when her foley could come out as the doctor had told her it could be removed. I said I would check and asked if I could remove it if the order was in. She said yes. My assigned RN was surprised to hear that I'd already spoken with the patient and then confirmed with the patient that I had her permission to remove it.
I dreaded my second rotation but had a different RN who gave me opportunities and I stepped up. After one vag delivery my RN said she would be comfortable to have me as her OB RN. I thought about going into OB but didn't want to have to deal with coworkers who thought OB was no place for a male RN.
That said, recognize that some patients will have different comfort levels. Always tell the patient what needs to be done and ask if it's okay. Provide the most privacy possible and be respectful and professional. Be willing to make trades with your coworkers when a patient asks if someone else could do something. In PACU I've asked female coworkers to assess a perianal abscess on a teenage female and then inserted a foley on a male for them. I also ask for an assist on some procedures if I get ANY weird vibes from a female pt. Any psych history equates to I want a female coworker at my side for my protection.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.
They've also developed a rapport over time with that physician, also very different from having a random male making intimate assessments.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
There are many women who feel that way ....no doubt. And yet, they often have male doctors.
I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again to offer perspective.
I endured years of daily abuse as a child. Being touched or examined absolutely terrified me. Other than the forensic exam for the legal system, I did not receive any GYN care until I was nearly 30. I was absolutely terrified of what would happen in that exam room.
What finally got me to go? My mother's diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age that I was approaching, and the support from a friend who sat with me before the appointment, held my hand during the appointment, and stayed with me after the appointment until I was ok.
I chose the smallest practice in my city- only two docs and one midwife. One doc and the midwife are female. The office was absolutely fantastic in working with me as well- they scheduled me for a double appointment and worked with me at a slower pace so that when I would get to a point of needing to stop and take a few minutes, they could do so without affecting other patients' appointments. They also made sure that my first appointment was with the female doc.
That's the big difference here. The office and providers worked with me. They established a relationship with me right off the bat that showed they understood my needs and respected them. I have since been able to see the male doc at this office- without a friend holding my hand. They've gotten to that level of trust with me. I would have no issue whatsoever with anyone in this practice being there during my delivery (if there ever is one).
Chances are, I won't have had the opportunity to work up to that level of trust with the nurses in L&D. If I need to receive intimate care from someone I haven't met before, having a female nurse would be in the best interest of my mental health.
My initial instinct was to reply that I couldn't care less if I had a male OB nurse...but after some serious thought, I realized that's only partially true. I wouldn't care if the nurse was male during labor, during checks, helping me push, etc. During the "action" as you say. But I remembered the most intimate part of all that happened after having my babies, and that was the initial trip to the toilet, in which a nurse was in the bathroom with me, on her knees, helping me wipe...and I just don't think I would have been comfortable with a man being in that role. But that's the only part that I can think I would be squemish about.
I will say this and I mean no offense to my brothers in nursing who happen to be gay. And I will admit that maybe even my perview is limited in this regard. But I don't believe I have ever seen a male of the species working as a nurse in OB who wasn't gay.
If 30 years in the business has any veracity value in this regard, so be it, if I am wrong I stand corrected and am open to all points of view and will be respectful of the observations and experience of others.
I post this so all interested in this phenomenon may freely confirm or debunk my contention in this matter and honestly clear the air one way or the other for this OP.
I am a nurse on an L&D unit that has a very multi-cultural population. I agree with some of the posts below that, unfortunately, many women feel very uncomfortable when having a male OB on call, not to mention a male nurse. As nurses, we usually get closer than doctors to patient's because we are around them more...which would make women (especially those of certain religions) even more uncomfortable. Many of my patient's have refused having a male nursing student with me. Ethically, I feel that it should not matter as long as nurses are doing a a great job and keeping patient's and their babies safe. L&D nursing is a very exciting field to go in to as you get OR experience as well as on the floor nursing. You also get to deal with a lot of emergency situations...if you like excitement and are an adrenaline junky, this is a good job for you. I say if you really like OB, then go for it! I know some hospitals in Toronto now have male nurses in OB. I think that's great! Unfortunately, my hospital is not quite there at this time. We have a very high Muslim population. Even so, some of these women are more open minded about it than others. I Hope that helps =)
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Well that may be YOUR experience, but I know the guys I worked with and the one I mentioned who took care of me were decidely straight, married with families. So your 30 years, while admirable, just don't make it so. Consider yourself debunked.
I will say this and I mean no offense to my brothers in nursing who happen to be gay. And I will admit that maybe even my perview is limited in this regard. But I don't believe I have ever seen a male of the species working as a nurse in OB who wasn't gay.
If 30 years in the business has any veracity value in this regard, so be it, if I am wrong I stand corrected and am open to all points of view and will be respectful of the observations and experience of others.
I post this so all interested in this phenomenon may freely confirm or debunk my contention in this matter and honestly clear the air one way or the other for this OP.
OP you could be successful but expect barriers. I had a male obgyn who was great but during certain procedures (i.e. pap smears) he had a female nurse there which was properly to cover himself. I would honestly feel weird having a male ob nurse during very "intimate" times (i.e changing pads, breast-feeding) although when i gave birth to my children I could care less who was there. Even if I was completely comfortable with a male OB nurse my husband would have no part of it! Not to discourage you but expect reactions like that from some patients.
Well, I've given birth 9 times and I've only had a male nurse once. Truthfully, it felt awkward. There is a lot of "intimacy (for lack of a better word" involved, especially after the birth. I preferred female nurses even though I always preferred a male ob/gyn. The females just brought a special something to the experience, more of a tenderness and some familiarity.
I'm a Labor and Delivery nurse and we have two male nurses on our unit. Our patients love having them and always send them cards and thank you notes and praise their experience. All of our nurses love working with them!
pedsrt2rn
9 Posts
I'm still a new RN, but during my clinicals, the clinical excellence award for OB was given to a dude. He's young, not married, no children, and did AWESOME. Our instuctor, an old (old) OB nurse said she'd never given that to a male, never would have thought to, but he was just that good. And my classmate said he'd love to work in OB/L&D. However, he could not get a job in L&D due to lack of experience so he's in med/surg.
My experience in L&D was that the women didn't care if their nurse (or nursing student) was male, but often the husband did.
If you have the aptitude, there's no reason why you shouldn't do it.