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 ?
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
Funny, but when I was in school, a fellow (male) student asked this same question and even expressed interest in the OB field to the manager of the unit we were doing rotations on.
The look she gave him was...........frightful. I knew then what people mean when they say "Shooting daggers with your eyes."
The hospital contacted the director of the school nursing program and he was in kind taken into her office. He said the jest of the conversation was that the hospital was recommending (but not demanding) that he do clinicals elsewhere. If he continued to do rotations at the hospital, he would be on a "one strike you are out" protocol. What that was in relation to I was not sure, but I imagine he was told not to bother or offend anyone else, or he'd be "out".
Our clinical instructor didn't fret about it and nothing else happened the rest of the semester. Other clinical instructors seemed to be especially hard on him after that, but it never amounted to anything. A few times he was told to redo prep work and stuff but he never fussed about it so, life went on.
He didn't graduate, but it was due to low in class test scores, not because he failed a clinical.
Yes, the area I was in was a bit conservative.
Reading this thread, it seems in some areas the idea of a male OB nurse is more acceptable. As to whether or not it works, I can't say.
I worked as an L&D nurse for 16 years and in that time we never had a male nurse (but none had applied as far as I know) Our sister hospital had a male Labor nurse who always had fabulous reviews/feedback from patients. He was very well loved by his co-workers and the patients. I think if this is your passion,you should pursue it!!!
I say go for it. Perhaps you should carry pictures of you holding your own babies to show folks. I see not a thing wrong with at least trying it, if you are not treated fairly or you decide you need to be somewhere else then at least you tried. I was in the military and then worked for the VA. To say I had exposure to male caregivers is a gross understatement. I can count only one who I would have refused but it had more to do with his attitude than anything. He was into Media and made sure everyone knew it. He lost his license eventually and he never worked OB. I strongly feel that if you treat each patient as an individual and ask them what they want you probably cannot go wrong. Please, please, please read your gut on a regular basis and back off or get a standby if your gut tells you that it could be a shaky situation. Don't put yourself in harm's way. But that advice goes for every RN in every situation. I can honestly say that the guys I worked with be they gay, straight, married, single, fathers or not were some of the most competent, compassionate RNs ever. They were grossly mistreated by some of the female managers but I would have let any of them take care of me or my family. Unlike a lot of male MDs they were not cowboys, they took their time, were respectful, communicated well, had a certain kind of strength that comes to some men in a female dominated profession. There were shifts that I worked where I was the only female on the floor. No female CNAs, LPNs, or RNs. We always teamed up, helped each other and never had any issues. I was not interested in them other than their value as a co-worker and they proved that value over and over again. Surprisingly some of the male patients objected to the male RNs as caregivers initially. When the patients got used to them and their unique position the tide turned and I would routinely be asked "where is John?" or any other of the guys. I would just explain that "you're stuck with me" and we'd laugh and proceed. I really think this whole issue of men in nursing is something we just all need to get over. It's here, the guys are good at it so let's move on. Maybe we need some exercises for all us to do that says "picture yourself in this situation as a patient . . . " so that we can visualize being care for by a male RN or LPN. Then we can educate patients. Funny thing to me was that most every male RN I ever worked with was very male and a bodybuilder. They were huge guys and not the least bit feminine. But they were great nurses and the kind I would love taking care of me if I needed it.
L&D nurse here! I can definitely understand why you'd be intrigued by the specialty, but it is almost impossible for a man to be successful in L&D unfortunately. There was a gentleman in the L&D residency right after mine and he ended up quitting bc nobody would ever accept him as a nurse and he couldn't learn. I have seen men in post partum that have a female RN or Tech come do the pad changes such and they have been very happy...but if you're looking for the adrenaline rush that comes in L&D, you'll miss it there. NICU could be an option and you'd still get to come catch at deliveries (there are often male RTs in the room and women will sometimes object, but not regularly) or ER is a great adrenaline pumping unit as well. I'm sorry that this road is a little bumpy for you. Hope school continues to go well and wish you all the best!
I'm sorry if these weren't the answers you were looking for, OP. It's kind of like when you're in the locker room, you probably feel free to talk about whatever, scratch whatever/wherever, etc.
Women tend to be pretty comfortable around other women, and not only that but theres the added element of actually experiencing labor and delivery that many L&D nurses have going for them.
I do encourage you to give it a go, though. I think it would be awesome if you were successful, but I just think you should be prepared for the possibility of it not working out.
Whether or not it's fair to you, most patients will be uncomfortable with you as their nurse. I think women wonder about your motives, at least subconsciously, as to why you would choose L&D as your field. There's something primal about women assisting each other in the birth process -- men have only been invited in in recent history, as doctors when something is going wrong, and even more recently as partners and coparents. It's probably going to take another hundred years or so, if it ever even happens, to have male nurses be totally accepted into the intensely personal experience of childbirth. It's just a woman-thing.
I am a OB nurse at a large hospital ( for my Midwest City). We had one wonderful male Midwife but he is the only man that is not a doctor on our floor and I have been there 20 years. NICU, Peds, Office, clinic, Peds ER or School Nursing are a great way to work with kids in our field. Good luck!
I think it will vary depending on where you are. I work in the South at a large teaching hospital with pretty progressive hiring practices. I've worked with male L&D nurses and male postpartum nurses. They've been almost universally well-received and well-liked.
You may have the occasional patient who doesn't want you as their nurse. It happens, but don't take it personally. I'm in FNP school and have had my fair share of patients who refuse me seeing them because they either don't want a student or because they would rather see their regular provider (my preceptor). Just let it roll off.
In any case, I wish you all the best. If you want it, go for it! :)
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 ?
Many men are successful OB docs so why can't a man be a successful OB nurse?
I could care less what sex the person is providing my care. One of the best nurses I ever had take care of me in the hospital was a male nurse who had to put in a foley and give me a shot in rear. He was very good at his job and no different to me than having a male doctor. And it was in a hospital where I worked! I never worked with him, but I did work with a doc who did a lady partsl surgery on me. I doubt either ran around talking about my anatomy to anyone. They are professionals. I certainly don't ever talk about a patients anatomy or anything private like that with others. In fact, in giving care, the sex of my patient never even crosses my mind. I've put in male catheters and female and have nothing to say except that a male is usually easier to cath. It really shouldn't matter to any professional. If it matters to the patient, then they can make a choice and it should be respected. They aren't used to seeing everything we are all the time.
Do it! I'm a dude. I didn't think about OB before nursing school but had such a good experience in my OB rotation that I've considered it. The women I helped in L&D didn't mind me there and since I was useful and knew what I was doing they were glad and several thanked me for helping them.
I think if you are confident and good at what you do patients will get past any initial bias and will be grateful for your help. If a few patients really don't want a male nurse so be it. But don't let that stop you from becoming an OB nurse!
AutumnApple
491 Posts
Funny, but when I was in school, a fellow (male) student asked this same question and even expressed interest in the OB field to the manager of the unit we were doing rotations on.
The look she gave him was...........frightful. I knew then what people mean when they say "Shooting daggers with your eyes."
The hospital contacted the director of the school nursing program and he was in kind taken into her office. He said the jest of the conversation was that the hospital was recommending (but not demanding) that he do clinicals elsewhere. If he continued to do rotations at the hospital, he would be on a "one strike you are out" protocol. What that was in relation to I was not sure, but I imagine he was told not to bother or offend anyone else, or he'd be "out".
Our clinical instructor didn't fret about it and nothing else happened the rest of the semester. Other clinical instructors seemed to be especially hard on him after that, but it never amounted to anything. A few times he was told to redo prep work and stuff but he never fussed about it so, life went on.
He didn't graduate, but it was due to low in class test scores, not because he failed a clinical.
Yes, the area I was in was a bit conservative.
Reading this thread, it seems in some areas the idea of a male OB nurse is more acceptable. As to whether or not it works, I can't say.