Lesbian L and D nurse

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Hi all, ,

I am interested in becoming an L and D nurse. Have patients or hospitals had a problem with lesbians working in this specialty?

Thanks in advance

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Sexual orientation of the nurse has nothing to do with nursing.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

I see no problem. Being professional and knowing your stuff is what counts. Why would that even need to come up with a patient? And hopefully, co-workers wouldn't be a problem either.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Why does anyone need to know your sexual orientation?

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That is like asking if it would be a problem for a heterosexual male to be a gynecologist, or a homosexual male to work in urology.

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Specializes in labor and delivery.

At my hospital we have quite a few lesbian l and d nurses. I had no idea until someone made me aware of it. It makes no difference at all, except our educator has a bias against them-which is totally illegal. They are good nurses regardless of sexual orientation.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

A prospective employer can not ask questions about gender, sexual orientation, marital status, children or desire to have or not have children, religious or cultural background. I hope that answers your question. Good luck with L&D.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I've read similar posts by prospective homosexual male nurses and I just wanna scream, "Stop feeling guilty." I know it's not that easy and I don't know what it's like, but the notion that sexual orientation should dictate what area one can work in seems absurd. And while there are biased people everywhere - why play along?

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Why would it? THe only way this could be a problem is if you make it a problem. I'm old school, your personal life (sexual preference, money issues, etc.) shouldn't come into your work life.

Just my 2 cents

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As a patient...how the heck would I even know and why should I care?

As a nurse.....How the heck would I even know and why should I care?

Where I work, we don't sit around and talk of our sex lives.

Took me the longest time to figure out one of my co workers was lesbian. LOL thinking back at it, she was kinda open about it too.

SRSLY, it is not an issue until you make it an issue.

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

Speaking as a fellow part of the LGBT community..... I think it's important to not ever even think about your orientation and your choice of profession or specialty in that profession. That is part of the problem right there. You already see yourself as different from any heterosexual nurse. The fact that you even questioned this possibility is evidence of this. As another poster pointed out.....do you ever hear a female heterosexual nurse asking....Does anyone think it would be a problem for me to be straight and want to work in urology? Or a male straight nurse say...would it be difficult for a straight male nurse to work in women's health?.. Or heck any medical hands on nursing!

Sexual orientation and care for any patient population are not at all related.

Sounds like you are thinking-- will people think because I am attracted to women will they think I would be turned on by working in L&D and seeing women naked?!?!? Thats CRAZY! lol Would a straight female nurse think--geeze this male patient needs bathing or peri-skin care or catheter insertion or care--hope people don't think I would be turned on by seeing this man naked!

As nurses--female, male, straight or gay----part of the the job is being professional and we are privi to be a part of their care in the most intimate way when people are their at their most vulnerable. The fact is nurses do what they do because they are compassionate about wanting to care for these people during these times and love to know they are helping people to get well....or die with dignity. Nurses are not thinking about that kind of thing when they are providing care-- I worked in L&D my first job out of nursing school-- what you are thinking about is keeping the patient calm, making her feel safe and as comfortable as possible, keeping her and her baby safe, no matter what that takes. There is a bond with the L&D nurse and a laboring mom that is very unique-- a bond of trust. Your sexuality is not relavenat in the work place and I think you will see that.........you may even deliver the baby of a lesbian couple now and then.... they are a couple just like any other couple. Just like you are a nurse like any other nurse.

Try to think about the way you are thinking about this and approaching this....I think you will see what I mean. It's only an issue if you choose to make it one.

Good luck to you and I hope you love L&D nursing.

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Why do you think it would be problematic?

Of course, one's sexual preference should absolutely not enter into one's care of patients. Unfortunately, some people make their sexual preferences apparent by their mannerisms and/or dress. Some patients could find this to be a problem. Patients are free to state a preference for who they want taking care of them and we usually can and do, I think, accommodate them if for not reason other than to avoid problems for all concerned.

Trying to be inconspicuous is a good way to go in many of life's situations. This is one of them, I believe.

Again, why do you think this might be problematic? Or do you?

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