male labor and delivery nurses

rn2binca · Jun 10, 2005

I think you should try for it. I think there was a male cna or student or something during my post partum period with one of my children. Sorry I'm so vague I was pretty out of it exhasuted, but I didn't mind at all. Especially with you living in the bay area, it's pretty open minded. You should have a decent chance. I don't believe you being male should have any bearing on your ability to do your job. Unfortunaly it might.

I love L&D, if you enjoy it go for it! :balloons:

Tracy

Hi I'm a pediatric nurse from the bay area. I've been working here about six years and am concidering trying labor and delivery. I loved it in school, and I loved it when my wife gave birth. I was wondering if anyone knew any male LD nurses. I posted a similar question not long ago, but I got only one reply from a man, and he said he could not get a LD job. I got some positive and some not-so-positive replies from women. I would love any input!
Thanks,
T.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jun 10, 2005

my personal observation: when a woman is trying to get rid of a bowling ball, she doesn't care who is in the room as long as you are trying to 'get this out of me!' LOL.

That being said, you might find an occasional husband who's not too keen on the idea.

And the 1 male L&D nurse I knew said that the stigma of male nursing, which is largely gone, is still alive and well in L&D.

But if those kinds of things stop you, then you wouldn't have gone into nursing to start with (male nurse here so I know).

Just keep in mind that there'll be those people who think you are doing it for kinky reasons. The rest of us know full well the distinction between the thrill of seeing a girlfriend in the buff and some patient in the buff is a gulf greater than the Grand Canyon, but some people tend to be opinionated absent fact.

And you might get some discrimination for management types that don't think it's appropriate and that might affect career potential (even if it's ok at your hospital, when you try to move, it might not be ok at others and it might decrease your employment opportunities.)

As for me, I've grown accustomed to working w/ both male and female nurses; in L&D, you might be the lone testosterone contributor.

But like I said, I'm not being negative, just saying that if you go into it eyes wide open, then you won't be surprised at what you find.

Good luck - that's the wonderful thing about nursing, there are tons of opportunities -- and your sex shouldn't figure into the equation. Even if it does from time to time, you are on the high ground for demanding that it shouldn't.

~faith

FrumDoula · Jun 10, 2005

Just keep in mind that there'll be those people who think you are doing it for kinky reasons. The rest of us know full well the distinction between the thrill of seeing a girlfriend in the buff and some patient in the buff is a gulf greater than the Grand Canyon, but some people tend to be opinionated absent fact.
~faith

I guess you could accuse a lesbian nurse in L&D of the same thing. :rolleyes:

Seriously, though .... while I think there would be no problem with a male nurse learning all the mechanics, pharmacology, etc of L&D, there's something about a female presence that is very comforting to many women. It's the mother/sister/aunt connection. Since nurses do so much more labor support than docs do, it's a factor to consider.

I could deal with a male nurse in L&D, but in postpartum? I'm not so sure. Not that they couldn't be wonderful teachers. But teaching about breastfeeding, which sometimes involved touching the woman's breast, etc? Thanks, no. Call me prejudiced, but it would be very uncomfortable for me.

This conversation comes up in doula circles all the time (whether male doulas are acceptable in the birth room). It tends to arouse INTENSE debate and opinion.

Good luck to you.

Alison

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jun 10, 2005

yeah, I don't think 'Let me see your episiotomy' will ever be a routine assessment question for me.

And I can imagine the following: 'i need to massage your fundus but could you please ask your husband to leave cause I think he's about to hit me.'

When I was in nursing school and my boys' mom was pregnant, I tried the following (in retrospect, awful) psychology experiment: Female doc w/ her male intern comes into room. She's deep into the chart telling him what to do, 'check her breasts, etc.'' She's not paying attn and I'm giving him the evil eye (just to see what would happen, dang his luck I was on my psych rotation). He's freaking, his resident is oblivious. she looks up, he's barely touching breasts cause he doesn't want me to come out of the chair. She says, 'no, you got to actually feel around!' and she's pushing his hand down. I go wide-eyed, he goes wide-eyed. I thought it was funny till he was so un-nerved that he put the speculum in sideways and opened it.

hmmmmm, maybe that's why I'm divorced....

~faith.

mommatrauma, RN · Jun 10, 2005

I don't think it is any different than your OB being male, which by the way mine is...and he's awesome...I guess it really all depends on the comfortability of the patients...some women are just not comfortable having a male all up in their business...which I suppose should be acceptable...also, some ethnic groups may have issue with that...I personally say good for you!! When I delivered my son, I had to be put on all 4's at one point b/c he had nuchal cord and freq decels....with every goody I had hanging out...and with the possibility of needing a c-section it doubled the amount of staff in my room at that point....trust me...you just want the baby out...Jesus himself could have walked in to tell me the hospital was on fire and it wouldn't have made a difference as long as someone was getting the baby out...So I say go for it!!

booluvstrains · Jun 10, 2005

Hey Zashagalka, that last part about the speculum....you're joking, right? Anyway, I really appreciate the encouragement and reality checks. I've been asking everyone I know, and what you few nurses/students have written me reflects what I have been hearing. Basically, go for it if it's what you want, but be prepared for difficulties. The part about post-partum rings true to many women I talk with, they probably wouldn't want me there. Also, many men think other men might not want me there. And since having babies is for some women a place to get away from men, having me there just could not replace a mother, sister, aunt etc.. I'm not concvinced either way yet, but I don't want to make my patients and their families uncomfortable in what should be a wonderfull experience. I know that reverse discrimination is not fair, but I'm not sure I want to push my desire to be around the birthing experience onto women and their families. Thanks again for the replies, and please keep them coming.

Still thinking about LD,

T.

PS, my wife is four months pregnant!

booluvstrains · Jun 10, 2005

One more thing nurses, I've yet to hear from a current, working, male LD nurse! (I know, saying male LD nurse everytime is a drag and reinforces steriotypes etc., but how else can I ask the question?) Hope some male LD (there I go again) nurse will reply!

T.

amber1142 · Jun 10, 2005

Hi I'm a pediatric nurse from the bay area. I've been working here about six years and am concidering trying labor and delivery. I loved it in school, and I loved it when my wife gave birth. I was wondering if anyone knew any male LD nurses. I posted a similar question not long ago, but I got only one reply from a man, and he said he could not get a LD job. I got some positive and some not-so-positive replies from women. I would love any input!
Thanks,
T.

You should absolutely try for what you want. If you are a nurse, you are qualified, and being refused on the basis of your gender is likely to be illegal discrimination.

Anyway, how many OBs are male? It's not like women don't expect a strange man to see their cootchies at some point during a pregnancy.

newgrad2005 · Jun 10, 2005

It's not like women don't expect a strange man to see their cootchies at some point during a pregnancy.

Hee, hee. But honestly, I don't expect strange men to see my cootchie during pregnancy!!! I will either have a woman OB or midwife. Just my preference.

amber1142 · Jun 10, 2005

It's not like women don't expect a strange man to see their cootchies at some point during a pregnancy.
Hee, hee. But honestly, I don't expect strange men to see my cootchie during pregnancy!!! I will either have a woman OB or midwife. Just my preference.

Actually, me too.

imenid37 · Jun 10, 2005

Why don't you PM Dayray? He's an awsome guy who works in L/D who posts here. I know a male L/D nurse. He's a very nice guy. Pt's love him. Good luck. I think there is a place for men to work in OB.