Male manager of OB

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Currently I work in the ER, I also work on-call as a house nursing supervisor, these have been my only nursing experiences. My goal is to get into management. There is an opening for the manager of the OB/Maternity/Pediatrics departments in the hospital I work at. Although OB is not my field of expertise, I cetainly have the willingness and capability to learn more about it. My biggest hold up in applying is that I am male, and my perception is that that would present a problem in managing OB. The previous manager did almost no direct pt care, so I would expect the same for me. What do other nurses think about this? What would be the reaction to a male nurse manager in OB/maternity?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Unfortunately, I have had to work with managers who have zero understanding and experience in OB and it does stink. Very little advocacy and NO help for us on the unit really is not ideal. If you choose to manage OB, your learning curve will be really steep and if you want to be taken seriously and garner respect from nurses and physicians alike, you best be willing to "learn the ropes" and KNOW the "nuts and bolts" of Obstetric nursing.

The others are right; your gender is of little consequence to me. Your willingness to learn and advocate for your staff, VERY IMPORTANT. Are you up to this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I have a problem w/ a person who has no expertise in the area he/she manages.

This is my only issue. As a pt., gender wouldn't make a difference to me, as a nurse, same thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the input. My reluctance to persue the OB manager position was in my personal perception that being male would make it extremely difficult to work in that enviornment. I understand that the hospital would not turn me away because I was male, so I saw that as more my personal responsability in determining if I could even consider the job. As far as the OB experience, I understand what everyone is saying, and I do agree with it. However, the position has been posted for 6 months with no takers, and I see this as an issue that the admins can tell me "we want someone with a different background." Hearing that the male issue is not an issue, I inquired about the job today. And I was told they would someone with a stronger OB background. I can liove with that, but I figured I would never know if I didn't try. I also hope it is helpful in showing admin that I am more itneresting in a mangement position. On the up side of this whole thing, after talking with the admin it looks like they have a house supervisor position open that might be a better fit and a better step.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The biggest issue here is the fact that you don't have experience. Your gender is a secondary consideration.

I think it would be wrong to have a manager with no L&D experience in charge of L&D. In other units it could be challenging without experience but at least there are similarities between other fields. L&D however is much different from other floors.

OB nurses reactions to men in Ob very widely. Some are accepting others are not so it's hard to know what that particular floor would think about that.

As an OB nurse I would be very troubled by a manager with no experience.

As a man I would be bothered by the questions that would be raised by upper management choosing to place a man with no experience in charge of a unit consisting mostly of women with years of experience. It has the appearance of (even if it's not the case) of a gender bias.

As a male L&D nurse I have spent considerable effort and frustration dispelling gender stereotypes. For me a non-experienced and auspiciously male Ob manager would do much to undermine those efforts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Now this I agree with. I don't care so much about your gender, but your lack of expertise in the area you choose to "manage". Especially an area like L&D! I've been victim of those managers who come in from another unit or they have been forced to take on extra responsibilities and get Maternal-Child areas, for instance....usually doesn't work out too well. Not in my experience, anyway.

I admire your goals and certainly encourage you, but these are my thoughts....what field of nursing do you enjoy? Why not pursue opportunities in that field? Or, if you are truly interested in Maternal/Child/L&D....get into the field,learn it, know it...and then you could be a good manager. Otherwise, I think you'll have a rocky road ahead.

Good luck!

I agree with you, I too have suffered with management that had no experience in OB (how hard could it be, all we do is cuddle babies all day, lol) It would be disappointing to have a manager who was just using us for management experience and not commited, I would not feel compelled to offer my support to him/her.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hope you try OB. Maybe you will be a good fit! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
The biggest issue here is the fact that you don't have experience. Your gender is a secondary consideration.

I think it would be wrong to have a manager with no L&D experience in charge of L&D. In other units it could be challenging without experience but at least there are similarities between other fields. L&D however is much different from other floors.

OB nurses reactions to men in Ob very widely. Some are accepting others are not so it's hard to know what that particular floor would think about that.

As an OB nurse I would be very troubled by a manager with no experience.

As a man I would be bothered by the questions that would be raised by upper management choosing to place a man with no experience in charge of a unit consisting mostly of women with years of experience. It has the appearance of (even if it's not the case) of a gender bias.

As a male L&D nurse I have spent considerable effort and frustration dispelling gender stereotypes. For me a non-experienced and auspiciously male Ob manager would do much to undermine those efforts.

Excellent post Dayray! Excellent input from one male nurse to another.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

> OB nurses reactions to men in Ob very widely. Some are accepting others are not so it's hard to know what that particular floor would think about that.

The best OB department I ever saw hired only women who were married and had already had at least one child. They also required at least a year of general med-surg experience as a pre-requisite.

The only time they ever had a vacancy on that staff was when someone died, retired, or had to move because her husband got a new job somewhere out of the area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Retired RN. That's funny. The best nursery nurse I ever met was a self-professed "old maid". I guess these days that would be discrimination to hire only those who were married and had children. Some places used to hire only caucasian nurses too. I am so glad that I am a nurse now. I do believe men should have more a place not just in OB, but nursing in general. None of what we do is too "prissy" for guys. It is truly hard work. Not too many years ago, you did have to literally wait for a death or retirement to get into L/D. Now they use travellers. :) :) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I don't buy the old

"you have to have had babies to make a good OB nurse" saying.

Horsefeathers.

I have never had cancer, yet I would probably be an excellent onco nurse w/the right background and education/experience.

Please, lets dispense with that old myth already!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The best OB department I ever saw hired only women who were married and had already had at least one child.

If you have to have babies to be an OB nurse (at that facility), then what does that say to those that chose not to have children, or couldn't have children?

Sorry, but that rule is pretty outdated and hopefully they've thought twice about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment