Male nurse in L&D

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hi, I am a male nurse married 3 kids. I have applied to a position on my facility on the Labor and delivery unit. And they pretty much told me they don't want to hire a male nurse. I don;t think they can do that I think is discrimination. what do you think? do you think ladies would stop coming to our hospital because they don't want a male ob nurse?

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

no real comment but last week I nursed a 80 y/o man who was one of the first male midwifes (what you guys would call an OB nurse) in Australia. He was cool!

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Interesting question. I am not sure how I would have handled having a male nurse during my deliveries. At least during the first one, I probably could have cared less during the second one. I think it is all in how you handle yourself with the patients. There is already a level of anxiety and fear going into delivery for most moms (1st time especially). Do I see expectant mothers running out the door, no. I did clinicals at a facility that did have a male nurse in L&D without any issues. I do think they are discriminating against you. It is illegal to discriminate based on gender -- period. For them to come right out and tell you that they will not consider you because of gender is wrong.

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I feel ya. I am a male nursing student finishing up my last year. I also have 3 children. I have heard stories that the men in the L&D clinical rotation sometimes get told the women are uncomfortable with men RNs in the room (What!? Most of the OB Docs are men!!!) I was frustrated by this news and asked my Wife... who had a male OB if she would be uncomfortable with a male RN. She said she would prefer a female RN. I was shocked! Especially because her Doc was a male! I couldnt understand it- especially considering I was front and center for all 3 of my childrens births. I dont understand the concept of being uncomfortable with a male RN in L&R. Would like to hear from some of the women on this issue....

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Specializes in Cardiac, ICU, ER.

I think it would depend on the person. I have three kids and I probably would have thought humm . . . a male L&D nurse. And then when the contractions got going would have forgot all about it. We go to male ob/gyn what's the difference?

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

ok, yes they CANNOT do that legally.

But i'll tell you this much. Being a young woman, 23 years old. i would prefer to have a female as my nurse.

I know some people would not mind. I wouldn't mind if it were anything else. I've had male nurses when i had surgery a few years back. It didn't bother me one bit. I didn't mind telling them when i had my last BM, and i didn't mind when they had to help me into the bathroom (broken leg).

But when it comes to OB, and a nurse palpating my uterus, assessing my lochia, or even being in labor and delivery i would prefer a female.

It's NOTHING against male nurses, not in anyway. They are great, but it is my personal opinion. I think a male nurse could make a great labor and delivery nurse. But again, you asked for our opinion on that.

You are correct though, they cannot just not hire you because of this.

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

Males usually have big hands....bigger ouch for cervical checks. Other than that, I don't think I would have cared who was taking care of me as long as you were attentive, comforting and brought the anesthesiologist asap! :-) My husband on the other hand, might have had an issue with another man in his wifes netherparts. I used all female midwives through my pregnancy and birth so that was never anything we had to address. Giving birth is putting yourself into the most vulnerable position possible, and it is whatever the laboring mother wants at that point. I can see many women not being comfortable with a male. It is nice to have a nurse who has gone through L&D herself, someone who can understand, truly, what is happening and how you are feeling.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
I feel ya. I am a male nursing student finishing up my last year. I also have 3 children. I have heard stories that the men in the L&D clinical rotation sometimes get told the women are uncomfortable with men RNs in the room (What!? Most of the OB Docs are men!!!) I was frustrated by this news and asked my Wife... who had a male OB if she would be uncomfortable with a male RN. She said she would prefer a female RN. I was shocked! Especially because her Doc was a male! I couldnt understand it- especially considering I was front and center for all 3 of my childrens births. I dont understand the concept of being uncomfortable with a male RN in L&R. Would like to hear from some of the women on this issue....

Ok. i agree with your wife. I would not mind a male doctor, but i would prefer a female nurse. I think it is i feel like you establish a bond with a nurse. A nurse is there for you through it all, and you see her more. I always feel closer with the nurse than the doctor.

to a doctor, your just another patient. to a nurse, you are HER patient. When i have my own kids someday, i want that relationship with my nurse. I would not feel comfortable if it were a male nurse.

Sorry to be so bold about it.

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Just to throw this out there, my OB is male. I have been seeing him for years. He delivered both of my kids. Most of the time, there is already a professional relationship in place with the OB (male or female), so the level of comfort has been established. You typically do not meet your delivery nurse until the day of delivery, so the time to form that relationship is very minimal. Male nurses in L&D, OB, GYN, whatever, is very rare at this time. You will meet opposition from patients because it is out of their norm. Please do not be upset at the patients, it just isn't what they are used to and is such a personal area of medical practice. Having your legs up in stirrups with all there to see is very uncomfortable even with a long term doc and a nurse hanging around (male or female).

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Specializes in Acute Care.
Ok. i agree with your wife. I would not mind a male doctor, but i would prefer a female nurse. I think it is i feel like you establish a bond with a nurse. A nurse is there for you through it all, and you see her more. I always feel closer with the nurse than the doctor.

to a doctor, your just another patient. to a nurse, you are HER patient. When i have my own kids someday, i want that relationship with my nurse. I would not feel comfortable if it were a male nurse.

Sorry to be so bold about it.

No it's okay. No need to apologize. Luckily I have NO desire to be a L&D nurse... haha. But I was surprised to hear her say that. I can see your point though, and hers.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I just had a baby.....i purposefully only have female doctors and I told my male friend i didn't think he should take an ob job because I know other women feel the same way but honestly..........when I was in labor i had a male resident and i didn't think anything about it i just wanted good care..and i got it :) I do think its discrimination but im not sure it should be. My sister had a male nurse in ob for her first child and had no problem with it.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I think just assuming because a nurse is a certain gender that they are a bad fit for a unit is wrong. I'm female, and you couldn't pay me to work L&D..I love babies and children but childbirth on a physical level is gross,lol. I'd shoot myself if I had to look at hoo-hoos

all day and be around laboring women for the whole shift. However, I've actually known several male L&D nurses and they are awesome. I would gladly have any of them with me in labor.

Really, it makes no sense to be shy at that point. First, most OB-GYNs are male. Secondly, think of how the baby got in there in the first place.;).

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