Male nurse in L&D

samirish · Sep 11, 2011

While some of those services are perfectly gender neutral, I will state, unequivocally and from experience that lowering physical performance standards to "be equal" in hiring is physically dangerous for the cohort, as well as the exempted parties, regardless of positive or negative "morale" generated by such action.

I have to agree with this wholeheartedly. My husband is in law enforcement. He does not want a female partner to call as back up because he says the females are just not as physically strong or intimidating as the men. When he is involved in a "take down" he wants a male to come to his aid..someone who can help him physically restrain a 280lb meth head (not someone he has to worry about getting hurt). Of course there are going to be exceptions, (as Im sure someone will point out there are many beefy physically fit women compared to some guys) but I'm talking in general terms here.

I would never want a male as my L&D nurse. I would find it uncomfortable because I would be in such a vulnerable position and I would be a bit intimidated and embarrassed. Now I'm going to say something I'm sure I'll get flamed over because its politically incorrect but I keep seeing threads from guys saying "why can't I work in L&D? Why are some women uncomfortable with a male nurse in this area?"

The reason, at least for me is because I don't trust males I don't know as easily as a female. I think that feeling is a product of our society. The majority of serial killers are males, the majority of sexual predators are males, the majority of Media is produced by males, the majority of people convicted of human trafficking are males, the majority of female homicides are perpetrated by a male, the majority of people in prison for violent crimes are males, and I could go on and on and on. From the time we are little we are told to watch out for the "weird guy" in the neighborhood to the time we are adults and shows like "to catch a predator" are on our television screens, we are just conditioned to be wary of men we don't know.

I didn't make the rules but it is what it is. I am comfortable with a male gyne because I have a "relationship" with him. Meaning I have known him for years. As a female, that means allot and if I hadn't built up trust with him over the years I wouldn't feel comfortable with him.

Not all women feel this way of course but many women do. I'm sorry to have to tell you guys this and its not meant to dissuade male nurses from pursuing a career in L&D if that is your goal but if you want to know why some women are uncomfortable with this idea, this may be one of the reasons why. I do have abuse issues in my past (as do many women) so that may be part of the reason why I am hypersensitive to having a male nurse in L&D.

With that being said, let me say I am a wife of 13 years and mother to two boys. Two years ago my youngest, then 12yrs old was admitted to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago for osteosarcoma. The best, most compassionate, attentive, personable nurse we had was a male nurse and I will always be thankful for the wonderful care he took with our son. He truly was excellent.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Sep 12, 2011

So due to paranoia and prejudice an entire gender is maligned. Here's an idea, get psych help for the pathologic hang ups and support male nurses in their efforts, regardless of department. Good grief.

samirish · Sep 12, 2011

So due to paranoia and prejudice an entire gender is maligned. Here's an idea, get psych help for the pathologic hang ups and support male nurses in their efforts, regardless of department. Good grief.

I was trying to give insight on why some women may feel uncomfortable with a male in L&D. To just flippantly discount those reasons and feelings with a nonchalant "get psych help" response is really not necessary, nor will that attitude help your female patients in any way.

Sorry if I offended you, that was not my intention.

luvazsun, RN · Sep 12, 2011

I don't believe the above post meant for you to seek psych help - it was intended for the people who have the hang-ups about male nurses in L&D to "get over it", and support you in whatever department you want to work in.

talaxandra · Sep 12, 2011

The type of care in australia,the gender breakdown and preferences are of no concern
to me.
As I said,there are no male mammographers here in the US, and no male L&D
nurses from what I've seen.

Not interested? Don't read, but you're not the only member reading this thread, and America is not the only country associated with this site. I get that you have some issue with male mammographers, as over 50% of your posts on AN mention their absence, but the OP's question was about mid; despite your (quite possibly extensive) experience in L&D units, there are also male midwives in the US. I hope the OP will soon be among their number.

palemoon · Sep 12, 2011

This is only my personal preference, but I do not want to have any male L&D or Gyn caregivers, whether physician, nurse, or otherwise.

It's not about them, it's about my history of sexual assault and though I would dearly like to be comfortable with them uncovering me and touching me, I just can't. I'm just there to get medical care, I would really not like to have a draining emotional experience while I'm there, thanks.

Male nurses should absolutely be employed wherever they want to be employed. But as a patient, I should be able to say who takes care of me, without being told to "go get psych care for [my] pathological hangups." It's as simple as a polite request, and I have had it happen before with a male tech who was very gracious, so nurses are not above it.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

Personally, I'm one of those who could care less who you are as long as you take good care of me.

My OB/GYN is female, but that had nothing to do with the decision to go to her...she just happens to be THE doc to go to at our facility (I'd say close to a quarter of the female employees with insurance coverage go to her).

I figure I've taken care of co-workers before and couldn't tell you by the end of the shift what their nether region looked like, despite being up close and personal while doing care...I know my girl parts were not so stunning as to stand out in anyone's memory afterwards. Although the fact that I popped out an 8 1/2 pounder with one push and no tearing/cutting apparently made an impression. :)

I can understand that some women wouldn't be comfortable with a guy being so involved in care down there...but I also don't see that there's an imminent inundation of male L&D nurses that would prevent a female nurse from being available when needed, so if a guy qualifies for the job, IMO, he should get it.

We've got a male L&D nurse at my hospital, and he's been there for years. From what I've heard, he does an excellent job (he was off the day I delivered, so I have no first-hand experience to report).

ITSSOSIMPLE · Sep 12, 2011

The funniest part about the majority of the females on here that say they would refuse a male labor nurse is they would probably be the first to go back to the nurses station and b**ch if a male asked them to get a male nurse.

Absoultely, yet would a thread get so much attention if the title was female nurse on male urology post-op unit. I don't

think so. There is much documentation on the web regarding female nurses and sexual misconduct and it is for the most part

kept obscure.

MunoRN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

Dude, you're trying to compare students to nurses. Patients refuse students because they go into the room and act like idiots. This is male and female students and has nothing to do with being male. I know this, because I was never refused as a student and I see giggly female students get refused all of the time. A man would win this case in court because there are plenty of scenarios nation wide where males do just fine in the OB setting. I would be more than happy to back any male's case with the stack of compliments I have received from my patients. If your hospital doesn't hire males into OB, it's only because the unit manager is a twit.

In the past 3 years of our local Nursing Program, 22 male students have had 44 days in L&D. In all, 2 male students have been allowed to observe labor and delivery. That's not because they go in the room and act like idiots since the patients are asked prior to the arrival of the student, that's our policy.

Winning a discrimination case in court is not based on how males 'do' in L&D settings. Any undue hardship legally justifies discriminating and not being able to take a full patient assignment due to refusals would certainly count. If you live in a part of the country where you've never been refused by a patient because you're male, that's great, but it's certainly not the case where I live and if you look back through these posts you'll find that even many Nurses would feel uncomfortable with a male RN in L&D so it doesn't appear like my area is the only one with patients that feel this way.

Personally my biggest concern wouldn't be that a patient refuses me because they don't feel comfortable, it would be that they feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe, yet don't express that.

sharkdiver · Sep 12, 2011

...... I should be able to say who takes care of me, without being told to "go get psych care for [my] pathological hangups." It's as simple as a polite request, and I have had it happen before with a male tech who was very gracious, so nurses are not above it.

You are. As I have said previously, a patient has the absolute legal right to refuse any specific caregiver for any reason. Further, you should be able to do so without any snide comments, patronizing statements, or attempts to overtly or covertly persuade you otherwise - being told things like "get over it" or "go get psych help" clearly fall into that category.

If this were to happen to me, I would do one or two things:

1. Demand to see that person's supervisor and inform them, in front of a witness that the person in question is not in any way to be involved in my care under any circumstances, and instruct that it be documented in my chart. I would also ask to see the chart to verify that it was done.

2. If I got any grief at all from #1 above, I would call someone way up the food chain (risk manager, patient advocate, facility admin) and state clearly that I want to file a formal grievance for violation of my rights as a patient under 42CFR482.13.

What many may not understand is that any facility that accepts CMS payment (medicare/medicaid) - and the vast majority of L&D facilities would fall into this category - is subject to the conditions of participation and provisions of 42CFR482.13 for all patients, not just medicare/medicaid patients. As a result, it's easy for a hospital to get tripped up on this.

Bottom line, the patient has the final say. The facility only really has three legal options:

1. Attempt to comply with the patients request.

2. Discharge the patient if their condition permits.

3. Arrange for transfer to another facility where they can be accommodated if it doesn't.

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2011

In the past 3 years of our local Nursing Program, 22 male students have had 44 days in L&D. In all, 2 male students have been allowed to observe labor and delivery. That's not because they go in the room and act like idiots since the patients are asked prior to the arrival of the student, that's our policy.
Winning a discrimination case in court is not based on how males 'do' in L&D settings. Any undue hardship legally justifies discriminating and not being able to take a full patient assignment due to refusals would certainly count. If you live in a part of the country where you've never been refused by a patient because you're male, that's great, but it's certainly not the case where I live and if you look back through these posts you'll find that even many Nurses would feel uncomfortable with a male RN in L&D so it doesn't appear like my area is the only one with patients that feel this way.
Personally my biggest concern wouldn't be that a patient refuses me because they don't feel comfortable, it would be that they feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe, yet don't express that.

I was refused a few times to go into patient's delivery during my L&D rotation, but it was only when a certain L&D nurse was on. There wasn't any problem any other time. I sat through about nine deliveries over my few days in L&D. I did my L&D rotation in Kaufman Texas back in the late 90's. It doesn't get much smaller or more conservative than that.

I am still waiting for one of my OB patients to say they don't want a male CRNA, and then I can just politely tell them then they won't be getting an epidural today.

This topic to me is ridiculous there is absolutely no justification for having only female L&D nurses on staff. It should be mix of male and females just like any other unit.

MunoRN, RN · Sep 13, 2011

I am still waiting for one of my OB patients to say they don't want a male CRNA, and then I can just politely tell them then they won't be getting an epidural today.

Wow. I'm hoping what you meant was that it may be impractical at times to accommodate a request for a female anesthesiologist. Although it sounds like you said you are looking forward to a laboring patient telling you they'd feel more comfortable with a female so that you can punish them and make their birthing process more painful. To me, that fails to meet the basic decency standards of both a Nurse, and a man. And as someone who is both, I'm embarrassed that you would apply either of those terms to yourself.