Male Nurses in Neonatal

[bigq2000]

Thoughts of going to nursing school have been weighing heavy on my mind for the past few weeks. I will graduate with a bachelors degree in management next year. I have been researching several accelerated BSN programs for people with 4 year degrees. My question is "Are there male nurses that work in neonatal units?" I am not sure what specialty I would like to choose but I do like working with children. My sister was born 4 months premature and I spent many days visiting her in the NICU. That is where I get my interest from. If you have any advice for a male entering the nursing world, that would be greatly appreciated as well.

[preemieRNkate, RN]

To answer your question, there sure are! Do a search here in this forum, as there have been some recent threads on male nurses working in the NICU. I work with several, and I know there are a few guys that post here.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

In a word: yes! There are several male RNs in our NICU and they are awesome nurses and well-liked by families. If that is what you want, there's no reason why you can't. You might find something else you like better but if you get through nursing school & find that NICU is still your goal, then go for it. :)

[bigq2000]

Thanks for your responses. I actually just did a search of the forums and have been reading them for the past two hours. My first major in college was nursing but being young, immature, and insecure about males as nurses I changed my major. I am still young but much more mature and ready to make a career of nursing and ultimately becoming a nurse practioner one day. Thanks again for your help.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Go for it.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Go for it.

Proof positive right here!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

You won't be alone! Even if you work on a unit where you're the only guy, there are still the respiratory therapists, neonatologists, X-ray techs... an assortment of men will likely come and go from the unit all day.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Both of my daughters were NICU babies. I spent countless hours in the Unit. (daughters are 9 years apart and were in two different hospitals)

Both of my daughters primary care nurses were men. I loved those two guys to pieces :redbeathe! My daughters also had women NICU nurses and I loved them just as much :heartbeat.

It was great seeing these two big guys holding my tiny little babies. They were so gentle with them and were always talking to them in a soft comforting voice. Many times I would just hang back and watch (unnoticed) by the men so I know it wasn't just an act put on for me. I always slept better knowing that "Joe" and "Mike" were on duty keeping watch over my precious babies.

If NICU is where your heart is, don't let your gender stop you. There are great male nurses in every department and specialty, regarless of being thought of as strictly "women" dominated specialties

[NeuroNP]

I'm externing in the NICU right now. It's a small unit and I'm the only guy other than the two Neonatologists, but it's great. I'm like a celebrity! :chuckle When I attend a delivery, all the Labor Hall nurses are like, "You must be the guy from the NICU!" I was told that when the NICU nurses found out there was going to be a male extern, they actually fought over who would get to precept me because they thought it was so great to have a guy around. One told me, "you don't have boobs or ovaries, so we can actually have a normal conversation."

If it's what you want, go for it. I havent' encountered anyone who has thought anything strange about me being a guy in the NICU. And we have a lot of families from real umm...redneck areas, and even the macho good-ol-boy dads like me (I was afraid they'd think I was a "sissy" or gay for being a guy working with babies, I think they actually like it though because they seem to feel lost in a place that is all women)!

Bryan

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

My favoritest charge nurse in the whole world is male. He's beloved by staff and parents alike. In two years I've only seen one family request that our male nurses not care for their child, and it was because the mom (due, I think, to religious beliefs) wanted someone "mothering" her child when she wasn't around. She was sort of generically pretty weird, so everyone just kind of shrugged and went along with it.

[aviator411, RN]

Bigg,

You'll never know what you missed if you don't try it. I'm just finishing up a second career BSN program and have loved every second of it so far. Your management training will not be wasted in nursing; it will only expand your opportunities. Go for it!

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I, too, hope to eventually land in a NICU after graduation. Not only am I a male, but I'm a father and grandfather, so I think it'll be the perfect place for me. Can't wait!