Male Nurses in OB

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With in the nursing profession, it has always been viewed as a woman dominated field. In 1970 2.7% of all nurses were men, as of 2011 9.6% of nurses were men according to (Healthcare Traveler Newsletter Staff March 05, 2013). Men work in all different aspects of nursing, the one area that I have not seen or heard of many men working is in OB. I have heard many women and pt's say that they feel male nurses are more compassionate then female nurses; with that being said why are there not many male OB nurses? Is it due to a staffing issue with having to have a female accompany the male nurse into the room all the time? Is it female OB nurses not wanting a male nurse working with them? Why is that if male nurses are considered more sensitive and caring nurses doesn't it stand to reason that there would be more men working in OB?

I thought it was kind of creepy :bag:

LOL - no, was not creepy at all --- after all I had spend 45 minutes in the cab with that guy having some labor stuff going on..

Perhaps it sounds creepy but he was really a very nice sweet guy...

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But yet most of these women have no issue with a male doctor down in their nether-regions

It sounds as though you are the one with "issues." I don't know of any women who have "no issue with a male doctor down in their nether-regions." I do know of many women, myself included, who have selected male gynecologists in the same way they would select their PCP: competence; professionalism; caring attitude.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We have 8 guys in L/D and 7 guys in NICU and about 10 scattered in PICU and peds. Love them! And I had one of my guy friends as my L/D nurse. Thought it would be weird but it was fine, once the cranked up my Pit I didn't care one way or another, who ever got me pain relief was my hero lol

i I don't get people who think it's weird or not right, you mainly have guys as docs in all specialities so what is the difference?

The he only time there is a request for females is for religion or patients that have been assaulted or molested. And that is fine! And most dads like having a guy to chit chat with. í ½í¸„

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And when you ask them to explain the reason for the discrepancy here, they usually can't/won't.

It's also possible they are too shocked at the crassness of the question to reply. If someone asked me why I accept gynecological care from Dr. X and refuse gynecological care from nurse Y, my answer would be: "Dr. X is my OB-Gyn physician, whom I selected as my physician, who I have received care from for X years, and who I trust and feel comfortable with (I might also mention, if it was true, that I also feel comfortable receiving care from other male OB-Gyn physicians in my OB-Gyn physician's practice), however, Nurse Y is a random male nurse assigned to my care whom I have not selected as my health care provider." I don't think this is too hard for most people to understand.

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When you get right down to it, when you're in labor and in that crazy pain and then start pushing your brains out...I mean it's kinda like "Who cares who's around?!?! Just get this baby OUUUUT!!"

As a labor nurse I have to say that not all people get to the point where they don't care and part of our job is to advocate for what they state want before the pain changes their reasoning ability.

Also fear or personal concern about privacy etc can significantly inhibit labor progress. This is something that many people don't even think about as a risk when moving birth from a place where someone feels safe (home) to the hospital where many people are not comfortable.

That said. I have worked with 3 men in L&D. Two were nurse managers who had at some point been L&D nurses. And the 3rd was a surgical tech who set up delivery tables etc. He was often showing up around transition or pushing so that certainly was an exposed moment. I never heard a patient complain but it was something that crossed my mind only because it was another not well known person on the scene.

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It sounds as though you are the one with "issues." I don't know of any women who have "no issue with a male doctor down in their nether-regions." I do know of many women, myself included, who have selected male gynecologists in the same way they would select their PCP: competence; professionalism; caring attitude.

Eh, whatever, because of course you're the only "nurse" who is ever compassionate and caring.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.
It's also possible they are too shocked at the crassness of the question to reply. If someone asked me why I accept gynecological care from Dr. X and refuse gynecological care from nurse Y, my answer would be: "Dr. X is my OB-Gyn physician, whom I selected as my physician, who I have received care from for X years, and who I trust and feel comfortable with (I might also mention, if it was true, that I also feel comfortable receiving care from other male OB-Gyn physicians in my OB-Gyn physician's practice), however, Nurse Y is a random male nurse assigned to my care whom I have not selected as my health care provider." I don't think this is too hard for most people to understand.

If you are a patient in a teaching hospital you get "random" residents who work with your attending doc, you may only see your attending once a day or right when you deliver. I guess, to me, as long as I am getting good care, I don't care who it is.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I was only in L & D for six months, but I got the impression that my department was a girls' club. As far as I know, there has never been a male L&D or postpartum nurse in that huge healthcare system.

As for me, I personally don't care. I've been in enough deliveries to know that there is absolutely nothing sexual about the process. I could kinda sorta see future hubster annoyed with having a male RN (a la Knocked Up) but he'd get over it fairly quickly.

Another thing - I've yet to give birth, so I'm no more an "expert" on birthing than a male RN. So any arguments to that end are invalid in my book.

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It's also possible they are too shocked at the crassness of the question to reply. If someone asked me why I accept gynecological care from Dr. X and refuse gynecological care from nurse Y, my answer would be: "Dr. X is my OB-Gyn physician, whom I selected as my physician, who I have received care from for X years, and who I trust and feel comfortable with (I might also mention, if it was true, that I also feel comfortable receiving care from other male OB-Gyn physicians in my OB-Gyn physician's practice), however, Nurse Y is a random male nurse assigned to my care whom I have not selected as my health care provider." I don't think this is too hard for most people to understand.

So where would a MTF transgender nurse stand on your scale of comfort? I mean if *nurse* Caitlyn Jenner was assigned to your care would you be equally as uncomfortable?

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I'm not sure how many women would be bothered by a male OB nurse. My guess is their hubby or boyfriend might have a bigger issue with it, than the woman would. Also I think a lot of men don't want to work in MB or L&D. Many females don't want to work them either. It's not the rainbows & sunshine many people think.

I'm not sure that I have any answer to this other than there is a general lack of interest, but male OB nurses do exist.

I do think that if nursing is going to continue to climb the ladder of professionalism then the field as a whole is going to have to 'chill' on the whole male OB nurse things. If you are a nurse and say that you don't approve on male OB nurses then you are essentially saying "This male who happens to be a nurse is not a professional, and should not be trusted to view or touch the female anatomy in a healthcare setting." Doctors on the other hand, whom have transcended the professional 'ladder' do not have this problem. Male OB/GYN's have been trusted for years with the female anatomy. Does this mean that no doctor's have taken advantage of the situation? Of course not, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that somewhere a female urologist has take advantage of the situation too. Also, you can't rule out a female OB/GYN taking advantage of the situation either, or a female nurse!! This belief stems back to Florence Nightingale's opinion that nursing should only be a woman's profession because males are 'untrustworthy' in this role and not capable of caring, on the contrary, there are tons of evidence that say otherwise.

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Im a male and I work as a nurse in obgyn/infertility.. I work in big government hospital. Interesting huh? Cheers!

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
Im a male and I work as a nurse in obgyn/infertility.. I work in big government hospital. Interesting huh? Cheers!

Hey you could be my nurse any old day!

Years ago this topic came up on AN. A male RN responded and said that he never could have a response like, "when I was in labor...blah blah blah" he just believed his patients when they were in pain...in fact, he was more sympathetic than the female nurses because could not possibly understand their pain!

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