Male Nurses in OB

[belin5]

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?

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

She is speaking from a patient perspective, and I thought we were to respect patient preferences, particularly in this area...?

I don't encourage pt preference in choosing their assigned nurses gender. I simply talk them who their nurse is and keep it positive.... By the next day they are almost always a fan

[Guest849204]

It probably has a lot to do with basic biology. Women are hard wired to bond with their own children and it probably crosses over somewhat to other people's babies as well. I'm not saying every woman is a slave to her hormones whenever around babies, but on the bell curve there's going to be more women attracted to OB because men lack the biological systems that promote mother-baby bonding.

Women can also, on average, relate to their patients better. Kind of like how ex-addicts make the best drug counselors, OB nurses that have had children of their own will naturally understand what their patients are feeling more than an male could.

Finally, there is the cultural factor. OB/GYN is viewed as a woman's specialty and that is enough to dissuade a lot of men from entering it.

All of that said, there are of course men who do/would make better OB nurses than any female on the floor with them, its just statistically less likely.

[klone, MSN, RN]

She is speaking from a patient perspective, and I thought we were to respect patient preferences, particularly in this area...?

I understand from what perspective she is speaking. And I am asking her, as a patient, would she not want any nurse taking care of her in L&D who had not given birth before? Because her argument against a male RN is lack of empathy and shared experience.

[Farawyn]

A female coworker of mine regulates which female patients are "ok" for me to see based on her own perceptions. Old and unattractive-ok for me to cath, younger not so unattractive- I must be prevented from being the nurse during any intimate moments. This statement actually came out of her mouth " well I wouldn't want any male nurse for my intimate care." So this is imposed on anyone she deems worthy of her "not so necessary," or consistent for that matter, protection. I completely respect your decision, and am not assuming you conduct yourself in practice as this fellow nurse of mine does...but there are those who do, and it is destructive and discrimination...

It sounds like she has issues.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

My perspective from the patient side of view (never having given birth):

I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse. When I chose my GYN, I chose the smallest practice in the area, which consists of two MDs (1 male, 1 female) and 1 CNM (female). I first saw the female MD. The following year, they could only give me an appointment with the male MD. I had worked with this MD in the OR, so I knew him. It was still incredibly awkward at first, but as I've now seen the entire practice, they were great in working with me and my limitations/special needs. Were I to become pregnant, I would indeed be very hesitant about having a male nurse in L&D. I don't see it as a double standard that I'm willing to see a male OB/GYN but not a male L&D nurse because I've established a professional relationship with my physician, have been a patient for many years, and he is fully aware of how I need my care provided. With a first time meeting of a male L&D nurse, none of that exists.

[Farawyn]

*hugs* Rosie.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I understand from what perspective she is speaking. And I am asking her, as a patient, would she not want any nurse taking care of her in L&D who had not given birth before? Because her argument against a male RN is lack of empathy and shared experience.

She said the same of a medical provider.

Her 'argument' is her personal desire which may be based on things that she doesn't wish to expound on.

It is really none of our business.

[Farawyn]

She said the same of a medical provider.

Her 'argument' is her personal desire which may be based on things that she doesn't wish to expound on.

It is really none of our business.

Well, she did post it so technically...

[klone, MSN, RN]

She said the same of a medical provider.

Her 'argument' is her personal desire which may be based on things that she doesn't wish to expound on.

It is really none of our business.

I realize she said the same of medical providers. That doesn't change my question.

Of course she doesn't have to answer my question, but I assume since she is the one who brought it up, then it's fair game to explore.

Nothing any of us posts of a personal nature is anyone else's business. What an odd thing to say.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I realize she said the same of medical providers. That doesn't change my question.

Of course she doesn't have to answer my question, but I assume since she is the one who brought it up, then it's fair game to explore.

Nothing any of us posts of a personal nature is anyone else's business. What an odd thing to say.

Your use of the word argument is what makes me feel like it moved beyond friendly discussion. My interpretation of how I heard it.

My odd thought as you call it was me trying to point out that sometimes the depth of a reason is not for public consumption.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Okay, replace "argument" with "rationale" then.

And like I said, she's free to not answer if she does not want to discuss. But that doesn't make my question out of bounds. It was a rational observation.

[rzyzzy]

I am extremely modest, and did actually choose CNM practices for my deliveries largely so that I would be guaranteed a female provider at push time. (Yes I know not all CNMs are female, but all of the ones in my metro area are.)

Now if I'd had a male RN there, I probably would have been fine...although I probably would refuse all but the most necessary cervical checks. But as far as monitoring my contractions, fetal heart tones, pain assessment/management, respiratory assessments, etc I would be 100% fine with. Postpartum, I wouldn't want a male looking at the lochia on my pad either, but otherwise I wouldn't have any issues.

Students watching my delivery however are a different story -- again speaking as a pt -- because they are not necessary for my care. Plus, the pt is not responsible for our education; instructors are. I would say the same if it was a medical student.

I'm a male student & the 5 clinical days (3 days for my LPN & 2 more for my RN) are all the O.B. experience I'll ever get. I got kicked from 4 cases & the 5th labored all day without having a delivery. I joked around after our last post-conference with the other male students about fundal massage - none of us have ever felt a "boggy" fundus, or a "firm" fundus, even though there were several questions on our maternity exams that had an answer of "massage the fundus". I doubt any of us will ever need to massage a fundus, and that's a good thing, because none of us are qualified.