Male nurses in OB

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 23, 2016

Welcome to AN! What is your opinion on the question?

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2016

Yes, men can work in all specialties of nursing. It also means having to face the reality that many patients will be uncomfortable having a male nurse. You would just have to find a way to break the ice.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2016

My wife and I were discussing this topic this evening; and I've discussed it with my clinical instructor during my OB rotation. In our geographic area, even though most gynecologists are male, the Amish and Mennonite prefer female nurses. Thankfully, several of the women were ok with male student nurses. I did enjoy the rotation; and have finals in OB coming up next week.

SleeperHold · Mar 26, 2016

Men do it some. However, seems like it takes a really special sensitive type. The kind of guy that is in the ICU or ED is NOT that guy. At least where I used to work, it was like that. If you are interested, take the bull by your sensitive hands and go after it!

RunBabyRN · Apr 2, 2016

Can men be OB/GYNs? Can women be urologists that specialize in prostate cancer?

This smells of a homework question.

Brink48 · Apr 10, 2016

Of course they can. The worst thing that will happen is that you might have to trade patients if they are uncomfortable, but that happens in all specialties. I liked my OB rotation and it was pretty cool getting to see a c-section and assessing the newborn immediately after.

jeneroo · Apr 10, 2016

Yes you can! Others have already pointed out that some women may not be as comfortable with a male nurse but you definitely can do it. I have a former patient whose husband is a L & D nurse and I know he has an interest in midwifery. He'd make a fantastic midwife. I know there aren't many in the OB/GYN field but they do exist.

Maevish, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2016

At one place I worked, there was a guy who worked mostly ICU, but also did L+D/PP, however, I venture to say that's not the norm. Most of the guys in my nursing class didn't get to even see anything in school during OB, but that also depended on the G/P of the mother (first timers usually didn't want to have a male there.

That being said, if you ask and the woman is in the right stage *cough* transitional labor *cough*, at that point they usually don't care if there are 20 men in there, they just it to be over. Males most certainly can work OB (and my friend was the rare exception of ICU/OB nurse), but it's not an area you usually see them for obvious reasons. I wouldn't want to be a lactation consultant and I'm a girl, so I don't know where that desire comes from, but more power to ya and whomever else wants to do it!

xo

cdahlen · Sep 23, 2016

when i went through paramedic program, during my OB clinicals, the nurse asked a woman in labor if she mind if a male student was there for the delivery.. she said "i dont care the H*** is here get this baby out"

At one place I worked, there was a guy who worked mostly ICU, but also did L+D/PP, however, I venture to say that's not the norm. Most of the guys in my nursing class didn't get to even see anything in school during OB, but that also depended on the G/P of the mother (first timers usually didn't want to have a male there.
That being said, if you ask and the woman is in the right stage *cough* transitional labor *cough*, at that point they usually don't care if there are 20 men in there, they just it to be over. Males most certainly can work OB (and my friend was the rare exception of ICU/OB nurse), but it's not an area you usually see them for obvious reasons. I wouldn't want to be a lactation consultant and I'm a girl, so I don't know where that desire comes from, but more power to ya and whomever else wants to do it!
xo

Mayan.RN · Sep 23, 2016

I'm in my OB rotation now and I hate it. IME there are plenty of mothers and fathers that are willing to have me in the room and/or doing a procedure, but the level of intimacy is beyond my comfort level and that of a majority of couples.

To answer your question OP: yes they can. But they face many social and legal issues that would be avoided in any other specialty.

I also heard from my clinical instructor that OB/L&D/Mother-Baby have the highest rates of RN litigation.

If I were a Murse and I felt that this was my calling, the very least I would do is have a female coworker (witness) in the room with me at all times.

BslateRN · Sep 24, 2016

Of course men can work in OB. Now does it happen often? That's a different question. During my OB rotation I didn't see any men in the L&D unit, but there were a couple of men who worked in the NICU. All the parents were fine having me in the room. Actually the only discrimination I felt was from one L&D nurse. If it's your interest, then go for it!