Male nurses student and skipping OB/L&D clinicals

[Jfarmboy]

I am actually a pre male nurse student.

I am looking at a college in which I will attend if I decode to do nursing.

I have never experienced it so I want to shadow a nurse in the summer.

I want to make sure it is what I want to do. After I have made that decision I want to pursue it with all my heart at a young age. I am 19 years old and so if its what I want to do I don't want to wait until I'm 30 some.

Anyways I don't wish to do any OB or L&D stuff if I don't have to. I don't see what that has to do with ICU care (where I am wanting to go). Also I may have a different mind set that others. I don't want to do L&D because is a major invasion of a woman's privacy, imo.

If it were my wife (not married and faarrr from it) and there was no doctor, yes of course I would do it. But checking up on female patients every few hrs... Like- hey I just need to see you are doing down there...major privacy invasion. What female patient wouldn't feel uncomfortable? I think the only reason why most female patients don't mind a male OB is because they are in too much pain to notice. All I know is if I were a woman I would not want some guy staring up there. Same as me being a guy I don't really like female doctors or nurses checking me out down there...really weird and awkward.

All that said I want nothing (or at most little) to do with preforming procedures/assessments on women(I am talking where it exposes them..I don't need to see that). Is it likely that I can just do ped or something else at those clinical hrs?

I know most women would not want me there as well as some RN/instructors and myself. It is not something I would want to see and it would seem as if that would give me the title of "pervert".

Sorry this is so long. I know some of you may think I should do all that stuff, as maybe a good learning experience. I just don't see much to learn in it except assessment of a infant or a C-section.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Short and sweet...no.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

In the USA, virtually all nurses are educated and tested (registered) as generalists. Which means that we must get education, and by extension, clinicals in ALL major areas of nursing. And OB/L&D is one of those areas. I know of no exceptions being made, for students that are "uncomfortable" with handling female pts.

Second, in the ICU, you will have to care for many female pts, most of them by virtue of being in the ICU, WILL require substantial care by you as a nurse. This will include pericare, foley placement, exams, cleaning up of stool, lines placed in the groins, shave preps of the groin for cardiac caths. You will need to do your part of that. No one is going to be able to cover in most places for an ICU nurse stepping out of a code/or crashing pt , and declining to assist with a line placement, foley placement, etc. because he is "uncomfortable".

Third, in the ICU, you will have women ......... that were in auto accidents, have had gunshot wounds, OD'd on drugs, attempted suicide, were attacked, raped, victims of domestic abuse ..... all of whom may be pregnant and or miscarrying, or have just miscarried or given birth, and be critical care. And even with legal abortion in some areas of the nation, you will still get women that attempted to abort at home, or went to an "unlicensed" practitioner, that come in bleeding or septic. There are also cervical ruptures, uterine preforations, and plenty of ectopic pregnancies. And while in the case of rape, the patient may request "no male nurses", that is certainly not a given. All of these pts will need monitoring that requires knowing what is going on "down below". Many may not be able tell you that they are bleeding out, cramping, etc. You will be having to assess that.

I have been on units, where we assisted the MD in "completing a miscarriage". The fetus had died in utero s/p accident, over a week prior. The patient had not even known that she was pregnant when the accident occurred, and multiple fractures of the pelvis, all extremities, head injury. She began bleeding out and time was of the essence, so the procedure was done on the unit.

Fourth, do you think that female nurses are completely comfortable with and enjoy handling male genitals. Many if not most of us are just as "uncomfortable" handling male pt genitalia as you may be with handling female genitalia. And in most places, it would virtually impossible to find a male nurse every time certain care has to be provided. Even nurses that intend to only practice in OB/L&D are required to learn to care for male pts.

Fifth, you may not be able to initially get an ICU position. With the current glut of nurses on the market, and the fact that a large percentage want critical care, ICU positions are hard to come by. You may find yourself having to take what you can get, initially.

[Jfarmboy]

By the way - are you a male pre-nursing student? I didn't really think you were "pre-male" as stated in your original post!

Opps lol. I got that backwards. Male pre nursing student*

Thanks the input you all have given. I am trying not to take this lightly and have a long time to "grow up" or to think about what I want to do. I hear this iffiness just takes a little getting used to.I guess you could call it fear of the unknown. I have recently talked to my brother in-law (who I already said is a nurse). He said a lady came in and there wasn't a doctor around and he was esteemed the best of the best by his mostly female co-workers and delivered the baby. So that was of some encouragement to me. If I ever end up in the ER it would be a very needed thing to know. I doubt a CNA would know what to do. I guess a RN should know what to do in any situation.

Also as it is I won't be able to apply for pre-reqs until fall. Then its 1-2 yrs to finish those and 2 yrs for nursing school. I would be at least 23 by then. It may even take me longer to get in for pre-reqs and the only goal I have is to shadow in the summer and go from there. I am going from a stay home guy without a car to getting a job next week and buying a car. So indeed this is going to help me "grow up" and realize life's realities.

I do have a little experience with needles but not with humans. I draw blood and give IM & SQ injections to my goats. Run fecal tests (some micro there) and diagnose animals and treat. I know it is WAY different with humans but I think it uses some of the same critical thinking? I thought originally about Vet tech but realized it wasn't for me. To me treating mostly dogs all day long seems like a waste of potential, not to mention I could care less about some pets(no offence). I also seem to only have a thing for goats(which I know I will need to sell for nursing school) and a love for people. So lol I am a crazy mixed up person trying to find himself in 2 different worlds.

Also to shadow a nurse ..how long do they have you for. Is it a full day or just a few hrs to show you around? I would like to see what a 12 hr shift is like.

[floridanurse1983]

I'm sorry, but if you're not mature enough to say lady parts, member, or any other body part and have to say "down there" don't bother wasting your time and money on school. I was 18 and my first assignment was washing a 90 year old male who had dementia and kept moaning. That was only 3 weeks into the program with no prior work experience in the medical field. I had no problem with it and did what needed to be done. I think nursing is not for you frankly.

[Jfarmboy]

Also yes I realize that getting a job in ICU right off the bat is going to be hard.

I don't plan on that as I don't know if I would be able to trust myself with critical patients that need more care than I can give. I am thinking it would be best for me to do 1 yr in a general hospital setting and "suck it up" and learn more before entrusting myself into a more difficult field of nursing. I am learning a lot on here and other sites (youtube to name one) and all have been another spark in my interest. The reason I thought it was okay to "skip out" on it was because I heard that a lot of instructor tell you to wait in the hall. You can hear a million and one things online though. I now realize why skipping such things would not make a complete nurse.

p.s. I hate that "male nurse" term. Who came up with that? Are we apes?

[ChrisNZ]

Third, in the ICU, you will have women ......... that were in auto accidents, have had gunshot wounds, OD'd on drugs, attempted suicide, were attacked, raped, victims of domestic abuse ..... all of whom may be pregnant and or miscarrying, or have just miscarried or given birth, and be critical care. And even with legal abortion in some areas of the nation, you will still get women that attempted to abort at home, or went to an "unlicensed" practitioner, that come in bleeding or septic. There are also cervical ruptures, uterine preforations, and plenty of ectopic pregnancies. And while in the case of rape, the patient may request "no male nurses", that is certainly not a given. All of these pts will need monitoring that requires knowing what is going on "down below". Many may not be able tell you that they are bleeding out, cramping, etc. You will be having to assess that.

This is how you will come across gynecological issues in the ICU.

[portland medic]

Get over it. If you go into healthcare you will have to deal with placing your patients in uncomfortable situations on a regular basis. Just do all of your required clinicals with a smile on your face and relish the opportunity to learn all you can. When I had my OB/GYN clinicals for paramedic school it was uncomfortable at first, but after witnessing and helping with a few births, it made me much more prepared to take care of pregnant patients. You will be a better healthcare provider for having done OB rotations, so just do it.

[Jfarmboy]

I'm sorry, but if you're not mature enough to say lady parts, member, or any other body part and have to say "down there" don't bother wasting your time and money on school. I was 18 and my first assignment was washing a 90 year old male who had dementia and kept moaning. That was only 3 weeks into the program with no prior work experience in the medical field. I had no problem with it and did what needed to be done. I think nursing is not for you frankly.

You really do not know me. I have lived in Iceland for a few years. People there all showered together (all guys) I had no problem with that. I could wash a member or do a catheter, I could do the same for the opposite sex(foley).I am just saying it might be a little weird the first time around. Is there a problem with that? I just saw others on here use similar terms and thought I didn't need to spell it all out. I know proper terms. It may not be for me but I am not going to give without trying.All I get is encouragement and discouragement with every career I think about going for.

[allenc85]

p.s. I hate that "male nurse" term. Who came up with that? Are we apes?

I'm pretty sure you are the only one who has used it in this thread, you were even a pre-male-nurse at the beginning, but get ready - I'm about to graduate and have discovered there are nurses and male nurses, lol

Any way, as a nursing student in his last semester, I can tell you from experience it is something that you get used to. Granted, I'm 25, so maybe I'm a little past the immature parts, but after one semester of OB class and clinicals you'll quickly get with the program or get out. When I started that semester I was not too thrilled about it, and had some same opinions as you - like why would I need to know all this if I just want to do ER/ICU. Luckily, I had a good teacher who straightened that out quick with me.

I'll also say clinicals were much easier than the class/textbook part of OB. Being a people person, I think it was easy to go with the flow. Some women simply wouldn't let me in the room with them, while some wouldn't have cared if I delivered the baby... in the end it basically boiled down to as long as I was comfortable (or at least projected that) and appeared confident in my skills it would generally reflect on the patient and would make the whole experience go much better. But that is true in most all of my clinicals - the first one's were a little rough, I wasn't confident and sure of myself which made the patients a little anxious. Now, I'm about to graduate and member's and lady parts's, boob's and butt's are just part of it - I think I am able to project to the patient that I'm going to do whatever is needed to provide them with the best care, regardless male/female.

[Jfarmboy]

Yeah I know I am the only one to use it in this thread(the male nurse). There are like a thousand in other threads I have read.

Makes sense though(I mean what else do you say). I was thinking you just say Nurse? I mean if a guy is a nurse he is still a nurse like the rest of them. Just a side thought.

Also I was referring to how that term is used on youtube (among female nurses)...kinda funny.

[allenc85]

We are just nurses. You don't say "female doctors" or "male teachers"... I tell people I'm a nursing student, usually my more elderly acquaintances immediately follow up with "that is so nice you want to be a male nurse" - it used to rub me the wrong way, but I don't really care anymore.

[UmmIbrahim]

well, in all fairness atleast this young man IS asking! It may take some time for him to get over the looking at genitalia part. I'm in my 30's, married, have a family and I can tell you, I dont really enjoy looking at males to examine them myself...because I feel its kind of indecent...BUT, I push it aside, and I do it, because I LOVE Nursing and yes you really cant escape from it, its part of who someone is! After you've seen enough its the same as anything else! So, he has to learn how to separate the Nursing aspect from everyday life aspect. It may take some time for him to do this, but...you know, it can be done! He seems to have a strong sense of modesty.. which is good, there is nothing wrong with someone having a sense of shyness or modesty about the opposite sex or even the same sex, thats natural...thats good. But, when it comes to the medical field its not really appropriate because its...medical and its necessary and even if he doesnt want to do L&D nursing, still...doing the L&D rotations for clinical will still bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Ditto for the other rotations. IT just takes time...

Hopefully he'll learn to separate the "hospital world" from the "real world" and can kinda get over the squeemishness. Personally I LOVE L&D and am hoping to do it once I finish school as I really love all aspects of it.