Male Nursing Student, Want to Work OB

Dinith88 · Jul 17, 2005

As far as your opinion that men overall make better nurses, well, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I don't any gender has cornered the market on being better at anything. And that's my opinion.

Well put. And also (just to clarify), the 'men being better nurses' comment was a joke :rolleyes:

Perhaps a bad one....

Tony35NYC · Jul 30, 2005

I don't buy the argument about the "femininity" and "woman-ness" of the birthing experience. Its sooo wrong that some people over-feminize childbirth. I think its an awesome experience for the dad to be right there in the middle of it, giving support and actively participating in the birth of his child. At least, it was so for me when my kids were born; and the hospital where I did my L&D rotation as a student actively encouraged it, too.

Further, very, very often (probably more often than not) the entire 'experience' is directed by male OB/GYNs, and neither the female nurses nor the mothers ever object to the authoritative (and, usually, very invasive) hands of the 'man-in-the-white-coat'. But, in the minds of some, it makes such a HUGE difference when the person providing the nursing care is not woman, but a man. Oh, and because I am a man, I can't teach a woman how to breastfeed a child? PLEASE! Whether you're a man or a woman, as long as you understand the science behind the technology you can always teach it to somebody who doesn't know.:)

When I did my L&D rotation as a nursing student, I LOVED it. IMO there's nothing more awesome that watching a child being born. I never had any problems with any of the patients or their significant others, but I did get quite a bit of attitude from some of the female nurses who obviously thought that I, a man, had no right to be on "their turf". But, whatever! The Florence Nightingale years have long passed. Even as a student, I had some unforgettable opportunities to do pre natal and post partum teaching to some very young first-time parents who didn't have a clue, and I know they appreciated it because they always thanked me.

If you want a career in L&D then go for it! As long as your female patients are comfortable with you taking care of them and their babies the opinions of others really don't matter.

Dinith88 · Jul 30, 2005

Oh, and because I am a man, I can't teach a woman how to breastfeed a child? PLEASE!
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ali_gator · Jul 30, 2005

And I'm sure he's a wonderful nurse, and his patients are lucky to have him.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Further, very, very often (probably more often than not) the entire 'experience' is directed by male OB/GYNs, and neither the female nurses nor the mothers ever object to the authoritative (and, usually, very invasive) hands of the 'man-in-the-white-coat'. But, in the minds of some, it makes such a HUGE difference when the person providing the nursing care is not woman, but a man. Oh, and because I am a man, I can't teach a woman how to breastfeed a child? PLEASE!

Ka-CHING! I can't tell you HOW many times I've felt the same...

Well said mate :)

nursedude1 · Jul 16, 2006

And how in he heck do MEN teach new mothers the proper breast-feeding techniques?? "...OK mam...take your nipple like so...and..."

What a laughable statement! I educated new mothers countless times on breastfeeding in my 2 1/2 years of OB nursing. I'd get the occasional side glance, but 99% of my patients accepted me because I was there to help them in their time of need. Matter of fact, when my son was born, the postpartum nurses (all ladies, of course) were horrible in the realm of breastfeeding education. They were overbearing and callous - all evidence of an "I've done this before so you'd better shut up and listen to me" attitude.

I was never able to work L&D because of such attitudes, but the ladies on my floor readily accepted me. Often, as is evident in this thread, the problem is the other nurses, NOT THE PATIENT. Such nurses project their own feelings onto the patient because "I know what they are going through..." This prejudging and labeling of patients is wrong and only serves to put up barriers to effective, competent care. Every patient brings something different to the table. Don't assume that you understand their mindset just because you've seen the same clinical picture time and time again.

Despite being a "uniquely feminine experience", we are all capable of understanding the reproductive and birthing process. As far as the psychologic aspects are concerned, our patients don't need a dissertation on what it means to be a woman. They only need to know that we care and are competent and will do everything within our power to help them through a potentially difficult experience.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

since it has been a year, i wonder CJ, have you changed your mind? how far away are you from graduation now?

to answer your question, YES, if you want ob, go for it. in my ob clinical rotation the nurses said that they would LOVE to have some male nurses on the floor! and as i said in a previous post...."if a male doctor goes into ob people say..."oh how great, you get to bring life into the world everyday", but if a male nurse wants to go into ob then it's...."what's wrong with him?"

my point being, as of now, their is a HUGE double standard, but as more brave souls go into not just ob, but all areas of nursing....THAT tide is going to change...and i will have a beach side house!!! :rotfl:

my opinion,

jay

happygrad06 · Jul 16, 2006

You may not get turned down for an OB job due to your sex..however you may get turned down as a nurse by the patient who refuses/is uncomfortable with having a male nurse during this process. Just be prepared and realize that some woman don't feel comfortable with that the same as some don't feel comfortable with a male OB physician -- or perhaps they trust only that one and no others, etc.

Corvette Guy · Jul 17, 2006

Just to place a slightly different viewpoint here... I am a LDRP/ newborn nurse. I am also a breastfeeding educator. I have also had two children. As a patient, as a nurse, and as a breastfeeding teacher (and breastfeeding mom) I can tell you that the knowledge and care is what is important - not your gender. I had female nurses help me learn to breastfeed my first son (before I was a nurse) and they did not really help at all! I would have much preferred someone who knew what he was doing to someone who just happened to be a woman. :innerconf When I worked in other departments, I taught men to self-cath, my doctor does a full breast exam during yearly physicals (well, not really because I never go to those, but if I did he would,) there are no problems with either of these, and in the same way - teaching a mother to breastfeed is not a sexual thing and should not be a problem. If some women express a problem with it or seem really tense, just ask a coworker to assist her - nursing is teamwork anyway! (Or should be!)
Just be prepared for the comments and remember that even women in L&D get them. I don't know how many women have asked me, "isn't it gross to be putting your fingers up there!" and other similar comments.
The rewards are great once you get settled.

:yelclap: thank you Littlewonder for such an outstanding post! IMHO, if CJ wants to work in OB, or NICU then more power to him.

Hey CJ, it is beyond me why you would want to work in OB. Yet, if you have a desire to do such then go for it! However, it is hard enough explaining to the ignorant public that yes a male can in fact be a darn good nurse without being in OB. You will need to be a strong willed & thick skinned individual to work in OB as a male nurse.

I would think you will receive less resistance from some by working in NICU. Again, bottom line is where do YOU want to work as an RN. You have every right to practice with an RN license wherever you see fit just as much as a female nurse.

Justhere, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2006

Since CJ hasn't replied, talked with him in the chat tonight, and yes he still wants to work in OB.

I say go for it CJ. It might take your patient a moment to warm up to the idea but I believe they will. And when you get excellent care, they will tell their friends about you. Then you will get stories from your new patients, "you delivered my friends baby, she said you were great." So hang in there and follow your dreams, for only by following your dreams may you find happiness.

jov · Nov 14, 2006

Being men, we'll never experience the whole process (other than being a witness) and have little 'natural' insight into what the laboring mother is feeling...BEST L&D nurses are women who've experienced child-birth themselves.
And how in he heck do MEN teach new mothers the proper breast-feeding techniques?? "...OK mam...take your nipple like so...and..."
...the nurse's role however is much more intimate and (in some respects) important...a man is incapable of empathizing with a laboring woman...

I see your profile shows you are 87 years old, so that might explain some of your "old fashioned" views LOL.

Men certainly do experience the birth process as much more than an observer. My husband listed "being in the delivery room when my children were born" as the best day(s) of his life on his class reunion profile:blushkiss .

The disadvantage of being a nurse who has experienced labor is you can tend to try to imprint your own style upon the patient. Sometimes it's better to have the "pure" nurse, than the old experienced one! I don't believe a good nurse necessarily has to have insight into what the patient is feeling...simply be there to support the patient processing the experience. By the same token, I guess I wouldn't have insight into what prostate surgery does to a male patient's body (and psyche) but conversely hope I can support the patient to the extent he wishes my help in doing so.

p.s. breast feeding is a mostly mechanical skill. Since the best dairy farmers were men, males can teach women how to breast feed. (From a mom who did a full 12 months with two kids - my pediatrician called me a golden Guernsey)

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2006

Well said JOV. When I started in nursing school I met a gal who told me that it was a proven fact that women made better nurses because they naturally were more nurturing and empathetic than men. I just replied if that's true I needed to do a Crocodile Dundee check on some of the nurses where I work. If I ever need prostate surgery I don't want a male nurse or a female nurse. I just want a good nurse.