OB Rotation is Hell

Nursing Students Male Students

Published

I am a male nursing student. I am doing well in school overall and acing my Med surg rotations--However, my OB rotation is pure hell! i feel useless and out of place. They tossed me out of a Birthing room today because I was in the way of the doctor and nurse! They make me feel like a jerk and like I dont belong there--I dont want to fail this rotation because --right now I feel like a incompetant idiot! What are your thoughts about OB and Male nurses?

i also dont like the OB and Labor Room-Delivery Room rotations..but we have to try those rotations. Its frustrating how much your female clients refuse when I will do perineal care and other procedures..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych nursing..

OB rotation is not my favorite rotation. :)) G1's reject male nursing students. some gyne also prefer to be assisted by female nursing students. its really a hard time to get a DR case when u r a male. specially when the delivery is normal. darn it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can just remember the first time I entered the Labor room/Delivery room I was overwhelmed that I cant even move.. and during the whole duration of the rotation, I was only rotated to be the circulating nurse. Because there are less patients who are delivering in the hospital we are affiliated. but when I had my postpartum rotation, it was not easy but somehow I performed procedures(perineal care, etc) by being assertive. I think thats the key.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych nursing..

LOL i almost fainted doin perineal care. the doctor smiled at me and said "gerard ill teach u IE" DAAAAAAAAARRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is not being sexist. I feel very comfortable with male doctors and nurse and CNA's in general. I know some great male nurses. A good friend of mine who is a guy is in nursing school right now. I would trust him with my life....doesn't mean I want him to ses me in my most vulnerable.

I wholeheartedly agree....What if we had an issue with a female nurse, CNA, etc and refused to have them treating us, or be around us? Would we then be accused of discriminating against their title? It's simply a matter of comfort...And if you don't feel comfortable letting a strange man see your hoohoo, then get em the hell outta there! Same goes for a woman....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Neuro, M&S ICU.

totally sexist and damn boring watching women come in.....get pit......then nothing for 10-12 hr. I was in a hosp that delivered over 450 babies a year! Could have fooled me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
totally sexist and damn boring watching women come in.....get pit......then nothing for 10-12 hr. I was in a hosp that delivered over 450 babies a year! Could have fooled me!

450 a year is 1.23 a day. That's fairly low and that's why you didn't see anything. We had 8 yesterday at my fairly small community hospital (checking the census).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have to admit that I dreaded my OB rotation, but have to admit that it was probably my favorite after it was all said and done. Maybe it was because my wife was pregnant during and it was a great learning experience, but all the patients and nursing staff were terrific and very accomadating.

I would never choose to work in OB, but I thought the experience was great and besides if you ever want to work in the ER there's always the chance of tending to a pregnant women.

Good luck and it's all about your attitude going into it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I handled this by just going in and staying in . Sometimes, I'd sort of be behind the curtain but I was in and saw and did my time. I figured if male med students could be in the room, so could I.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

First of all I'm a woman...I'm also taking my pre-reqs to get into nursing school.

I was in labor and suddenly the baby's HR dropped below 60. A nurse and her student who was covering my OB nurses lunch rushed in and tried a few different things. Nothing was working (rolling side to side, laying on stomach) so they called in the doctors. I had 2 dr.s (both male) hands up in me trying to find a cord to figure if it was wrapped around babys neck or what was going on while student was shaving me...I could care less...I just wanted my baby saved. They quickly ran me down to the OR and I had about 15-20 people surrounding me...I last remember the doctor say that he didn't care about germs just that they needed to cut me open and fast and then I went under. There were males and females and I know at least one was a student..Again I could have cared less as long as they saved my baby that was all I cared about. They did save my baby btw (they shipped her 4 hours out so I was dc'd the next day). I really bonded with my student nurse...in fact I requested her in helping me go to the bathroom, ect...Had she been male I bet the same would have happened.

At my clinic they have many students nurses and doctors and they ALWAYS ask if I mind...They say I have such and such following me today as a student nurse/dr. do you mind if he/she watches your care...I always allow them in....What they learn today from my case (or any care really) can only help them with someone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it's interesting that some think it's sexist when a birthing woman asks a man to leave the room if she's uncomfortable.

If you've put any effort in learning how a woman births best, you would know that feeling uncomfortable, unsafe, or unable to relax slows or completely stops labor due to the very intricate balance of hormones flowing through that woman's body. If your mere presence was interrupting that balance, why wouldn't you willingly leave so that she could labor most efficiently? It seems if your main focus was the well-being of your patient, and not your ego, it wouldn't be so unsettling. Instead, she should be praised for speaking up for what she wants in her birth experience!

If you think it's sexist, get over it. I think it's insane that someone thinks he or she is entitled to be a part of someone's birth experience when he or she isn't wanted. A mother should be able to choose, no questions asked, who is present in her birth room. It's all about her. Not the nurses.

Also, studies show that the more people present in the birth room, the slower labor progresses. If you're not serving an important purpose, you probably shouldn't be there in the first place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psychiatry.

I would not assume that some think it is sexist, or that the students do not have the patient's interests in mind. The concern here is that we spend x-number of hours in clinicals each week, and if we are not able to see and do, what is the point of being in the clinical? OB is a sensitive area, to be sure. We all just want to do our best so we can be great nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment