Tired question but I gotta ask about OB clinicals

Nursing Students Male Students

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So the summer session starts Tuesday of next week. Have made a B so far in both my previous semesters. I still work fulltime. Summer session will be rough and fast. OB/GYN/Peds. Aside from the trepidation I feel over the academic level requirements of this short session (18wks material in 10) and working while it's going on as I have no choice. We have a total of 8 clinical days. 4 are OB, and I admit to being a little more than scared about my OB rotation. I was a wreck my first day of clinical in med surg but adjusted quickly. I still don't sleep a lot the night before a clinical day but even that is getting better. I just want someone to tell me they had a decent rotation in OB, or that they didn't and why. It will vary depending on where we are (I am in NC) but I hear all sorts of terrifying reports of evil woman nurses on the OB floor who feel that it's the last place a Y chromosome belongs and who set out to make hell the lives of all male students who happen their way.

How was your OB rotation and how did you get through it?

I had a pretty good OB rotation. I had a refusal or two on post partal checks but what can you do. Another guy had an awful time.

An elderly female student told me that it was attitude that made the difference. "While you keep a professional face I could imagine him giggling after he was out of the room.I wouldn't want him in there either." She told me.

Made me feel good and I have tried to carry that with me for the last 22 or so years in all aspects of nursing. Keep it real and you will do fine.

Hello, I am female but had to add my 2 cents in as well. I will be starting nursing school in the fall. I am a military spouse as you can see and I had my second daughter in a military hospital in Germany. I had a male nurse. He was a captain. I think he was one of the best nurses I have ever had. He was the most kind,gentle nurse up there. I really dont think woman should care if there nurse is male or female in the birth process as long as they are a good nurse. After I left the hospital I had a few friends that had babies too and they had him. They all talked about how great he was. So he had a great reputation as a male nurse in Labor and delivery. Also after I had my daughter he was great about getting my daughter cleaned up and back to me and getting me down to my room so I could start to nurse her ASAP. He was very educated on breastfeeding and how it benefits the baby and mother. So if I were you and you really wanted to work this floor, show the other female nurses you can do it just as well or even better than them. I think men can be even more compassionate in that area because they dont know how we are feeling in the moment of birth.

Good luck.

Just a follow up note to say I got through them fine and with flying colors. The nurses on the floor were all very cool and very helpful and actually let me do things which was a lot more than I'd been told was gonna happen at my particular location. There were of course some tense moments on my part as I wasn;t to comfy in all situations, but I swallowed my nerves and got over it.

Just wanted to thank you all for your help, and advice in the situation. One more day to go this sunday in the nursery and one test then two finals and we're on to 4th semester.

Thanks again,

Chadley

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