Male Student in OB Rotation

[dreblanco]

Hi everyone,

I am currently in the OB rotation and I have noticed that many times, women who are giving birth do not want a male nurse in their room. For this reason, the guys get kicked out of the room while the women student nurses are allowed to stay in the room.

If you're a guy who has been in this situation, how do learn without being exposed to what the female nursing students are being exposed to when they're in a room, witnessing a birth or other procedure?

[blaundee]

Regarding rape (which in my state it's estimated that 1 out of 3 women have been or will be raped, particularly among the native American population), this is an excellent article. For those interested in better understanding the way women in general often feel, I HIGHLY recommend this article. (BTW I've never watched the show OITNB. My appreciation of the article is based soley on being a woman) OITNB Is the Only TV Show That Understands Rape -- Vulture

[Tacomaboy3]

I went through my whole OB/maternity rotation without seeing a lady parts. And I think I only saw one nipple during breastfeeding. Did I feel robbed out of the experience? Eh. I felt more like I was jumping through nursing school's OB hoops.

[trytounderstand]

While understanding what you are saying about women being victims of rape. Male patients should not be discriminated against if they do not want a female nurse or doctor seeing their genitalia. Men are expected to allow their bodies to be put on display and not complain when their bodies are exposed to a roomful of female healthcare providers. But if it happened to a woman and she complained everyone would be in a hurry to be sure her gown covered her and that her genitalia was properly covered. I have even had female nurses make the comment we prefer you naked anyway makes our job easier. But if a male nurse said that to a female patient or left a female patient exposed he would be considered as not doing his job properly and if a complaint was made I bet heads would roll.

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

And you're absolutely right, those kind of comments are completely unacceptable and unprofessional.

[blaundee]

I wouldn't make comments like that to any patient, male or female. I always try to provide privacy and dignity to all of my patients, and have never taken offence to a male patient asking for a male provider. The men that I work with also do not take offence if a patient asks for a female provider (both females AND males will ask for female-only providers).