Males working in the NICU?

[cph1993]

Hello!

Although I know that nursing is the path I want to take, I am torn as to what area of nursing I want to go into. I'm so interested in everything medical that it is hard for me to imagine picking one area and hopefully making a career out of it. I've always been interested in trauma or cardio/CVICU but I recently started working as a unit secretary in the NICU at one of the larger hospitals in Southwest Missouri. As a male I never thought I would find this area to be as fascinating as it is and can possibly vision myself working in this unit if the opportunity were to present itself. I have already accepted the fact that being a male nurse already makes me a minority in the field, however in a field considered to be as feminine as working with babies I am extremely outnumbered by women haha I am one of only 4 guys who work in the unit. (One is a one of the Neonatologist, the other two are RT's). I already plan on becoming a NP after nursing school. I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are about whether there is any place for a male nurse to be working in a NICU either as a nurse or potentially even as an NNP?

[nurse4ever08]

The southwest region is about 50-60% male nurses in some areas. I did have a male nurse on post partum care. Some regions are more accepting of male health care workers.

[guest769224]

We have a few male NNP's and RN's in my NICU unit. They do a fantastic job. If you have passion for it, try it out

[Atl-Murse]

50-60 % !!!!!!! where exactly ?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Go for it! I think males can and should work in any area of nursing that interests them. Including midwifery.

[tara07733]

When I had my son 7 years ago there was a male who worked in NICU. He was great. I never even thought about about it as different or negative or anything like that.

If this is what you want you should find out what you need to achieve your goal and go for it

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Men have no place working in the NICU. Men do not have the compassion and comforting gene required to care for babies. Changing diapers is woman's work. .

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

rather demeaning Don1984

rather narrow sighted

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Don you say you work in NICU? what gives, were you just being sarcastic?

[TriChick]

It was sarcasm.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Sorry, yes sarcasm. There needs to many more male NICU nurses. I will be the only male when I start in two weeks.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

It's too bad that tone doesn't translate to text. I took Don1984's comment as sarcasm right away, but other times I haven't been sure.

Anyway, OP yes, if you have a passion for the NICU, go for it! I'm a mother of 5 myself, and I couldn't. This is 2015...we women no longer have to question our presence in science or engineering or national political office. Men are taking more active roles with care of their newborns than they used to, with one example being skin-to-skin with their baby as the research showed its benefit. And perhaps there will be NICU dads who simply appreciate a male presence on staff?