More male nurses

Published

The thread on transvestite nursing student got me thinking. And as I have a report coming up I thought I might do it on male nurses in l&d.

How many of you work with male nurses in L&D? Are the moms generally accepting of them?

Some years ago I did a paper on gender inequalities and found that the law actually permits l&d to discriminate against male nurses in l&d. Is that still true?

I personally can't see why women who have a male dr would mind a male nurse. For personal reasons I will have neither. But what about any ladies here who have male drs. Are you okay with male nurses?

Any male l&d nurses here? Have you ever had a mom ask you to get a female nurse instead. How did you feel? Were you offended or did you just consider it a pts right. No different than a pt not liking you because you had a mole on your nose sort of thing. What about dads? What do you do when a mom or dad asks for a female nurse?

On the flip side, are there any ladies here who don't like female drs and are glad that more male nurses are working in l&d so that they can have a male nurse? I do know one person who hates female obs and was glad her nurse was male.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm female and I personally just want kind, competant doctors and nurses. I don't care what gender they are. One situation where I can imagine being slightly uncomfortable with a male nurse is if I found him attractive (because nurses tend to do more "dirty work" type stuff with patients I think it's slightly different than a doctor), but I don't think I'd be thinking along those lines while in the throws of labor. Perhaps I'm somewhat immature!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No Mary you are not immature. You are normal. Funny are the times we think about sex.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm female and I personally just want kind, competant doctors and nurses. I don't care what gender they are. One situation where I can imagine being slightly uncomfortable with a male nurse is if I found him attractive (because nurses tend to do more "dirty work" type stuff with patients I think it's slightly different than a doctor), but I don't think I'd be thinking along those lines while in the throws of labor. Perhaps I'm somewhat immature!

I know what you mean. I didn't always have a problem with male dr/nurses. I had just moved to a new area and had to go to the dr for hypoglycemia. Well as he was a gp and the nurse asked if I wanted to have a physical (well woman). Normally I would have said yes but I had seen the dr in the hall and he was young and drop dead gorgeous. Even though I was overdue for it by a few months I said no. No way would I have a pap with a dr that cute. That is when I found a gyn dr (actually a CNM). I liked in the UK because there was a nurse at the office who did all the well woman checks. Not sure if she was a midwife or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I rotated through my L&D Clinical many years ago I was told to stay in the nursing break room and study my notes and OB/GYN text books. I was then counseled by a staff nurse who encouraged me to use nursing as a "stepping stone" to another career as males should not be in nursing. She was sincere and was only trying to be helpful I can assure you. I went home totally amazed at the gender bias I encountered that day (and days to follow).

My experience of "gender bias" in nursing has been negative enough that I did pursue other opportunities in health care and have done very well. Nursing was an important part of my career development but I found success (financial and professional) out of nursing and I am truly convinced that gender bias was a major reason for that.

True Story!

-HBS

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Had a nurse who happened to be male when I had my daughter. He stands out so much in a good way I remember his face, his gentle touch and funny demeanor and his name. Kent. I would love it if ALL ob nurses were THIS wonderful. SO NO PROBLEM with having nurses of ANY gender who are competent, caring and professional. And if they happen to be male, it matters NOT to me. Our unit has NO permanent male staff but we do get male travelers and the patients L O V E them!!!! They are professional, kind, and competent. The kind of nurses I love to work with. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I want to be a RN and im a guy. I remember telling some girl nurses that i wanted to be a RN and they would give this weird look and one told me wouldnt you rather be a paramedic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Anytime I talk to a nice, smart college student who is a guy and can't decide what to major in, I urge him to look into nursing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I want to be a RN and im a guy. I remember telling some girl nurses that i wanted to be a RN and they would give this weird look and one told me wouldnt you rather be a paramedic.

Am trying to get into Nursing also. Want to work ER and travel. Am coming from an engineering background. For the record me and another guy in my A&P class have the highest grades.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Am trying to get into Nursing also. Want to work ER and travel. Am coming from an engineering background. For the record me and another guy in my A&P class have the highest grades.

I volunteer in the ER almost half the nurses their are guys.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My mom said I should just be a doctor when I told her I was going for nursing. When I explained to her that I'd be about 40 when I got done with school, and then 50 when I finished residency, never seeing my family and about $200,000 in loan debt, she thought nursing was a good idea.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

tmiller, VERY true! My brother-in-law is working on his nurse practitioner degree. Awesome, respectable job for anyone of any gender! If you did that (which of course, you don't have to...RN is a great title by itself) you would still be in your 30s. Woohoo!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion