Nurse Educator Chronicles: Male Student Nurse on the OB Floor

[VickyRN]

My euphoria was rudely interrupted when a staff nurse approached me with concerns about one of my students. "Do you know your student is just sitting over there, doing nothing?" She glanced in an accusatory manner towards my lone male student "Catfish," who was quietly occupying a seat in an inconspicuous area at the farthest edge of the unit.

"Catfish" was entirely bald, short and stocky, in his forties, with an engaging smile and twinkling blue eyes. He was a man of few words, but very gentle and polite. True to his nickname, he was a commercial fisherman, who was picking up nursing as a second career.

"Catfish" appeared utterly miserable and forlorn as he sat nearly hunched over. His eyes were devoid of the usual sparkle, staring vacantly at the floor. He looked as if he hoped the earth would open up and swallow him whole.

"What's wrong, Catfish?" I asked. "Why are you just sitting here?" With that inquiry, the saddest expression swept across his face and he seemed about to cry. I'd seen that look before. It was classic for a male student on the OB floor and I almost had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

"I'm so sorry, Ma'am," was his doleful reply, "But neither my assigned patient nor anybody else will let me in their room!" I found two or three tasks to occupy his time during the remainder of the shift on the unit. But, overall, he was correct - very few moms would allow him in their rooms, even with a female escort. And, there was nothing that I, as a clinical instructor, could do about it.

Catfish suffered through the rest of the two-week rotation on the unit, trying to stay out of the way of as many new moms as possible. Not too soon enough for him, his stint in OB purgatory mercifully came to an end. He then very gratefully returned to the blissful clinical surroundings of the medical-surgical floor.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

erichRN said:

I enjoy OB very much. Not only for helping new life into the world and the basic nursing aspect of helping patients, but because so much of what we do in OB could be done differently with much better outcomes. But for me, the door is closed and I just accept it.

There are actually some L & D units that hire male nurses, but these are rare. There are a few old threads here on allnurses about this subject. One of the professors at my college of nursing is a nurse midwife and a male, and he oversees groups of students on the postpartum floor for their clinical experience!

[OutlawNurse86, BSN, RN]

When I did my L & D rotation, the momma didn't even want her husband in there, much less a male student. I got shipped over to the nursery. Now, I don't really like kids, I am one of them fellers who NEVER intends on having kids, my instructor was aware of this fact too when she sent me there (I felt compelled to remind her again too). There was only 2 babies there..... I figured... Oh hell.... this is going to be boring as heck... Much to my surprise... I actually liked it. There was one baby who was under a bilirubin lamp, wearing them eye covers that look like shades, and one baby I assisted in holding while they stuck an IV in him (I kinda felt bad for him and I guess he grew on me).

You just never know till you go there.

I still don't want kids though....

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

NurseJacqui said:

How come no one seems to have a problem with a male OB/GYN?

Exactly! Yet.......some seem to have a problem with the male (nursing) students. I'd like to add that I see male medical students granted access all the time. At the hospital where we do clinicals, patients are asked whether a student (it doesn't say what kind of student) may be present for their delivery. Whether they have answered yes or no......one of the OB's (bless him) has on a fairly regular basis taken my students in with him and not mentioned that they were nursing students. Guess what? Never a peep from the patient.

[MMCRN]

Years ago, as a paramedic student I remember the agony of my OB rotations. As a male I was clearly not welcomed, or approved of by the nursing staff, and particularly by their supervisor. The charge nurse told me that she had checked with all of the patients and that none would allow me to assist in their care, but I was welcomed to sit at the desk and study. I guess she expected me to keep my book handy to refer to in the field, when called upon to deliver a baby. Fortunately, on my next rotation a different CN was working and one of the staff nurses took pity on me. She had me change into scrubs and told me to follow her everywhere she went. She introduced me to the patients as a student, who would be assisting her today. Not a single patient expressed the least bit of hesitation! When I eventually went on to nursing school I had the benefit of many years' experience in patient care. I introduced myself to the patients, told them I would be assisting in their care, and immediately asked what I could bring them for their comfort. They sensed my confidence (even though it was partially a bluff), and again, no one had a problem with my presence. As a previous poster said, it's all in how it is approached with the patients.

[Austrya]

I had a male student nurse in the room when I delivered my 2nd son. I had no problem with it at all.

Then again, by the time I was ready to push, I had so many nurses and doctors in and out of my room that the janitor could have walked it and I wouldn't have cared.

[miss_smartie]

I'm a female and I remember strongly disliking my OB rotation in nursing school. Not exactly the same experience as a male student, but I just felt so uncomfortable and out of my element. My clinical instructor was pretty self-absorbed and didn't pay much attention to the students so I just got my required assessments completed, helped out my fellow students, and requested as many nursery, NICU and OR shifts as I could! I think having a competent, understanding clinical instructor makes all the difference in the unique world of OB. Needless to say, I finished out that part of the program sans any desire to be in L & D.

[oncnursemsn]

As nursing faculty I can totally relate. I have elderly women who will not accept a male student. I have a gentleman- who is African American and a very large guy. He is a great student, very caring and kind and my "gentle giant." I have to be very careful who I assign him to. He needs to care for women and men like all students. He has been nothing but diplomatic and gets along with all his patients and family members. I took a risk- gave him elderly female with Alzheimers. He did great. The husband was appreciative. Treading difficult terrain. Hope he does great in OB next semester. Bottom line is that is stinks for my men and my minority men even more so.

[MMCRN]

It does have its difficult moments. I'm an ER nurse and try to avoid OB patients like the plague. But of course, even in the ER we regularly have to get up close and personal with patients of all ages and genders. I don't know if it is like this everywhere, but in the south it sometimes seems that my older male patients are afraid I'm gay, and the older females are afraid I'm not. On the other hand many assume that I'm the doctor, no matter how many times I tell them differently. Stereotypes!!!

[decoopa]

In truth this is a good lesson for him. Being a male nurse myself, come with it's own brand of exclusionary standards. I had the priviledge of working L&D for 3 years, loved it. But male nurses are more logical, a+b=c theroy based problem solvers and generally get along with the doctors in that level than others in general. That alone creates dissenction among co-workers. but anyway, catfish can watch discovery channel do APGARs on what he sees and never limit himself by anything but himself. Good luck to him.

[dj4kids]

I can relate with Catfish, being a male student on mother baby seemed like the longest rotation in school, their actions and body language more than let me know I was not wanted, so for however long the rotation was I became a waiter, I needed a serving tray not a stethascope and maybe a pair of heelys to speed up delievery ( no pun intended) I felt like it was a waste of my time. Many Pts had male OB-GYNs but a male nurse not happening. I did have 1 mother who did not mind a male nurse but her sig other did and so she refused. One good thing about being there was I did resharpen my customer service skills I learned while an McDonald manager.

[jessica75]

canoehead said:

I don't think anyone should ask if he can help- just notify the patient that "this is Catfish, a nursing student, and he's going to be following along and helping me today." So much depends on how the patient is approached.

However shouldn't we think patients' comfort, too? :icon_rollAs a member of nursing staffs who should concern all about patients, we should think patients' side, too. It is sad this male student got rejected from some patients though.

[MMCRN]

I'm all for considering the patient's feelings, but how far are you going to take it? After all, the patient is in the hospital for healthcare, not a social setting. What if the patient stated that they were "uncomfortable" having a nurse care for them because she was African-American, or Jewish? The issue should be the quality of care, not the physical characteristics of the caregiver. I'm just saying...