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.

[majinfla]

Interesting story, my husband who is also a nurse & retired police officer, had a similar experience during his ob rotation. He's class was receiving clinicals at a nearby catholic hospital but when it came time to do ob rotation, the two male students had to go to a non religious hospital. No explanation for this directive was ever given by hospital administration but interestingly, all the ob-gyne doctors there were male and no females.

I don't believe we will ever get it right.....unfortunately for cat fish. And other swimmers.

[vanagonnurse]

]As a prospective student waiting on his letter, I pondered this the other night. I love kids, I have three of my own and would like to work in a children's hospital. I had thought about working on the OB floor because that place for me is magical. The floor brings new little people into the world. It makes new dads new moms new brothers new grandparents you get the picture, but I always kind of knew that it would be an issue with new moms, being male and all. Why? Females don't have problems with male ob docs, why is it such an issue with male nurses? Are we more perverted? I don't think so. Any thoughts?

[14togo]

I, too, had a similar experience in my OB rotation. This goes back 20 plus years now. However it was not the patients that seemed to present the obstacle (as I perceive it in retrospect) but the nursing staff themselves, particularly the Charge nurse at that time. I was assigned various duties that, conveniently enough, kept me out of the case room at the critical times. I never did witness live or Ceasarian birthing.

I did hear, on more than one occasion, words to the effect that said "there is no place for men in Nursing, particularly in OBS/GYN". On a positive note, I excelled in the nursury, possibly because I had plenty of practice with my own two children.

It is a bit disheartening to see how little the prejudices have changed over the years. If Nursing truly wishes to change its image to that of being a profession, then certain attitudes (and people) within Nursing must change also.

[orangeroom]

I am a L&D RN and just this week was in the middle of a situation like this. I felt so bad for the male student nurse. I attempted to encourage the pt to allow the student nurse to assess everything except for her private areas. She remained adamant.

It's upsetting for the student, and for the RN involved. I know how much he could have learned by being able to have hands on experience.

[pekeña]

Very interesting your story, I tell nursing students are second-year and believe that the nurse has many habiliddes to work with any type of patient, so in all places dle world it should provide an opportunity for men to work on the experience of motherhood.

[paganoid]

In my clinical rotation through the Labor Deck, five of ten students were male. We had all put off going into OB until the last of six CR's. I never once experienced "rejection" from a patient, and clinical assignments were culturally appropriate (e.g.: no males were assigned to Islamic mothers entering labor).

Although the care plans were easier, I have to say that the OB rotation was the most physically demanding. Note that I didn't say "laborious."

RN's on the floor asked the men if we'd consider coming to OB after gaining some experience in Med-Surg. The hospital is actively recruiting men for the unit. It isn't a good fit for me, but I hope some of the other fellas give it a go.

Cheers!

[64squire]

I find a lot of these comments quite interesting. I am male RN of 30yrs and also a midwife.

I have worked on and off in obstetrics for many years since qualifying in 1985 and have delivered several hundred babies. I have worked in large teaching hospitals and small local hospitals and have never had any problems with any of the patients / moms nor their partners. The only time a patient asked for me not to care for her was a strict Muslim who, for religious reasons did not allow any males, including her husband to be with her during her confinement.

Apart from misguided and shortsighted fellow nurses / midwives there is no reason at all for any male nurses to have any difficulties during their obstetric rotations. In these times of equal opportunity, there is quite often one sided treatment.

Anyone who wishes to contact me please do.

Bob

[ElectricHellfire]

Yep, I felt like an extra coat rack during my OB rotation. Pretty much useless as though I was on the outside of a very private joke. Its ok. I never wanted to do OB anyway I ended up in ICU where dying people don't care what gender you are.

[mkeithgardnem]

I too was a male on the OB unit at one time and one of 3 male students, but while my fellow male students ran into the same obsticles as "Catfish" I was able to attend births and was able to perform exams each and everyone of my patients. The reason I was able to be effective during my OB rotation was that I would go and talk to the patients first and let them know who I was and give them some of my background and not one of my patients refused to have me participate in their care. limeade47.

[erwigg]

jessica75 said:

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.

If we must/should/going to think about the pt aspect it from both angles. In my roations, work experinces, I have always been amazed of how many female pts can ask-or even just hint- at this issue and alot of time it changes but then for a male pt asks for changes it is not done many times.

[Cul2]

One poster says "However shouldn't we think patients' comfort, too?" and the next says "I'm all for considering the patient's feelings, but how far are you going to take it?" It's interesting that when the topic of gender choice comes up it almost always takes place in OB-GYN. Rarely if ever does anyone bring up a male patient's right to gender choice for certain procedures that can be as private and intimate as the birth experience. Males are just expected to accept female care. On the other hand, nurses seem to switch when patients when patients request, depending upon if a male nurse is available. The discussion at heart is about gender choice and gender discrimination. Apparently it's just accepted by many that women have a right to refuse a male nurse. But the reverse, although often granted when possible, is not really accepted.

[notinny]

Same thing happened to a really good looking Male Student Nurse in my class...kicked out of L/D by a mom to be that said "You are the reason I am in here"..............