OB clinical experience ... a male perspective.

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Hey guys ... (and girls)

I successfully completed the clinical portion of OB last week! Currently I am taking a small study break from studying for the theory final and thought I'd chip in some advice for future males entering this rotation.

The number one advice I can give you is be professional. This means, being aware of your body language. If you are nervous & uncomfortable (which you may very well be at first) - do not let it show. Being uneasy will be picked up by the woman, her significant other, and the nursing staff.

I wanted to make this next tip number one, but decided it could take number two. Be cognizant of the woman's pain. Ask her what her pain is, and actively participate in pain management (get her ice chips, show her what a uterine contraction IS on the monitor, warn her when one is coming and breathe WITH her, offer extra pillows, and converse with her). Don't ask her questions that are not life/death during a contraction - just don't lol.

I would also treat her AND her baby. Recognize that you have an obligation to two patients and show her you know it and you CARE. Teach her about side lying positions for increasing uteroplacental bloodflow, teach her about heart tones and assure her that baby is doing good! (when baby IS doing good of course)

Lastly ... Be confident.

I'll be honest... I hated OB (particularly theory). I did not want to be an OB nurse ... and I still don't. My heart belongs to the ICU... But I attempted my best to soak it all up.

I saw several births and C-sections. I inserted several foleys and cared for many babies. I am from the South and I was never once turned away (even with a Muslim couple!), I genuinely believe its because I showed confidence.

However being turned away may happen ... Don't take it personal. We all have our preferences and we are human. Reasons may vary from cultural, simple shyness, simply a preference, and maybe even a history of abuse.

OB will pass ... It'll just be a part of this long nursing journey.

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That's great! It's nice to hear about OB rotations from a man's perspective. There are several men in my class and we will be starting OB in January and I hope they have the same attitude as you. Good for you!!! :)

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I was actually opposite, I enjoyed the theory portion but dreaded portions of clinicals because my instructor obviously didn't think men belonged in that arena (With so many words she made it clear). Labor and Delivery wasn't too bad because I just hung out with the CRNA the entire and talked about anesthesia and epidurals.

Mother and Baby made me want to gouge my eyes out though.....

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I just finished my OB/Peds/Newborn Nursery clinicals last month. Had to watch a circumcision. I think I had sympathy pains...

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.
Hey guys ... (and girls)

I successfully completed the clinical portion of OB last week! Currently I am taking a small study break from studying for the theory final and thought I'd chip in some advice for future males entering this rotation.

The number one advice I can give you is be professional. This means, being aware of your body language. If you are nervous & uncomfortable (which you may very well be at first) - do not let it show. Being uneasy will be picked up by the woman, her significant other, and the nursing staff.

I wanted to make this next tip number one, but decided it could take number two. Be cognizant of the woman's pain. Ask her what her pain is, and actively participate in pain management (get her ice chips, show her what a uterine contraction IS on the monitor, warn her when one is coming and breathe WITH her, offer extra pillows, and converse with her). Don't ask her questions that are not life/death during a contraction - just don't lol.

I would also treat her AND her baby. Recognize that you have an obligation to two patients and show her you know it and you CARE. Teach her about side lying positions for increasing uteroplacental bloodflow, teach her about heart tones and assure her that baby is doing good! (when baby IS doing good of course)

Lastly ... Be confident.

I'll be honest... I hated OB (particularly theory). I did not want to be an OB nurse ... and I still don't. My heart belongs to the ICU... But I attempted my best to soak it all up.

I saw several births and C-sections. I inserted several foleys and cared for many babies. I am from the South and I was never once turned away (even with a Muslim couple!), I genuinely believe its because I showed confidence.

However being turned away may happen ... Don't take it personal. We all have our preferences and we are human. Reasons may vary from cultural, simple shyness, simply a preference, and maybe even a history of abuse.

OB will pass ... It'll just be a part of this long nursing journey.

OH...MY OB CLINICAL.... :)

I was in the same boat! I hated theory, loved my clinicals. I saw 1 C-section and 1 lady partsl birth. I got to hold the legs up on the lady partsl birth. It was pretty awesome!

OB = my worst subject, got a C in the didactic portion class...It is realllly hard to do well in an area that you have no interest it. Got an A in clinical portion :)

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I had OB last semester. I can honestly say that while I think OB is very interesting, it's probably not going to be my career choice. I was fortunate in that I never had a patient decide that I could not participate in her care because I was a male. However, I did have to be aware that some cultures do NOT want a male caring for females about to give birth.

You really do have to show confidence in what you're doing though. A patient that wasn't "mine" per se, was very scared of needles and getting injections. While my instructor was present while I gave her the injection, I helped her work through her needle anxiety and probably gave her one of the least painful/uncomfortable injections she's ever had. Was I confident in what I was doing? Absolutely. I spent more time coaching her breathing and getting her relaxed than actually giving the injection.

OB isn't horrible... just different and not for everyone.

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.

This was a great post! I am female, and when I had my second son, the resident OB that day scared the daylights out of me!! He came in, quietly, and spoke just as quietly, "I am going to do this.....and this....and....." THAT made me nervous. Why? To this day I can't tell you. When my OB came in and asked me if the resident could stay for the birth I snapped "NO! I don't want any students in here!" (I forgot he was the resident OB that day, just doing his rotation.) Now when my third son was born, my OB was teaching a flight nurse (who was male) what to do. He never physically touched me or the baby, but I let him stay. We struck up a conversation about nursing and what he was doing, and what I wanted to do. Put me at ease...I know one of the male classmates I had loved OB, and the patients and nurses loved him right back!

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Thanks for this thread, StudentOfHealing. I agree that projecting confidence is vital in any pt interaction. I just hope that in "the heat of the moment" I can remember to do so! A least that's one advantage to being relatively old (I'm 50) - I look more like the instructors than the instructors do! :rolleyes:

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