OB clinicals for males

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

The guy in our group was treated no differently and did the same stuff as the rest of us. Just go in there like this is any other patient and you'll be fine. If they don't want you, don't take it personally: and besides, there'll be other patients on that floor so you won't be left to do nothing while everyone else runs around having fun.

None of the patients objected to having a male student...though there was one person who refused having any student. Then again, they did ask her while she was in the last stage of a natural (read: no pain relief) labor :chuckle

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 15, 2008

It is "supposed" to be the same....but in reality it depends on the unit. If the nurses who work there make it hard for you, it is very difficult to have a decent clinical experience. I have worked 4 places and seen it run the spectrum. Where I am now, we present male students as just what they are; students who are there to learn and will be nurses, very soon. Very few ladies refuse their presence in most situations. If you are being refused exposure routinely, please speak to your instructor. This person can possibly have a talk with staff to gain inroads as to how to help you out. It really does have a lot to do with nursing staff attitude....and how they treat you.

Good luck to you.

TheManGN · Oct 16, 2008

Is it different in this rotation for males? =). I'm wondering how this is going to go down, seeing as i'll be the only male in my clinical group for OB. I hope i get to assess patients , but i don't want to be a hindrance either.. I start next week and don't want to get in anyones way, but I also want to learn, i heard that many male students have similar predicaments in OB clinical, and was wondering if those accusations are true.

It depends are were you are at and on the instructor. My clinicals was at a county hospital here in Houston, and my instructor was hard nose. I was the only male in my clinicals, but the hospital and staff were great. I experienced everything, from vag. exams(dilitations, and effacement) to watching a c-sec. Its was very educational. Also working in the nursery was great. but show your instructor that you want to learn. My instructor spent more time with me, since I was the only male. Ob is now my strongest subject. But try to experience all you can- you won't regreat it.

The Man GN:banghead:

uscstu4lfe · Oct 16, 2008

The poor males in my OB clinical group didn't get to see any lady partsl births! Funny though... the laboring mothers didn't give a crap who saw their vajayjays... it was always the fathers who objected.

missjennmb · Oct 16, 2008

I think what surprises me the most about this, is that more people have not mentioned being denied as a student in general. It's a bit hypocritical of me I guess, being on the student side suddenly (and until a couple years ago and a life changing event I NEVER would have thought of nursing as a career in a billion years), but I routinely refused students of any kind that I could tell were students, entrance into my room/privy to my information. I remember one time not even realizing someone was a student (it was not announced or asked before they walked in midway through a gyn exam) and freaking out about it.

Thankfully being a bad patient does not preclude me from being a good nurse or I'd be doomed.

paccookie · Oct 17, 2008

Is it different in this rotation for males? =). I'm wondering how this is going to go down, seeing as i'll be the only male in my clinical group for OB. I hope i get to assess patients , but i don't want to be a hindrance either.. I start next week and don't want to get in anyones way, but I also want to learn, i heard that many male students have similar predicaments in OB clinical, and was wondering if those accusations are true.

We just finished OB clinicals for paramedic school. There was a group of 9 of us... 2 girls and 7 guys. The instructor always paired the girls with a guy and just introduced us to the patients as paramedic students and asked if it was ok that we were there. Most of the patients were absolutely fine with all of us...guys included. If the instructors and the nurses don't make a big deal about "ooh, is it ok if there's a GUY in the room???" the patient doesn't seem to think much about it. If they DO make a big deal out of it, the poor guy in your class is going to get a very poor clinical experience and won't learn much. I hope your instructor is cool and doesn't do that.