OB/Maternal be an elective class for male nursing students

GrumpyOldBastard, MSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

The issue here is that you see the OB course as training for a specific workplace. It is training for a specific patient condition, REGARDLESS OF WORKPLACE. Several of us have made this point which you choose to ignore.

carti, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

I think the most frustrating thing for the OP (I hope) is the fact that men are discriminated against regarding working in these units. I don't understand why it is generally considered taboo for a male that is a nurse to work in an OB/GYN department. I have no particular desire to, but If such a fellow wanted to work in such a unit it is considered taboo among their peers. That's odd because there are plenty of men working as MDs in these units that are not subjected to taboo, and are not considered perverts or whatever the issue is. Why is that?

bingo

if only half the females realized in this thread realized I'm not complaining because I don't think pregnant stuff is useless but because only like 1% of men working in OB departments

if only 1% of Females worked in ICU, you'd see alot more threads on this website saying why is Acute medsurge class even required for females in nursing school.

carti, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

The issue here is that you see the OB course as training for a specific workplace. It is training for a specific patient condition, REGARDLESS OF WORKPLACE. Several of us have made this point which you choose to ignore.

Lol I totally got that point. I've already said, Diabetes is a condition that more than half the patients in hospitals have - yet you don't see Nursing schools dedicated an entire semester just to diabetic problems. And you can literally say this about any condition/disease thats common like HTN, etc

Quota, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

Do you think a pregnant women who comes to the hospital for a broken bone, heart issue, flu, diabetic crisis, etc is automatically going to an OB unit just because she's pregnant? As has be said multiple times already, you will deal with pregnant patients in a large variety of units throughout the hospital. Knowing how to handle then is something you need to know even if you aren't working on an OB unit. Get over yourself here. You're only reinforcing the level of ignorance your showing here.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Aug 30, 2018

I have 36 years as an RN with XY chromosome. I have never worked a day in L&D.
HOWEVER, I have used my OB training many, many times.
When I worked in the ED... I wished that I was BETTER prepared to care for pregnant women. We saw lots of pregnant women who had problems LONG before delivery.
I have cared for post-partum women in the ICU.
I have cared for post-partum women on the med-surg floor.
I have coached many dads on how to support breast feeding so that mom and babe can be successful.
I found my OB training to be helpful when I became a dad!
I cannot decide which is more worrisome, your ignorance, or your attitude.
Best of luck,
GrumpyOldBastard

100% agree! I've known ED nurses who have delivered 26 weekers in the elevator on the way to L&D, and I've seen moms in pre-term labor arrest and require CPR and an emergent C-section in the ICU. Pregnant and post-partum moms usually scared the crap out of our ED and ICU nurses because they had so little education in this area and it was so far outside of their comfort zones.

In addition, one of my favorite NICU memories was when we had a mom in the ICU who was in DIC and had arrested, and the ICU nurses pumped her breasts for her to establish her milk supply while she was still intubated and too sick to do it herself. They get all of the wins! :up:

Quota, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

Update, just heard that a second guy from my cohort has accepted a L&D position. Two of the ten guys in my cohort are going into OB, a third guy really loved his OB rotation and considered OB but ended up loving his psych rotation even more. Keep an open mind and embrace the class. You might surprise yourself. Even if you don't love it you will learn a lot of valuable information anyways.

elkpark · Aug 30, 2018

100% agree! I've known ED nurses who have delivered 26 weekers in the elevator on the way to L&D, and I've seen moms in pre-term labor arrest and require CPR and an emergent C-section in the ICU. Pregnant and post-partum moms usually scared the crap out of our ED and ICU nurses because they had so little education in this area and it was so far outside of their comfort zones.
In addition, one of my favorite NICU memories was when we had a mom in the ICU who was in DIC and had arrested, and the ICU nurses pumped her breasts for her to establish her milk supply while she was still intubated and too sick to do it herself. They get all of the wins!

Years ago (I'm sure this wouldn't happen today), on a general psychiatric unit in a small community hospital in a rural setting, we had a client who was pregnant, on the inpatient unit for treatment of her psychiatric illness, who was due and really wanted to stay on the psychiatric unit (plus, the rest of the hospital didn't really want her, since she was a psychiatric client. They were like that all the time there -- really annoying). The psych unit leadership talked with her PCP, who would be delivering the baby, and arrangements were made for her to go downstairs just for the delivery itself, and she returned to our unit immediately PP and her (healthy, term) baby roomed in on the psychiatric unit until they were discharged once she was psychiatrically stable. The psych nurses on the unit provided all her postpartum care, and cared for the infant. In nursing, you just never know what you're going to encounter!

AbbyLane · Aug 30, 2018

my little sister has been to the hospital twice over serious complications with her pregnancy. she dealt with doctors and nurses (both men and women) who helped treat her and get through these hard times she has had to face. I couldn't imagine someone with an attitude like yours faking a smile and helping her during the most vulnerable time in her life while having this stupid bias. Pregnancy is SO complicated and SO many things can go wrong. I honestly don't think those four months could fully prepare you for all the different things mom and baby could endure during pregnancy.

When you applied to your program you knew what the curriculum was and the list of classes you had to take. Everyone knows this even before finding out they've been accepted, so why get so wound up about it? No on sprung this up on you. As an up and coming nurse you should be EAGER to want to learn every aspect that comes along in the profession, even if you don't end up specializing in it.

It's like a Vit C · Aug 30, 2018

I feel most people on this thread need to calm down. The OP's post is ignorant... but seemingly unintentionally (that's a joke). It doesn't seem worthwhile to start calling people insensitive and wishing never to be in their care. I think the nature of this inquiry simply revolves around the fact that one is made to learn a bunch of information simply to pass a test. Certainly, it doesn't seem the OP realizes that the majority of a BSN education is not applicable to the "real life" of a nurse. I must admit, I can't tell you when a full semester's worth of knowledge of the writings of the antiquities proved useful to my nursing career. Of course, taking some odd amount of general education credits is necessary for any bachelor degree. Overall, to me, the original post seems innocent enough. To answer the OP's question though. Simply put. Maternity and OB and Peds is just part of the education of a nurse. It proves valuable in rare circumstances from a professional standpoint for a nurse who is a man; however, it does lead to a more well rounded understanding of the complexities of pregnancy/child birth. If for no other reason, appreciate the fact that learning about OB/GYN makes one more able to be empathetic and understanding. In addition, a basic knowledge of this stuff can help make for better critical thinking in rare situations. If you cannot appreciate that, then simply think of it as another requirement like phys ed or a philosophy class.

carti, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2018

I feel most people on this thread need to calm down. The OP's post is ignorant... but seemingly unintentionally (that's a joke). It doesn't seem worthwhile to start calling people insensitive and wishing never to be in their care. I think the nature of this inquiry simply revolves around the fact that one is made to learn a bunch of information simply to pass a test. Certainly it doesn't seem the OP realizes that the majority of a BSN education is not applicable to the "real life" of a nurse. I must admit, I can't tell you when a full semester's worth of knowledge of the writings of the antiquities proved useful to my nursing career. Of course, taking some odd amount of general education credits is necessary for any bachelor degree. Overall, to me, the original post seems innocent enough. To answer the OP's question though. Simply put. Maternity and OB and Peds is just part of the education of a nurse. It proves valuable in rare circumstances from a professional standpoint for a nurse who is a man; however, it does lead to a more well rounded understanding of the complexities of pregnancy/child birth. If for no other reason, appreciate the fact that learning about OB/GYN makes one more able to be empathetic and understanding. In addition, a basic knowledge of this stuff can help make for better critical thinking in rare situations. If you cannot appreciate that, then simply think of it as another requirement like phys ed or a philosophy class.[/quote']
actually, I think every course in nursing school (4 semesters already) has been useful except my research class & OB.
Research because it's literally a bunch of fluff BS that I wrote outta my a** and still made an A, and OB because of this horrible job outlook for men.
It will be more beneficial to teach about OB emergencies into a Medsurge test related to female issues than to teach an entire semester about it. I seriously don't need to pay almost $1500 and my time to learn how to be empathic towards women's pregnancies.
The only reason I've even trying in this class is for NCLEX reasons. Other than that, I don't think I'll ever see such absurd scenarios in my life as a nurse like the anecdotes posted ITT. Thats literally why they have doctors for.

It's like a Vit C · Aug 30, 2018

actually, I think every course in nursing school (4 semesters already) has been useful except my research class & OB.
Research because it's literally a bunch of fluff BS that I wrote outta my a** and still made an A, and OB because of this horrible job outlook for men.
It will be more beneficial to teach about OB emergencies into a Medsurge test related to female issues than to teach an entire semester about it. I seriously don't need to pay almost $1500 and my time to learn how to be empathic towards women's pregnancies.
The only reason I've even trying in this class is for NCLEX reasons. Other than that, I don't think I'll ever see such absurd scenarios in my life as a nurse like the anecdotes posted ITT. Thats literally why they have doctors for.

Well, I take back everything I said in your defense. I'm sure you will no doubt make a stellar nurse when you rely on the education of others. After all, that's "literally why they have doctors for."

rgo2018 · Aug 30, 2018

Well I take back everything I said in your defense. I'm sure you will no doubt make a stellar nurse when you rely on the education of others. After all, that's "literally why they have doctors for."[/quote']
That was my first thought too - he just burned the bridge with that last response.