Planned Parenthood... for men?

KellNY, RN · Sep 9, 2007

I'm a little confused by your question.

As an employee, you could expect the same job duties as a female RN, and those would depend on what position you take. Generally, if you're working in the clinic, you'll be assisting with prenatal care and abortions, post anesthesia, etc. There will be patient education for sure.

Locally, the Planned Parenthood here hires CMAs for their regular appointments (pregnancy tests, STD test and tx, IUD placement, paps--all the GYN stuff) and RNs only for OB and TOP.

As a volunteer, they might have you "working" health fair booths, college and high school events, other community education, etc.

You'd have to contact them to see what's available and the specific duties involved.

Obiwarz · Sep 9, 2007

Thanks for the response. I am in the process of waiting to be contacted at the moment. I did not mean to confuse anyone wth my question. Times are changing and men working as an RN are just that, working as an RN... anywhere.

I am familiar with the organization as a whole, but not much about the services at each clinic. Your answer addressed what an RN would do at a clinic, which is what I was mostly curious about. Furthermore, I wanted to know what an RN as a volunteer could offer as well. Community education sounds like a lot of fun actually. I do want to work with patients as well, but worry about the comfort of some women (or men) when they come to PP. From what I know from my peers, many women prefer women doctor's there. I couldn't imagine if they had a male nurse and doctor how comfortable they would be! Of course, it shouldn't matter in any situation, but I just want to be able to offer my skills somewhere where I can be most useful. PP has a great mission for providing valuable care to a population that needs it... and no matter what, I would love to volunteer and help.

Thanks for the response. Any more info about RN duties as a volunteer, including any other clinic-based healthcare providers would be much appreciated. Ultimately, I would love it if I could find a place that offers free healthcare services... that is a place I would love to volunteer with as well. Thanks.

-Jason

KellNY, RN · Sep 9, 2007

Have you looked into a public health/free clinic? Most of them provide free or very low cost health care (I remember when I was in college but got denied for medicaid, I saw the doctor and got a sonogram for $8 out of pocket).

Obiwarz · Sep 9, 2007

Have you looked into a public health/free clinic? Most of them provide free or very low cost health care (I remember when I was in college but got denied for medicaid, I saw the doctor and got a sonogram for $8 out of pocket).

I've been doing many searches, but haven't been successful. The ones I see are at some of surrounding large hospitals, but its more of a walk-in clinic type of deal that's not an ER and not with their own primary care physician. I don't know if that made sense or not, heh. Are there "chains" of them? Any ideas how I can start searching for one in MN?

-Jason

Music in My Heart · Sep 9, 2007

I've been doing many searches, but haven't been successful. The ones I see are at some of surrounding large hospitals, but its more of a walk-in clinic type of deal that's not an ER and not with their own primary care physician. I don't know if that made sense or not, heh. Are there "chains" of them? Any ideas how I can start searching for one in MN?
-Jason

Contact your public health department and ask them about low-cost clinics that might need help. The health center at the local university might also know where they are.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2007

I am a new graduate and recently started my job at a large hospital. I love what I do! I am so motivated right now to get going with my career, but there is so much I want to do yet. I am looking into volunteering at Planned Parenthood in addition to my .8 day/night shifts at my regular workplace.
My question is, what can I expect if I work at Planned Parenthood as a male? I am certified as a Public Health Nurse and am an RN. My future goals would be to start graduate school within the next 6 months and eventually be a nursing professor down the road.
I want to get involved as much as possible in my community and feel I can do so much to help people in need. I can imagine myself doing teaching or patient care work at PP, but don't want to do anything administrative.
Just looking for ideas! Thanks!
-Jason

My husband got his vasectomy at PP, they need men there! Men need the support of other men you know! Many men feel a little insecure about these delicate matters...

I think the male perspective is very important.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2007

Depends on the clinic.

My dad and brother both had vasectomies there. I had an early abortion there. Every teenaged friend with strict parents got their BCP's there.

justme1972 · Sep 9, 2007

We have someone that works with Planned Parenthood here that people have nicknamed "The Sex Lady".

She give talks to high schoolers and college students in plain, blunt English, because the people that fund her particular program have decided that sugar coating the issue isn't working. Teens and young adults need straight talk to dispel any myth that they have in their heads about how pregnancy happens.

For example..you know how you have always seen the common myth that you cannot get pregnant if a guy ejaculates in a swimming pool and you are nearby? How everyone says, "No way!"

Well, THIS LADY will tell you, "Unlikely? Absolutely, but technically possible? YES!"

The point she is trying to get across, is for these kids to understand, that there are two cells involved...a sperm and an egg...and bottom line, and a pregnancy can result, if the two get together. That they have no thought process of their own, they don't care how old you are, it's just two pieces of biological matter that when they fuse, it can result in a pregnancy.

Once that message gets across...then they can start to manage their own reproductive health and understand how easily it can occur.

Obiwarz · Sep 9, 2007

Thanks for all the responses... I'm pretty pumped to see what is available. I will also call my local public health department to see what low-cost clinics are available.

-Jason

KellNY, RN · Sep 10, 2007

For example..you know how you have always seen the common myth that you cannot get pregnant if a guy ejaculates in a swimming pool and you are nearby? How everyone says, "No way!"
Well, THIS LADY will tell you, "Unlikely? Absolutely, but technically possible? YES!"
The point she is trying to get across, is for these kids to understand, that there are two cells involved...a sperm and an egg...and bottom line, and a pregnancy can result, if the two get together.

OT, but that doesn't sound like straight talk...sounds pretty convoluted and biologically inacurate...:uhoh21:. It's not technnically possible, as the sperm would die in a cold, chlorinated environment. I get what she's trying to do, but in the end she's providing misinformation.

Obiwarz-You might look into volunteering at a homeless shelter-maybe doing BP checks once a week/month or offering to teach a class (for example, on nutrition, smoking cessation, STD prevention, etc) at a homeless or DV shelter. That could be very rewarding. Although I could see a potential problem at a DV shelter...just brainstorming here...

judyblueeyes · Sep 10, 2007

While people asscociate PPH with abortion services, it is also the largest provider of reproductive heath care services in the country with over 4 million visits per year.

They diagnose and treat all manner of problems in both men and women as well as screen for reproductive cancers in both sexes.