"What's with all the men in the NICU lately?"

[Bortaz]

I'm a 41 year old male RN. I started my career in the NICU a few weeks ago. On my unit, there's another male RN who is a few weeks ahead of me in his orientation. This week, a senior male student started his practicum/preceptorship on the unit (I know him from school, and he applied here because of learning of the opportunity from a conversation with me). Both of the RTs on my schedule are male.

As I was feeding my baby a day or 2 ago, I overheard a couple of the nurses saying "What's with all the men in the NICU lately?", and going on to question why we'd want to work there. I mentioned to one of them later that I'd overheard their conversation, and asked why they were discussing it...was there something improper about a male working in the NICU? Of course, she was all flowers and butterflies when talking to me, telling me I was welcome on the unit, but...it made me curious.

So, my question to you all: IS there something improper about a male RN working in the NICU? I mean, is that the common consensus, that it's weird or something? Are male nurses some threat to the well-being of the babies or the staff?

It kinda irritated me, to be honest.

[NICUDad]

Nursing student in the NICU here, and working in the nICU as a HUC for the last 7 years. Myself being a male, I am one of three total men on the unit. The other 2 are male nurses. One night shift, one day shift. We have a total nursing staff of about 50 nurses.

While traditionally any form of infant or maternal nursing has belonged to women in the past, I have seen more men with interest in neonatal nursing. The women here welcome the change of pace. It's a nice balance to the unit.

In all honesty, the hospital I work at tends to have many young, single parents, where fathers are often scarcely seen, or not involved at all. It's unfortunate, but for those that are here, having a male nurse on the unit can sometimes help encourage and foster young male dads to be more active in the parenting role, since relating to a male can be easier at times. They can watch and observe, and sometimes absorb more by seeing a male active in infant care.

Just my two cents, but from 7 years of observation, you tend to notice these things.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I'm a 41 year old male RN. I started my career in the NICU a few weeks ago. On my unit, there's another male RN who is a few weeks ahead of me in his orientation. This week, a senior male student started his practicum/preceptorship on the unit (I know him from school, and he applied here because of learning of the opportunity from a conversation with me). Both of the RTs on my schedule are male.

As I was feeding my baby a day or 2 ago, I overheard a couple of the nurses saying "What's with all the men in the NICU lately?", and going on to question why we'd want to work there. I mentioned to one of them later that I'd overheard their conversation, and asked why they were discussing it...was there something improper about a male working in the NICU? Of course, she was all flowers and butterflies when talking to me, telling me I was welcome on the unit, but...it made me curious.

So, my question to you all: IS there something improper about a male RN working in the NICU? I mean, is that the common consensus, that it's weird or something? Are male nurses some threat to the well-being of the babies or the staff?

It kinda irritated me, to be honest.

I can imagine that would. I think it's great you are in that field - I could never do that. Thanks to you!

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I am glad I found this thread, as it empowers me even more to pursue NICU, a specialty that I have identified for a while now, even though I am still in the pre-nursing stage. I aspire to not only be the best nurse I can be but I want to be that male role model in NICU, not only for the young fathers but for the young men and boys out there that still think that nursing is just for girls. In this day and age, it's shocking to see that this mindset is still out there. I always believed that EVERY profession deserves the perspective of both men and women and in this way I would like to contribute my part.

[LoveANurse09]

I am glad I found this thread, as it empowers me even more to pursue NICU, a specialty that I have identified for a while now, even though I am still in the pre-nursing stage. I aspire to not only be the best nurse I can be but I want to be that male role model in NICU, not only for the young fathers but for the young men and boys out there that still think that nursing is just for girls. In this day and age, it's shocking to see that this mindset is still out there. I always believed that EVERY profession deserves the perspective of both men and women and in this way I would like to contribute my part.

That' s awesome! I think young dads (the ones that stick around) will need a male to look up to. Especially when learning to care for their NICU baby.

[JenniferSews]

I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with a male NICU nurse. But if you ask every mother you know how involved her husband is/was with their newborn, most will say very little. Regardless of the reason why they weren't involved, it's just hard for many women to wrap their head around a guy who actually is willing to care for a newborn baby and chooses to do so for a career. I am fortunate that my husband never believed in gender roles. But I see so many friends driven nearly insane from lack of sleep because they wouldn't even consider asking for help from the father, who is sleeping peacefully in the next room. Sometimes he's oblivious there's even a problem, and it's not always because he chooses not to see. It's a shame all the way around!

[Tricia76]

It seems kinda like how men are with women when women want to do what a man says is a "man's job". Its rediculous to me..I think every job should be equal..I for one do not have a problem with a man being in a NICU. I think its awesome. The more the merrier..As long as you know what your doing I wouldn't worry about gossip.

[Dude,RN]

I worked in a level II NICU for 4 years before moving to to a new setting, adolescent psychiactric nursing. I LOVED every moment as a NICU nurse, and being the only male on the floor- had a wonderful experience. I only had one family that didn't want me to be their nurse because of my being a male (at that facility we went to the delivery too- we were nursery/NICU nurses) due to a sexual abuse issue the patient had in the past. Other than that- I haven't had a problem at all in the field of NICU. Loved every minute of it and am in fact getting my MSN in education and planning on going further in order to be able to teach- I would love to teach the neonatal aspect of nursing to students.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

When I did my rotation at our local children's hospital I was surprised by the number of men working there. Not because it's a pediatric hospital; because I wasn't used to seeing so many male nurses. My teacher said a lot of men liked it because medical care for kids is very technical and this hospital is cutting edge and the guy nurses she talked to like that about the hospital.

[mauigal]

i am so glad to see men in our nicu! we have some awsome male rns. we need more men in our nicu. i think is good for our teen & young parents to see a working male. many of our teen & 20 something moms don't know any males with legal jobs. most of the male rn's in our unit are married with families. the young "fobs" need to see a man working a ligitmate job, taking care of his family and enjoying his work. why is it women will go to a man (who is not their husband or boyfriend) for a gyn exam, but think it is weird for a man to be a nicu rn?

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

why is it women will go to a man (who is not their husband or boyfriend) for a gyn exam, but think it is weird for a man to be a nicu rn?

or take their child to a male pediatrician?