Should Male Nurse Work In L&D?

I've been a nurse about a year and work on a psychiatric unit. I thought this specialty was for me but now I don't think so. In school I really enjoyed L&D and women's health, I even did my preceptorship in school in L&D. I feel I would enjoy working in one of those areas but as a male I would feel out of place. Should I switch units ? Would patients be uncomfortable with a male nurse in these settings?

[JKL33]

10 hours ago, ThePrincessBride said:

I think it would take a certain kind of male nurse to work in LD. One who doesn't try to mansplain to his patient, one that doesn't give off vibes that make women uncomfortable,  and one who is in the antithesis of the toxic male culture that runs rampant in American society. Usually,  from my personal observation,  the men who typically meet those standards are gay.

Just musing here--no one wants someone who is truly the kind of person you describe, the problem is it's all so subjective. I mean, I explain things all day long, sometimes in very simple terms PRN, but that will never be "mansplaining" because I'm not a man. You know?

And isn't the guy working as a nurse already somewhat likely to not be what you describe? After all, they've chosen to work in a profession where they still might be mocked for doing so on any given day. I say that almost by definition they've already made at least one choice that would suggest they aren't who you're talking about.

 

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

I think there are some males that could make a good L&D nurse but the problem is, if you have a lot of women who refuse a male because it's uncomfortable for them, that just puts more work on the rest of the staff leading to resentment.

Also, it IS nice to be taken care of by someone who has gone through labor before because they get the things you're going through. I've had many male doctors brush off my complaints of severe cramps and bleeding, ask me if I wasn't sure it was just my period when complaining of UTI symptoms, or roll their eyes when complaining of some symptom I was concerned about. I've endured sexual abuse as a child. I've endured men being friendly to me until I turn down their requests to go out and they get downright mean and hateful. So no I don't fully trust any man until I've gotten to know them well. It's hard to establish trust with a male that quickly for a lot of women. Unfortunately most women have had to deal with being sexualized by men to the point it's always in the back of their mind "what are they really thinking". The reason it's different with a male OB Dr is they have time to establish that relationship of trust and if you don't feel comfortable you can change doctors.

All that being said, if a male nurse came in with confidence, cheerfulness, put me at ease and seemed nurturing I would probably be OK with it. If you are a friendly nurturing person (because women need extra nurturing and support when they are going through one of the scariest times of their lives) then put yourself out there and try! Just know it won't necessarily be an easy road. 

[Davey Do]

I saw my first baby born in March 1983 as an LPN student and I still remember his name. I figured if I ever met him again, I would violate HIPAA, which didn't exist in those days, and say, "I saw you born!"

Working as a scrub in the OR in '86 & '87, I assisted in LOTS of C-sections.  I even got to clamp the cords of newborn twins. In the late 80's, I was friends with the OB docs & nurses and they let me stand in sometimes with the natural childbirths if the mother consented.

Every single birth was an exhilarating experience that I never ever tired of. However, I never wanted children and can trace my feelings back to my childhood, which was a very good one. I had a vasectomy before I got married the first time and have not regretted my decision one bit.

With that said, the FCC advocates for equal airtime, and although I truly enjoyed every birthing process in which I was involved, I personally and professionally never wanted to work in L&D.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Interesting answers here. Polite discussion of topics with a potential to trigger is always appreciated.  I have been hospitalized or in the ER more times than I like. I have had both male and female nurses provide intimate care and all of them were professional. However women can say some really vicious things. Like commenting on how dirty a female's perineum was or size of a male's testicles or wee-wee. So the opinion that female nurses are more empathic than males is not always the case, 

When I gave birth to the man cub it was  by emergency  C-section and the entire team was male. I was so worried about how the MC was doing I could've care less about who put in my foley.

If the op really wants to do L&D I suggest that he look into critically underserved areas or Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

If we are truly moving toward a world that recognizes all genders and affords equality both inside and outside the workplace then we nurses who are recognized as the most trustworthy profession then must help carry the banner. 

Hppy

PS.  I know the person who said this was probably using this to prove a point but I find the opinion that many male nurses are gay demeaning and insulting to the many cisgender nurses I have known.

[Emergent, RN]

As a woman, I would definitely reject a male nurse for this specialty. I would also probably reject a male doctor. I did have a male doctor for one of my birth which was a home birth as all of them were. It was okay but I really don't like having male doctors look up my privates. Some people just don't like that.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

In the military, all of my nurses during the births of both of my sons were male, except the CNMs. Aftercare were males, even the lactation specialists who told me that it was my fault that I had no milk production beyond the initial feed for both. Sadly, I didn't get a choice...

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

On 7/1/2022 at 11:37 AM, toomuchbaloney said:

 The hospital who is respecting the emotional needs of the birthing patient is going to get sued for simply reassigning a male nurse?  The request of the patient is the only reason they need to show.  Is themale nurse then going to legally harass that woman (because sumthin sumthin his rights) or just contend that he's an injured party because his wants weren't elevated over the woman's?  This diminishing of women's rights and autonomy and value in our attitudes and actions is getting tedious. Yeah we are aware that our laws and their interpretation is a portion of that tedium.  IMV

Maybe you haven't noticed that as women are allowed into medical schools there are more and more women practicing OB/GYN. Perhaps you've missed that many women choose female midwives when they have limited choices among male OB/GYN monopolies in the field. Women having male doctors in [insert specialty] because there aren't other good alternatives is historical reality in this country. 

This is where the hospital needs to walk a tightrope. They need to make sure that they don't violate the nurse's rights, and also ensure that they meet the patients needs. Personally, I do not associate this with women's rights, and as the male nurse is a professional, I simply can't see him going to harass the patient. That actually sounds childish, and totally unprofessional to me. That kind of behavior should and would lead to discipline. 

Yes, women are matriculating into medical schools. I do not like the term allowed that sounds ingratiating, and demeaning to me. As women, we don't have to beg for anything. We can perform just as well as men in any career choice, so no doors should be closed. 

[Mia Hoff, RN]

On 6/29/2022 at 10:18 AM, EdieBrous said:

Don't a lot of these patients have male OB/GYNs?

I had the same thought...having given birth, I honestly wouldn't have minded a male L&D. As a Nurse, having only worked in NB Nursery & Peds, I can't really give imput per experience. I think, perhaps, as someone pointed out there may be some issue for some pts. Good Luck! NICU Nurses are Angels!! To that I can speak to with experience! My twin grandsons born premature. Wilmington hospital NC..NICU staff were amazing! Aiden died at 5 days after being flown to Duke with necrotizing bowel.. Logan died at 5 weeks, succumbing to NB, as well. It wasn't the best outcome but doesn't change how amazing NICU profs are!

[greener22, BSN, MSN, RN]

Reading these comments I am floored by the comments I am a mother and I would not have minded at all if my nurse was a male. I had a male doctor who I had never met as my female doctor was not on call. Would the opinion be different if my female nurse was transgender? Probably. Or lesbian? How would I know if she were? I think he should try it. Would it be discrimination if they would not hire him??

[Delia37, MSN]

To the OP:

One of the best aspect of nursing is the flexibility we enjoy among specializations. Personally, I've done everything from organ donation coordinator to management (and everything in between).  If working in L&D is something you always wanted try; go for it!! However, be realistic and develop a thick skin for rejection. If in the end, it is not your cup of tea, do something else. Other than experience, you have nothing to lose. 

Good luck to you. 

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

On 6/29/2022 at 4:18 PM, EdieBrous said:

Don't a lot of these patients have male OB/GYNs?

Exactly and in Europe we have male midwives.

Do you then start saying no lesbians in obs & gynae? Do we bow to the homophobes who don't want gay nurses, or the racists who don't want nurses of other races?

No females on urology? No males on breast surgery? 

Where do the non-binary and intersex fit into all this?

I've had females look after me during urology and proctology procedures. They were good professional nurses. I didn't care about their gender.

A professional is a professional. Our work is NOT sexual if we're doing it properly.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Sure. As male nurses we can absolutely demand that our work be disconnected from the wishes, beliefs, feelings, history or interests of the patient. Do we still get to call that patient centered care?

Patient centred care has its limits. Last week I had a very difficult patient who basically wanted my presence the whole night long, however I had my other  patients to see to aswell, so she couldn't have her wish. We try to satisfy our patients' every wish but sometimes it's just not possible practically. 

This Sunday I was on night duty with another male nurse and a male care assitant. No female patient objected. As male patients we often face an all female nursing workforce and we just have to deal with that.

The rare nurses who would abuse their position of power for sexual gratification need to be reported and dealt with by the law, but they are a tiny minority and that applies equally to doctors, police, lawyers etc. etc. etc. As a gay man I might feel more comfortable with gay nurses, doctors, police, lawyers, taxi drivers, whatever, but I'm not going to refuse straight professionals who do their job well. I'm not going to choose their race and I'm not going to choose their gender. I think that's just being reasonable.

I once looked after a male Congolese refugee who had been gang raped by other men. He was fine with a male nurse.

I have had elderly women, nuns and veiled muslims expose their bits for me because it's OK if it's medical. As somebody pointed out, male obstetricians and gynaecologists don't seem to be going out of business.