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?

[kdkout, BSN, RN]

Oncology nursing is not the same as labor and delivery, though. You don't do recurrent vag exams and stare at a patients vag, potentially for hours, while you wait for the baby to come out.  

When I was an oncology patient, it was embarrassing when they changed my Hickman dressing and temporarily bared my breast. This does not even slightly compare to what you go through when having a baby, though. 

Much of the time the labor patient will not get a choice about who they'll get as a nurse, so why make it harder? The patient will be meeting that nurse for the first time, and will have no idea if that male nurse is Mr Professional, and when you arrive at the hospital scared and in pain, that's not going to help

There's a million things to do in nursing. It doesn't have to be this. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

kdkout said:

Oncology nursing is not the same as labor and delivery, though. You don't do recurrent vag exams and stare at a patients vag, potentially for hours, while you wait for the baby to come out.  

When I was an oncology patient, it was embarrassing when they changed my Hickman dressing and temporarily bared my breast. This does not even slightly compare to what you go through when having a baby, though. 

Much of the time the labor patient will not get a choice about who they'll get as a nurse, so why make it harder? The patient will be meeting that nurse for the first time, and will have no idea if that male nurse is Mr Professional, and when you arrive at the hospital scared and in pain, that's not going to help

There's a million things to do in nursing. It doesn't have to be this. 

So what about about a male gynecologist? What if you have a female GYN, she's on leave and you go into labor. All there are is male GYNs or staff to deliver the baby. Do you refuse? Sorry, baby is still coming. I had all male staff in the military except the CNM who delivered my children. I was never uncomfortable, as my mind was preoccupied. None of the staff were ever inappropriate. Would I have preferred females? I don't know, the staff were professional as is, so I never gave it much thought

His mention of oncology wasn't a comparison to L&D. Someone else mentioned that a man couldn't know about delivering a baby. He agreed but also stated that he'd never had cancer but was good at oncology, to note you don't have to experience what the patient is experiencing as a nurse to be good. Some female mom &  baby nurses have 0 personal birthing experience, so should they be excluded as well?

You also stated that a male nurse could be abusive or sexually motivated. A female can as well. It boils down to professionalism and motivation

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

kdkout said:

Oncology nursing is not the same as labor and delivery, though. You don't do recurrent vag exams and stare at a patients lady parts, potentially for hours, while you wait for the baby to come out.  

I've posed urinary catheters in countless numbers of women and never had a problem. I've posed pessaries and deep lady partsl ovules - no problem. I do ECGs on young women and access their port-a-caths where they'll usually have to bear their breasts. I've worked in units with breast surgery and gynaecology beds and NEVER had an issue in those areas. If you'll accept a male doctor examining you lady partslly and staring "down there" for hours, I don't see the difference in a nurse or a midwife.

If you came under my care and you were uncomfortable because I'm a man, of course I wouldn't force care on you. However I find that with the tact, sensitivity and professionalism I try to to give ALL of my patients, this just doesn't arise.

[Mikepez]

I am a new grad Labor and Delivery nurse. My unit took me in with open arms.  As long as you can carry yourself as a professional and stay calm during stressful situations, you can a an L & D nurse regardless of your gender.  

[toomuchbaloney]

Do you think it's a safety standard that was born in historical truths? There was a good bit of harm before there was any bit of legal harassment on the record, IMV.

[Fire Medic]

klone said:

Do you think it's a safety standard that was born in historical truths? There was a good bit of harm before there was any bit of legal harassment on the record, IMV.

Yes there has been, but we are punishing everyone because of the few bad. And now look at the news. Abuse is becoming much more common in females and mothers.

It's discrimination; judging solely based on gender.

I love working with kids. Always have. But I am usually treated differently because I am a guy. Even some policies in volunteer organizations have these differences written into them. I just find it frustrating. 

 

"Exact figures are difficult to obtain – this is a hugely underreported and under-recorded crime.", "These gendered stereotypes are harmful and silencing".

https://napac.org.uk/women-who-abuse/

There are tons of studies and articles in many countries, they are just harder to find.

[toomuchbaloney]

Fire Medic said:

Yes there has been, but we are punishing everyone because of the few bad. And now look at the news. Abuse is becoming much more common in females and mothers.

It's discrimination; judging solely based on gender.

I love working with kids. Always have. But I am usually treated differently because I am a guy. Even some policies in volunteer organizations have these differences written into them. I just find it frustrating. 

 

"Exact figures are difficult to obtain – this is a hugely underreported and under-recorded crime.", "These gendered stereotypes are harmful and silencing".

https://napac.org.uk/women-who-abuse/

There are tons of studies and articles in many countries, they are just harder to find.

Punishment?

I think we are experiencing consequences. 

[Apotheosis]

Wow actually sorry now I even asked, thanks for your input everyone 

[kdkout, BSN, RN]

Edie Brous said:

The question assumes I have no idea what happens in OB. I do understand what women go through in labor and I don't need you to paint a visual. I asked if the women saying they don't want male nurses have male OBs because what women go through in labor is not the only consideration.  I AM a nurse attorney and don't only think about the clinical issues here, but also the legal ones.  Men who are told their patients won't be comfortable so they can't work in certain areas can have a legitimate discrimination claim.  It would be easier to defend against that action if the patients also had female OBs.  While an all female nursing staff might be nice clinically, legally it can be problematic if being female is not considered a bona fide occupational qualification to be an OB nurse.  Male nurses with every qualification to work in OB but are not allowed to do so because of gender, are subject to gender stereotypes that male OBs are not.  It is a balancing act of patient satisfaction and a nurse's right to be free of workplace discrimination. The hospital would need to show a non-discriminatory reason for not letting him be assigned to OB.   It's not a new issue and is a good topic for discussion.  Here is a 2004 Law Review article on it if you are interested. https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/lawfaculty/302/

Those are great points and I appreciate the legal issues you brought up. 

Think we can all agree -

It's probably good that I am not in charge of hiring!

[EdieBrous, BSN, MSN]

Not a job I would want either!

[klone, MSN, RN]

As a former L&D nurse and OB nurse manager, I would not hesitate to hire a male nurse if he had the passion and qualifications. 

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

kdkout said:

I have done labor and delivery at three hospitals in the past. 

I would not feel comfortable with a male nurse, and no way would I feel comfortable with a male nurse for my dtr. No way, no how.

I had a male OB once, who I had worked with and knew well and grew to trust. Nurses change all the time. What you are doing is very intimate at a time when the patient feels very vulnerable, and some patients have also had sexual abuse trauma. (Which they are not always conscious of, but it becomes fairly certain during labor). 

Now, with the recent Roe v Wade decision, especially.... Please, I beg of you, find something else. 

There are times when you prefer the support of another woman, and this is one of them. 

I find this absolute rejection of male nurses in Ob to be a sexist and discriminatory one. You won't accept a male nurse, but you will accept a male MD to deliver. Hmmmm.