hi everyone. i'm in my last semester of nursing school and am looking at what areas i would like to work. during my rotations i've always had a good time, except psych, and found all areas interesting. however, i had the absolute best time of them all during my ob rotation. i loved the atmosphere and working with the mother and newborn. surprisingly, being a male, i was well accepted with all of my patients as i cannot remember a time when i was asked not to be in the room. for my senior preceptorship i am going to be working in the nicu and am excited for that opportunity. the only opposition i have received is from instructors who seem to try and discourage me from working in l&d, an area i loved. even though it is a vulnerable time for them, patients seem to feel comfortable with me caring for them. i wanted to know what some of your experiences are with male ob nurses, especially on l&d. were they well received, good at their jobs, etc? also, would you say there aren't many because the department doesn't tend to hire them or because many men don't apply for those jobs? thanks for your help!
Anyhoo, I think like anything steeped in tradition, there is this pause of uncertainty. I know many women who aren't too keen on male MDs. Seriously, many of us that do have male gyn MDs actively work to build a sense of comfort and trust with our male gyn MDs that we won't just extend to the next pair of "hands" that comes into the room. I also know some male nurses who just couldn't wait to be done with OB rotation (was described, "that is not something a single guy wants to see", LOL:lol2:). Most important is the marketing side of things. As long as the majority of women want female OB nurses, hospitals will comply because the goal is $.
I work in a hospital that has only female L&D nurses - whether that is because no men have applied or that no men have been hired, I don't know (to be fair, they've hired ONE nurse in the 4+ years I've been there - very low turnover). However, my supervisor's husband is a nurse at a nearby hospital and works L&D/mother-baby. He loves it and his patients love him. According to my supervisor, often they'll ask for him if it's a return visit.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Our unit would hire you. We have had men in before and the patients loved them. When i had my daughter, the best nurse I had was male. He was gentle and considerate and extremely professional. SO GO FOR IT.
And to the person who said a nurse could not explain her menstrual cycle, I don't think that was necessary! We dont' need to knock one group of people to build up another. There is plenty of room at the table for us all. Off my soapbox now.
One concern that was raised when we discussed this recently at work, is that due to potential litigation, when a male healthcare professional is examining a female patient, a witness must be in the room. Wouldn't that get a bit inconvenient and cumbersome if a male RN needed another nurse with him every time he did a cervical exam or a fundal check?
Why is it not the same with a female examining a male though?
A male CNM delivered my daughter. He was wonderful. I would have seen him again with this pregnancy, but we both moved away from the hospital where he worked. Such is life in the military.
Our old nurse manager was a male L&D nurse. He loved his job. I agree that if L&D is your passion and it interests you, put in your application. Best of luck!
I have worked with some excellent OB nurses (and one midwife) who happened to be male. I think that for a man to overcome the resistance and preconceptions to work in OB he has to have a true dedication to this area of practice - therefore usually becoming a really good OB nurse.
I, too, work with a male CNM (which means at some point he was a male L & D nurse). Patients seem to love him. I can't recall any male nurses on mother/baby or L & D at present- but again, I don't know if that is b/c no male has applied?
If I were a male and wanted to be an L&D nurse, and if I were concerned with chaperoning the physicians/ midwives w/ vag exams/ checks, then I would contact the hospital's risk management department (the lawyers that represent the hospital and also handle potential risks, ect) and see what they say.
L & D and mother/baby are often very difficult areas to get into as a new grad- due in part to popularity and low turnover. I would suggest working as a tech in the area for your best chance while in school (if you can). But, I seriously do not think that a manager could deny you a job b/c you are male.
Best of luck. (NICU is awesome too-- and i know lots of male NICU nurses).
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netglow, ASN, RN
4,412 Posts
Well there will be no successful lawsuit, Dude.
Anyhoo, I think like anything steeped in tradition, there is this pause of uncertainty. I know many women who aren't too keen on male MDs. Seriously, many of us that do have male gyn MDs actively work to build a sense of comfort and trust with our male gyn MDs that we won't just extend to the next pair of "hands" that comes into the room. I also know some male nurses who just couldn't wait to be done with OB rotation (was described, "that is not something a single guy wants to see", LOL:lol2:). Most important is the marketing side of things. As long as the majority of women want female OB nurses, hospitals will comply because the goal is $.