working maternity

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2009

That's great to hear, man. Especially given all these different stories I hear about men in nursing being shunned out of OB.

PedsRN9999 · Sep 8, 2010

Excelent! I work Post-Partum often ( Not my home unit) and have had a good experience so far. The nurses have been very supportive and able to help me when the patient is unstable. I get to teach new parents what I know and what I have learned and continue learning and preparing myself by assisting to conferences (Breastfeeding, post-partum care and the AWHONN ) as often as possible so I can teach my patients better. I also acknoledge dads since often they get excluded ( Or slightly ignored since they are not the patients.) and they are actualy part of this process. How can we expect mom and baby to get help at home if we dont include fathers? Anyway I love maternity. Good luck to you. Would like to hear more about your experiences

UserG · Sep 16, 2010

I was raised by a Certified Nurse Midwife (large part of why I became a nurse) and working in her office and helping with deliveries before I could drive. Before starting nursing school, I had a long talk with my mom about wanting to be an OB nurse. She was so casual about it, I figured that is how nurses were about men in the specialty; sensitive to the feelings of the patients first, but we're all nurses at the end of the day.

NOTHING could be farther from the truth. In fact, if it wasn't for my OB rotation in school, I would have tried to be an OB nurse. 90% of the patients I talked to were cool with a male nursing student caring for them (so I switched with another student the other 10%). Actually, some of the patients were women I've known for years through mom's practice and one was a friend from high school!

But, it was the nurses' attitudes that convinced me me weren't welcome. I spent plenty of time sitting at the desk and studying because the nurse I would be assigned to would not have a guy touching "her" patient. Ditto each day. I complained and got switched to a new facility. Even worse. One day, another male nurse student and I weren't allowed out of the break room.

I'm glad to hear you are having a good time. How often do you do the postpartum shifts? Do you ever actually get into a delivery?

I'm truly jealous. I would give anything to do OB again. So long as I had a staff that didn't see my chromosomal deficiency (lacking a second X sex chromosome) as a permanent liability to the floor. I love OB, just not bigoted OB nurses.

PedsRN9999 · Sep 17, 2010

I work in the Post-Partum unit 3-4 times/month sometimes more depending on the needs of my home unit and Med-Surg. I have not had the opportunity to work in the delivery unit yet, I have been thinking about it for the last two year and ofcourse often I have had this fear of rejection then think about my experience in the Post-Partum unit wich has been good and makes me think that yes I can do this!

There is always somebody who will think that men dont belong in nursing even less in obstetrics. I agree with you the people with that mentality tend to be the older nurses who have been there many,many years. That problem is not abpout to change anytime soon, and yes at the end of the day we all are nurses. We need more men in obstetrics but the chances are slim since only 6% of the workforce are men and a very small % of that work with laboring/new moms.

Sorry to hear about your experience during your OB rotation. Have you looked into working obstetrics in a different hospital? Does you hospital have a policy stating that only women should work in Labor and Delivery?

I hope to hear from you.

Vikingkitten · Sep 20, 2010

One of my few claims to Fame is being the only Male L&D nurse for several years in the state I lived in. We did L&D, post partum, newborn nursery and (us surgery nurses) C-sections. I was doing surgeries with a couple (of then) Very progressive OB-Gyns, which drew patients from several states away, on occasion. It was suggested to me, that since I was doing OR with them, it was unfair I wasn't also L&D. Knowing that I'd never get this chance to work L&D ever again, and being up to another challenge, I jumped at it! The Docs let everyone in their practice know they had a Male L&D nurse in the hospital they practiced in. Only had 2 refusals: one was a Minister and his wife, the other some "Evangelist" couple. No biggie. There were articles in the paper/TV/radio/media etc. Anyway, Had a great time and learned lots of medicine in an area I never thought I'd see.

I would also like to echo some earlier comments: my OB-Gyn rotation during my BSN course was also a waste of time. I didn't get to see anything, do anything, and one of my Female classmates, who had about a quarter of my experience was allowed to test out of OB and I wasn't. Also, some of my "instructors" told the men in our class "there is no place in Nursing for Men", but never in public.

Anyway, It has been once-in-a-lifetime, and I wouldn't have missed it nor traded it!

Just my $.02

shiccy · Sep 21, 2010

Kudos to you guys that have had the chance/ability. I can't even begin to tell you how uncomfortable *I* would be in that role. I'm a firm believer that if you walk in with a smile on your face and you explain everything well then you'll be OK. In my mind I could NEVER explain well enough for what OB/Gyn RN's do. I can't imagine measuring effacement and thinning of the cervix and what-not. Would love to have it under my belt, but I think I'll stick to ICU and do that absolutely on a PRN basis!

I am also a person, however, that will always have another person in a room with me for things such as placements of foleys, etc in women. In my mind that is NOT a lawsuit I would want to even touch with a 10' pole.

labordude, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2010

I firmly believe men have a place in every specialty. If women can work in a male urology clinic, why not a man in OB? I would love the opportunity to work in L&D. I did actually get an interview once, but was not offered a position (had a friend that worked in the unit, the manager took a poll about hiring a male and when more than 50% said no, she didn't offer me a position). I currently do NICU and am certified as a lactation counselor. It is very rare that I have any kind of discrimination, with the exception of the scowls of some of the olde..ah hem..more experienced OB nurses. I love floating to the well-baby nursery and spend tons of time in the rooms with the moms and families.

I'm glad you have been well received and hope you continue to enjoy your experiences. It just bodes better for the future for the rest of us who want similar positions.

RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2010

As a South African trained RN and "midwife"/ accoucher (required for all RN's training in South Africa) , I was amazed when I came to the US that males barely ever work in the Maternity section of hospitals. While I chose to make my career speciality ICU, Trauma/ER and Flight nursing, I have to say I loved my midwifery training in South Africa , where RN's actually get to deliver most of the babies. I could have easily been persuaded back then to make my career one in Labor and Delivery (Labour ward) .

To me the fact that males are not even given the option , smacks of reverse sexism and career discrimination. But no one is going to challenge the status quo, so I guess it will be that way for a long time to come.

Some of the best and most caring "midwives" were male RN's. The female patients loved them.