OCALA, Fla. — On the labor and delivery floor at AdventHealth Ocala, a popular nurse was surprised when a patient returned with her newborn to say hi. 

What You Need To Know

  • Bobby Bickler has spent the past five years as a critical care RN in Labor and Deliery. He is the only male nurse in the department

  • Only about 12 percent of nurses in the U.S. are male

  • Demand for Women’s Health care providers will surpass supply in the next four years, which is why AdventHealth has taken steps to find, train and retain the best professionals

  • On average, 175 babies are delivered each month at AdventHealth Ocala’s Baby Place. It’s a busy department alongside Women’s Health, which is expanding into a new Medical Office building on the campus in 2025

“You look great,” Bobby Bickler, critical care RN, said. “Look at you, look at this hair!”

Bickler rarely gets to spend time with patients after they leave labor and delivery, but Valeria Morales and her daughter Valentina came to visit and gave him a big hug.

“Oh, I couldn’t forget you, that is for sure,” he said, cooing to newborn little Valentina. 

Morales gave birth in May. Bicker was one of her OB nurses, and the only male nurse on the floor. 

At first, Morales admitted, “I really was a little bit nervous because I was like, ‘he’s not going to understand my pain. He’s not going to know that I’m, you know, going through something crazy right now.’”

But that was far from the case. Bickler turned out to be Morales’ most attentive nurse, biggest advocate and the one she said went above and beyond the job requirements. 

“I see my girls and just about every patient that I deal with. And I know what I would want for my girls,” said Bickler. 

He is married and a father of four daughters. He always thinks of how he would want people to treat his family as he delivers care. 

However, he did not always know working as a labor and delivery nurse would be his dream job. 

Prior to this, he did 25 years as a paramedic and then seven as an ER nurse. 

“As a paramedic, they don’t teach you much about OB. Just make sure mom’s not bleeding to death, make sure babies crying and get them to the hospital. But what I saw up here was much more than that. So I was certainly enamored, and they were more than welcoming,” said Bickler. 

Nationwide, only 12% of all nurses are men. Even less work in labor and delivery. 

“He made me feel important. He made me feel like I was his only patient, which I know he had more,” said Morales. 

Even with an unexpected C-section, she said her birthing experience was a good one, mainly because Bickler was caring for her.

Bickler hopes more men will consider working in labor and delivery, if it interests them. 

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a male, female, where you’re from, what language you speak,” said Bickler. “As long as you’re qualified, you know what you’re doing and you know you’re happy with what you’re doing, then go for it. Do it.”

Bickler said he was only turned away by a few patients while working labor and delivery for the past five years. Most cases were for religious reasons, or in some cases, patients just preferring a woman. 

He said it does not deter him at all, and wants each mother to have her best birthing experience.