Jehovah's Witness nurses in the critical care unit?

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Hello

This is my first time posting a thread. I was just wondering if anyone is or knows of a Jehovah's Witness nurse who works in a critical care unit. Also if you dont mind can you tell me at which hospital? The reason I am asking is that I am also one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I just passed my NCLEX. Yay :yeah: I really want to work in the critical care unit, specifically the CCU. However, when I explained to the supervisor of the ICU/CCU about the issue with the blood transfusion, she said she couldnt hire me on to the critical care unit. Yes, this hospital is offering critical care positions to new grads. I was really devastated because i wanted to really work in the CCU. :crying2: So I was wondering if it's the same for other hospitals. I explained to the supervisor that I am willing to care for the patient who is receiving the blood transfusion, but that I would need a second nurse(most likely the nurse who would be verifying the blood with me) to spike the blood and press the start button. I do understand why the critical care environment may not want to have a nurse who cannot initiate the blood transfusion. So I was just wondering if I do not have a chance at all in a critical care unit. For now I am orienting in the med-surg floor and I still have lingering feelings for the critical care unit. :sniff:

Thank You

Actually, not all (and probably most) medical personnel do not believe in saving alll patients at all costs. Sometimes, what is best for the patient (and their right to chose) is to let them pass on- that's what living wills, advanced directives, and DNRs help accomplish- meeting the patient's wishes. Also, please don't stereotype all nurses who follow a particular religion. There are actually some JW who will hang blood- it is the patient's choice to make, and that is how they view it.

This was just an example. I mean, IF the doctor or nurse believes that they, for example, have to use a blood product to save a JW (or their child), the JWs expect the medical personell to not mix work with beliefs. And when the situation is reverse, they expect the opposite. This in turn is also only an example, because individual JWs may decide differently. I'm just describing the general mindset among this (and similar) religion(s) based on what I learned during my upbringing and 10 year service in one fundamentalist neo-christian group.

The bottom line, this is dangerous territory and people in the medical sector need to be aware. For example, the Watchtower Society (the legal corporation that the JWs follow) has teached and promoted physical intervention in the hospital as a last resort measure to dodge a blood transfusion to a relative (possibly child):

"When there is a crisis, elders may consider it advisable to arrange a 24-hour watch at the hospital, preferably by an elder with the patient's parent or another close family member. Blood transfusions often are given when all relatives and friends have gone home for the night. ... Anticipating and Dealing With Court Involvement: What if a doctor or a hospital intends to get a court order to transfuse your child? Is this the time to quit, assuming that there is nothing more that can be done? By no means! It may still be possible to avert a transfusion. Preparation for such a possibility should be made ahead of time. What can be done?" - Our Kingdom Ministry, September 1992, p. 3-4.

A supervisor may for example, unaware of how radical the beliefs are, hire a JW nurse, thinking that though they generally do not hang blood, will do so when it becomes a life or death matter. Which could lead to a fatal error, because this assumption may prove wrong.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
This was just an example. I mean, IF the doctor or nurse believes that they, for example, have to use a blood product to save a JW (or their child), the JWs expect the medical personell to not mix work with beliefs. And when the situation is reverse, they expect the opposite. This in turn is also only an example, because individual JWs may decide differently. I'm just describing the general mindset among this (and similar) religion(s) based on what I learned during my upbringing and 10 year service in one fundamentalist neo-christian group.

The bottom line, this is dangerous territory and people in the medical sector need to be aware. For example, the Watchtower Society (the legal corporation that the JWs follow) has teached and promoted physical intervention in the hospital as a last resort measure to dodge a blood transfusion to a relative (possibly child):

"When there is a crisis, elders may consider it advisable to arrange a 24-hour watch at the hospital, preferably by an elder with the patient's parent or another close family member. Blood transfusions often are given when all relatives and friends have gone home for the night. ... Anticipating and Dealing With Court Involvement: What if a doctor or a hospital intends to get a court order to transfuse your child? Is this the time to quit, assuming that there is nothing more that can be done? By no means! It may still be possible to avert a transfusion. Preparation for such a possibility should be made ahead of time. What can be done?" - Our Kingdom Ministry, September 1992, p. 3-4.

A supervisor may for example, unaware of how radical the beliefs are, hire a JW nurse, thinking that though they generally do not hang blood, will do so when it becomes a life or death matter. Which could lead to a fatal error, because this assumption may prove wrong.

I have worked with many JW nurses and a handful with those of the Muslim faith...they do not bring their faith to the bedside....they are professionals.

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Absolutely true, the published teachings of a religious organization are one thing and the actual deeds of someone who professes to follow them are another and may vary. Unfortunately, there is no clear cut formula to determine how "deeply in" some individual is, so all we can do is raise the awareness. An interviewer has to determine if he/she can hire someone, but ideally, the interviewer should also be familiar with the groups published doctrine, so he/she can ask the right questions and make an educated/weighted decision.

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I'll be right there with you. To the topic.. It makes no sense for someone who will encounter things they are not comfortable with doing to work in an environment they KNOW they will encounter it. It's like a right to life nurse working in an abortion clinic..

This is exactly what I was thinking. OP, I do hope you find an area of nursing that you enjoy that also allows you to follow your religious beliefs. It doesn't make you a bad person or an uncaring nurse, it just means you aren't an ideal fit for the floor you were applying to.

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This is a really old thread. I wonder what ended up happening

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Specializes in CVICU.

I was a JW growing up, and stopped going when I was 18. I was VERY involved in the religion.

I once decided I was going to go to college and received a visit, shortly after I told other members about my decision, by an "elder" of the congregation. He stating I would seeking "worldly possessions" if I pursued and it was advised I not pursue college.

Fast forward to present day….they all state it is acceptable to go to college.

The religion has changed their views tremulously of the years, shoot the end of the world has had several dates set by the organization, all come and gone.

Each member or region tends to interrupt the meaning of their beliefs based on convenience.

But I was only a third generation JW….and I am sure many will try to discredit my first hand experience.

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I went to school with two JW's and they were saying that they can give blood. As long as they're not receiving the transfusion.

I always thought that was weird (God says I cant receive blood but I can give it out).

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We had a JW patient who's hemoglobin was like 5.6. He was also the whitest black guy Ive ever seen.

:eek:

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I was a JW growing up, and stopped going when I was 18. I was VERY involved in the religion.

I once decided I was going to go to college and received a visit, shortly after I told other members about my decision, by an "elder" of the congregation. He stating I would seeking "worldly possessions" if I pursued and it was advised I not pursue college.

Fast forward to present day….they all state it is acceptable to go to college.

The religion has changed their views tremulously of the years, shoot the end of the world has had several dates set by the organization, all come and gone.

Each member or region tends to interrupt the meaning of their beliefs based on convenience.

But I was only a third generation JW….and I am sure many will try to discredit my first hand experience.

I have to say that I think that attitude is also slightly dependent on the congregation itself. I too grew up a JW and I was never discouraged to not pursue college, just to ensure my priorities were straight and that I didn't sacrifice being a witness for college. Some elders in some congregations are more prone to try to enforce their own personal views/biases than others. Human nature.

And I'm pretty sure that in regards to hanging blood it's not the religion itself, it's likely left up to the individuals conscious, hence why some are OK with it and some are not. Just like (at least when I was still active ) there was a difference between receiving whole blood and receiving only parts of blood. Again the latter was left to the individual to decide.

and I'm pretty sure the end of the world was only forecasted once or twice, and a specific date has not been forecasted in the last 75 years at LEAST

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Although, coincidentally, I did sacrifice my time practicing for college and working, but I think college was just an excuse for a distancing I was doing on my own

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Specializes in CVICU.
I have to say that I think that attitude is also slightly dependent on the congregation itself. I too grew up a JW and I was never discouraged to not pursue college, just to ensure my priorities were straight and that I didn't sacrifice being a witness for college. Some elders in some congregations are more prone to try to enforce their own personal views/biases than others. Human nature.

And I'm pretty sure that in regards to hanging blood it's not the religion itself, it's likely left up to the individuals conscious, hence why some are OK with it and some are not. Just like (at least when I was still active ) there was a difference between receiving whole blood and receiving only parts of blood. Again the latter was left to the individual to decide.

and I'm pretty sure the end of the world was only forecasted once or twice, and a specific date has not been forecasted in the last 75 years at LEAST

My family was encouraged to home school me due the bad influences of school in the worldly population. Which my parents listen to, resulting in be becoming a high school drop that never completed the 9th grade. Five years ago I started college and now achieved my BSN, but anyone that has been in the religion for 3 generations knows many members play down the influence of the congregation.

My life has been greatly blessed since cutting all ties for the JW. I been with my wife for over 21 years, whom is my best friend. Growing up I never thought I could be as happy as I am now.

"Armageddon" was predicted in 1914, 1925, and 1976. After 1976 they decided to stop quoting specific years/dates….surely because if it's not documented it didn't happen ;-)

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Specializes in hospice.
My family was encouraged to home school me due the bad influences of school in the worldly population. Which my parents listen to, resulting in be becoming a high school drop that never completed the 9th grade.

I'd like to point out that this is a parenting problem, not a homeschooling problem. There are homeschoolers successfully pursuing degrees in colleges and universities all over this country and there have been for a couple decades.

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