Emergency contraception in the ER

cmggriff · Jan 19, 2002

So I guess you won't be using the Norplant blowgun? Gary

ERNurse752, RN · Jan 20, 2002

The only people I can think of who would be eligible to receive emergency contraception are the sexual assault victims. In my ER, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are the nurses who see these patients and write/carry out all orders for them...so if your hospital has a similar setup, you would not be required to give it.

fergus51 · Jan 20, 2002

Ou ER doesn't even carry it. Even sexual assault victims who want the morning after pill have to go to the pharmacy themselves.

Nittlebug · Jan 21, 2002

Squirrel, if you don't believe in contraception you should just work for a Catholic Institution and don't train to be a SANE nurse. Or don't be a nurse at all if you want to impose your religious beliefs on every patient that comes in the door. ER patients are often less than the christian ideal of moral. You might not be at peace with yourself having to work around them constantly.

cmggriff, Where can we get that Norplant Blowgun???? And what is the range on that thing? does it come with a scope ? with nightvision??? :rolleyes:

cmggriff · Jan 21, 2002

Norplant blowgun, wt - 14 oz empty, 18 oz fully loaded. Has an effective range of 3 to 21 feet depending on lungs of bearer. Safety atomatically engages once target passes tha doors of the ER. With practice an experienced RN can fire at a rate of 6 shots per minute. It is also available in a semi-auto version. Some assembly and training required. Cannot be shipped to Ca. Soon to be available with Depo. Gary

Nittlebug · Jan 21, 2002

Gary - I work nights so I really need night vision goggles or something so I can hit 'em from the parking lot.

Squirrel - I am a SANE nurse and so I give Ovral to prevent pregnancy in a patient who alledges sexual assault. We do not provide that medication other patients even though we have it. We are a Catholic institution and are allowed to give it based on the theology of Double Effect which assumes ovulation has not taken place. I doubt that whole theory is going to change anyones minds. It's the Nuns way of justifying birth control which we all know the Catholic church does not approve of yet. I think it's a load of hippocritical crap myself. I give it because I would rather not see these (mostly college age kids) get pregnant because they had a few drinks and made the biggest mistake of their lives.

If it's just a matter of handing the person the birth control I think you could find another nurse on the unit to do that little task hopefully without too much resentment.

Squirrel · Jan 22, 2002

Thank you for your replies!

Nittlebug: Thank you for providing your point of view. The biggest problem I have with the morning after pill is that if ovulation had already occured, then there is a chance of fertilization and creation of a zygote. I am one who believes that life begins at conception, so if conception had occured prior to taking the pill the effect would be to prevent implantation of the fertilized egg (which I believe is a living human being).

The way I see it, by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg, the morning after pill causes an abortion. The birth control pill works the same way by either preventing ovulation or preventing implantation if fertilization occured. I am not sure about Norplant, but I think it works by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg and if so, to me is the same as an abortion.

I understand that this is a very polarizing issue, and I am not trying to generate heated debates concerning differences of opinion. I am just explaining to you some of my objections to this practice. I agree with you that it is tragic when somebody has been sexually assulted regardless of the setting (date rape or in an alley), and that they need a great deal of support. Not only the emotional impact, but the physical pain and fear of STDs and pregnancy.

If a child is conceived during this violent attack, I believe it is a victim also and think it would be even more tragic of an event if it was not given a chance to live. And yes, I do understand this is asking alot of someone who was sexually assulted especially since the entire pregnancy will be a reminder of the horrific violent act, and that this person will need tremendous support.

Regarding the Catholic Church and birth control, if you read the encyclical Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI, you will find the church's explanation on the consequences of birth control and see that it is not hippocritical at all. I am not trying to impose my religious beliefs on you or anyone, I am just trying to explain that the church has practical reasons for not permitting birth control and not permitting sex outside of marriage. Many people including Catholics do not understand the church's teaching on this topic, and think the church is being very restrictive and out-dated on this teaching, but this encyclical is very instructive.

Again, I am not trying to stir up heated debates or impose my religion on anyone, but when I express my view on this topic I usually get responses that seem to assume that I am closed minded, a religious freak, and not compassionate to others. I am just trying to explain my point of view on this subject and why I believe what I do.

Thank you all!

cmggriff · Jan 22, 2002

Nittlebug,

Scope and NVG sold separately. Keep the faith.

Squirrel, we will agree to diagree on the whole soul and religion thing. You are entitled to your world view just like the rest of us.

But if you work the ER long you may also want to become part of the "Thanks you for not breeding" network. Gary

gvar · Jan 31, 2002

Squirrel:

No problem with your choices, however, deciding for all sexually assaulted women who concieve that they have to carry the pregnancy is like playing god. That is not your decision and they are the onces who have to live with which ever decision they make. Give them medical care and emotional support but it is still there decision.

MollyJ · Jan 31, 2002

Serious subject and I think you would do well to let your supervisor to be know your stance. Saddest thing I ever saw was a mom who wanted emergency contraception for her daughter who had been raped; doc said, "If you don't 'want' to get pregnant, you shouldn't have sex." I wanted to hit him. Rape is enough of a lifestyle crisis without health care providers turning it into an ethical arena where they hold all the cards.

RE; the blow gun: can you get them by the case, with attachments?

semstr · Jan 31, 2002

A few years ago I volunteered in a refugeecamp one day a week.

This was during the Balkanwar. A lot of women were raped and assaulted, on both sides.

These were mostly moslem women though, very religious and normally not into abortion or preventing pregnancy.

Normally I am not the one to say, ok let's do an abortion, cause you didn't take precautions. No!

But after my experiences in that camp, with these battered women, I was glad to help in th OR and assist the doctors!!

Never did that before, though working in the OR, I always refused to instrument the abortions.

But this was something entirely different!!

Refusing a woman help, in the way of morning after pills or abortion, after a rape, is as bad as it can get!! Not human at all!!

Take care, Renee