by Ekstasis

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post this.

I am in the first semester of LVN school in Texas but I am originally from N. California. I always feel like I am the outsider because I don't believe in a lot of the ideas of western medicine aka get antibiotics from your doctor when you have a cold. I am also against circumcision, the CDC' mandated schedule for vaccinations (I believe in delayed), very pro-breastfeeding and I hate all the cop-outs "my baby was ALLERGIC to my milk."

I am so tired of all the ignorant statements people make whenever I throw out a minor attempt to educate people in my beliefs they just seem to not get it and don't make an attempt to educate themselves outside of the box.

My teacher has made homophobic remakrs, comments about HIV/AIDS and just about every offensive/controversial topic. I am obviously respectful to my teacher and classmates but I just feel so alone in my beliefs and always feel like I am on the outside looking in because I just don't understand the ignorance and unwillingness to think for themselves. "My friends doctor recommened she have her voicebox taken out because she has thyroid cancer just as a "precaution", Oh my doctor told me to feed my baby cereal at 6 weeks. Blah blah blah...

I ultimately want to work for Planned Parenthood, or a DO's office or some sort of alternative medicine/healing office as an RN and/or possibly I will go on to be a NP. Any suggestions on how to "fit in" in a world that still believes that anything outside of the "norm" is wrong?

Thanks,

Ekstasis

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Walk your own path and don't waste energy with those on another path.

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Originally Posted by zenman

Walk your own path and don't waste energy with those on another path.

Exactly. Never mind the others, I assure you that their ignorance will astound you by the time you're finished school.

Oh, and they're not "hippie" beliefs, they're your beliefs. Stand up for them when necessary.

Welcome to Texas. I assure you we're not all as narrow minded as the people you describe. Oh, and welcome to Allnurses!!!

vamedic4

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Some babies don't take milk, my baby had to be on soy because even though I ate healthy, breast milk made him constipated. Your first priority is your pt and you are going to have to accept what they say and seperate your beliefs from theirs.
As far as antibiotics for a common cold that is wrong and is why many people are resistant to antibiotics and why there is a huge outbreak of MRSA so that is not your seperate belief. Anything for an antibiotic should be cultured to make sure the antibiotic is effective for the organism they are trying to rid.
Do your thing at school and just make sure your pt is your highest priority. A homophobic nursing instructor gets no respect from me and if you become this way this is not the field from you. Remember all your standard, contact, airborne etc. precautions. Good luck to you.

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Thanks. You all had a bit of a different response but maybe I do need to realize a bit more that the area I am in has more conservative beliefs than I am accustomed to and in the future my patients beliefs should be priority.
It's hard to always feel like you are on the outside looking in when no one else agrees with your beliefs and it's frustrating hearing the teacher breed what I consider ignorance and/or a one-sided view. :O)

Thanks,

Ekstasis

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Originally Posted by Ekstasis

Thanks. You all had a bit of a different response but maybe I do need to realize a bit more that the area I am in has more conservative beliefs than I am accustomed to and in the future my patients beliefs should be priority.


Ekstasis

I would guess you're not in Austin.

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

Originally Posted by Ekstasis

Thanks. You all had a bit of a different response but maybe I do need to realize a bit more that the area I am in has more conservative beliefs than I am accustomed to and in the future my patients beliefs should be priority.
It's hard to always feel like you are on the outside looking in when no one else agrees with your beliefs and it's frustrating hearing the teacher breed what I consider ignorance and/or a one-sided view. :O)

Thanks,

Ekstasis

you're not alone. trust me

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

I don't know if you're attending a public school, but many schools have anti-discrimination policies. A teacher that makes homophobic statements in class is probably violating that policy. At the very least, you should mention it in the end-of-semester evaluation.

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

I know exactly how you feel. I live in the midwest (where I was born), but lived in Seattle for five years and just loved it there. Here I jokingly refer to myself as "raisin rye in the land of white bread." I gravitate towards people who share my beliefs, but also know that I am a minority here. I try to be a patient advocate first, keeping my beliefs to myself unless it is clearly appropriate to discuss them. I am this way with coworkers, too, not just patients. I walk my own path, as a previous poster stated. Do what you need to do to feed yourself, but live in the larger world. You can do so much good with your openness to alternatives. Keep the faith!

Re: Alone in my "hippie" beliefs in Texas at Nursing School.

You are not alone. I am very different as well. I hate antibiotics and most RX medications for the most part. I am on my journey to another path in Nursing. If you are interested in finding out what I am doing, you can email me at herbalnurse919@msn.com
Joyce Harrell