staff note:please, answer the op's questions about how to provide proper care for patients following the loss of a pregnancy (for whatever reason) and the other things she wanted to know. do not post about the inadequacy of her instructor/program in this thread. do not turn this into a thread about the morality or immorality of abortion. thank you.
i don't wish to start a flame war, but i have some honest questions.
i am just weeks from graduation from a public college, to become a rn. my program director admits to keeping anything remotely relating to abortion completely off-limits. her values are very conservative, so the curriculum seems to reflect it (birth control was also left out). the textbooks they chose don't mention the nurse's role when a pregnancy ends without a live birth. when i did maternity/peds rotation, it was never mentioned. as we got to the part about molar pregnancies and eclampsia, all i was told was that the "resolve the pregnancy". i still know nothing about it, other than it makes some people angry enough to picket planned parenthood and it saves the lives of other people. the internet is even worse -- everyone shouting at each other and very little medical-focused info.
nursing care: i am guessing it might be to monitor for hemorrhage and infection. but there has got to be more to it than that? is care any different depending on trimester? on miscarriage ("natural") vs pharmaceutical vs surgical terminations?
if conditions are incompatible with life later in the pregnancy, is it considered an "abortion" to use surgical intervention to remove an already deceased fetus?
do nurses get training in how to handle the psych aspect for a post-abortion patient? not all women who have abortions want to terminate. is a psych or post-partum type screening typical done?
do nurses interested in a obgyn/reproductive health type specialty get any additional education? or do you just pick it up on the job as you go? and can you ask colleagues about it and be sure to get an accurate answer? or is talk relating to it greatly discouraged in the workplace, too?
does anyone here regularly give nursing care to women following pregnancy termination (intentional or miscarriage)? forgive what might be a naive question: but if you work in a clinic setting, is it true you have to be scared of terrorists and harassment? or has television really exaggerated that?
what is the nurse's role as patient advocate, when a dr's personal/religious beliefs cause permanent harm to a patient? eg. when a mother's life is in danger and a provider doesn't want to consider terminating the pregnancy or doesn't want to treat a recent post-termination pt who is having a complication.
thanks for giving me your professional advice, as i graduate and head into practice. i apologize in advance if i've offended anyone by asking about this topic. i know how strongly some people belief for/against this issue, and i do respect everyone's' beliefs on this issue. i just need some factual information. thank you.
the internet is even worse -- everyone shouting at each other and very little medical-focused info.