Refusing to do a surgery?

Specialties Operating Room

Published

I am just curious about something...when I worked as a patient technician in OR/PACU, I remember sitting around chit chatting with some of the nurses and one nurse was talking about the worst surgery she had ever been on was a D&C for an ectopic pregnancy and the procedure therafter. She said after that surgery, she would never ever agree to scrub in on one of those ever again. I know that in the case of that patient, it was life or death and there was no choice...but it got me thinking...what if it was an elective procedure to terminate a pregnancy? I don't think I would be able to be a part of that. One way I am going to try and make sure I don't have to be put in that situation would be to get on with a Catholic hospital or Baptist hospital...but I am wondering, when it comes to something like that does an OR nurse really have a choice?

BTW, I'm not a nurse yet but my interests lie in OR. I'm not a 'bible thumper' and I am not even a role-model Christian...but something like that, I wouldn't be able to handle.

Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I know this will probably inflame some people but I'm going to say it anyway.

It's not about you, it's about the patient. If you can't put aside your personal beliefs and judgements then you probably shouldn't be working in areas where terminations of pregnancy are performed. What if every nurse on that shift refused to assist, do you send the patient home to be rescheduled?

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Lets be clear-elective are choice procedures. Emergencies are a different story.

Specializes in med-surg, OR.

I recently experienced being in a room for an elective D & E (for medical reasons), ethics aside it was hard for all the nurses, even the experienced. Even harder when you have recently come back from mat leave. We were their for the patient, we did our job. I can't imagine how hard it must be for the mother to make that choice. It leaves a sense of lingering sadness for everyone in the room, nobody likes these procedures....

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

It is hard for everyone.

Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

i just put my personal feelings aside and look at it as any other patient. do you think it is any easier to try to save a life of a drunk driving scumbag who just killed a family of 4? no, it isnt. But we have to do it anyway. its part of the job.

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Yes that's hard too, I know too well.

+ Add a Comment