Anti Vaxxer I Knew Became A Nurse

[RitzyCinnamonRoll]

A vapid person too.

This shouldn't be a thing.

American society is such a joke.

[londonflo]

heron said:

Back at the beginning of the pandemic, before the vaccine became available, our only option for protecting our residents was testing, masking, limiting visitation, and keeping symptomatic and covid+ staff at home. We remained Covid-free for a full year. ONE staff member returned from her vacation, came back to work already sick, and was observed doing patient care sans mask. Within a month, more than half our residents were dead. Most of our bedside staff were sick. We had one CNA left to work night shifts and two licensed nurses left to cover everything.

I found this very moving.  It was, I am sure, very traumatic to you. I appreciate how you and your co-workers/administration created a safe environment  for your residents for a full year. Wish it could have been longer...since health care is supposed to preserve and ensure the quality of life until the natural end. 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

dsaprog said:

One of my professors in nursing school was anti-vax and participated in a protest against the university's policy to require she be vaccinated. She was in the local news saying she didn't believe the COVID19 vaccine is safe, that it's against her religion, and that it has not been tested for us to be able to know its long term effects. Last I checked she still works there so I am assuming they waived the requirement for her or she finally got vaccinated to keep her job.

It just shows how desperate the school is for instructors.  I don't know that a mandate should apply to those who teach but she certainly was against it for BS reasons and isn't intellectually honest.  However, requiring a vaccine for nursing staff in 2020 was not unjust.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Kanani said:

So are you saying people's personal belief disqualifies them from being a good nurse? When did nurses become like this? I have many coworkers who didn't get the COVID vaccine. That doesn't make them anti vaxxers or bad nurses. Their personal vax status I could give two F's about. Either you do your job well with the patients or you don't. I'm very disappointed in how hateful and despicable nurses have become. 

Yes,  Some people's personal beliefs do not jibe with safety or ethics.  It's a different time in the pandemic now but refusing to be vaccined as a hospital nurse in 2020 was a dereliction of duty and deserving of firing.  Only people who had no contact with patients or anyone who took care of patients should have been relieved from the vaccine requirement.  If a nurse can't trust science they shouldn't be a nurse.  If they can't trust science because they don't know how to read studies, they shouldn't be a nurse.  I don't think it's hateful for me to say this.  I was in it for the patients, not as a vehicle to express my own personal beliefs.

[mtmkjr, BSN]

ponderingDNP said:

The problem I have with vaccines is the hypocrisy of healthcare organizations against its staff. I can present to the ER and be admitted (thank God for excellent health so I don't have to) for whatever reason and they will respect my rights to refuse vaccination all day everyday.

But let me be discharged home, don my scrubs, and return to the same hospital and it's "get this shot or get another job". Strong-arming because of the clothes we wear on a given day. This was my take on it
when only  flu vaccines were mandated  

That being said, I've had four COVID vaccinations and the annual flu shot. But the 'rights' thing is not right no matter how you slice it. 

Could I suggest that it's not hypocrisy at all. The hospital has an interest in staff being vaccinated in order to protect patients, reduce liability, preserve staff/maintain adequate staffing and probably more reasons.

On the other hand, while they WANT all patients to be vaccinated in order to reduce exposure to their staff and protect other patients, they can't require that for obvious reasons.

Think of it this way - In your own home you can make rules but recognize that you can't demand everyone who steps in your house follows them. 

[heron, ASN, RN]

londonflo said:

I found this very moving.  It was, I am sure, very traumatic to you. I appreciate how you and your co-workers/administration created a safe environment  for your residents for a full year. Wish it could have been longer...since health care is supposed to preserve and ensure the quality of life until the natural end. 

Traumatic, yes, but nowhere near what acute care staff went through. None of our staff died, for one thing.

The whole anti-vax thing grew out of the vaccines-cause-autism mess, long proven to be a scam (the originator lost his medical license). It's a logic-free fairy tale. I have no patience with the people who use it as justification for harming, even killing, other people.

If you don't believe in the science, don't work in healthcare. You are entitled to your beliefs, but not to forcing others to live - or die - by them.