Can nurses refuse to perform/assist circumcisions and abortions?

[crunchymama91]

Do not want this to turn into a heated debate I just plan on becoming an LVN and was wondering if I can refuse to perform these or even assist them. I live in California would this be a problem as an LVN?

thank you and happy holidays

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

In majority places, the doctors perform abortions and the medical assistants assist them if general anesthesia is performed, if the pt goes under anesthesia, IDK if a nurse assists with that or not.

Not to be negative but if you have problems with performing those duties, then why work at a place where abortions are performed?????

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

It depends on your area; most LPNs/LVNs are not in acute areas or assisting in those areas-at least in my area; any nurse who will be assisting with an abortion has surgical and/or OB/Maternity experience, not a new grad, and chances are they are an RN (BSN preferred.)

[crunchymama91]

i just would like to be a nurse, i think i would be able to deal with the abortions, but i just wont be able to get over the circumcision thing. just hoping this would not be a problem.[h=1][/h]

[crunchymama91]

if you are an RN can you still refuse ?

[loriangel14, RN]

Not likely but you could solve that by not working some where that it would be an issue.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Not likely but you could solve that by not working some where that it would be an issue.

Pretty much this...

Are you interested in becoming a Women's health/OB nurse?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Check with any employers as to whether they allow nurses to opt out of procedures for religious/ethical/moral/personal reasons. Some may, some may not. Others may have exceptions, such as emergency situations where no one else is available and care must be rendered to prevent loss of life/limb. The best way to ensure you would not have to participate in care you disagree with is to avoid areas where that care is given, in your examples, maternity and women's health.

[fetch, BSN, RN]

i just would like to be a nurse, i think i would be able to deal with the abortions, but i just wont be able to get over the circumcision thing. just hoping this would not be a problem.

As an RN nursing student I observed circumcisions, but they were performed by doctors, even calming them down and performing the aftercare. It was made clear that this is the norm for our area and I was observing just to observe, I would never be expected as an RN to perform one.

You could speak with an L&D nurse in your area, or your nursing instructors.

[Compassion_x]

When I had OB clinicals the nurse assisted with circumcisions. Mostly helping prep and calming he baby, checking for bleeding after, etc. minor things.

[Graduation2016]

At my hospital nurses don't assist the OB/GYN in the procedure, the tech does. The RN is only there briefly just to do a time out.

[ready4nu]

I assisted (as a student) on a circumcision just a few weeks ago. It consisted of holding the pacifier in the mouth and squeezing some vaseline on the doctors fingers :) Beforehand somethig (forget what...) was put on the member to numb it. Afterward was look for bleeding and wait for a wet diaper. It wasn't bad. I thought the baby would scream bloody murder, but they really only cry for a minute. One fell asleep during the procedure :)