Can you be pro-life and an OB/GYN nurse at the same time?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I think the subject line sums it up...

karenAR the problem is that most instructors tend to be liberal, even at the private baptist program i went to. I remember one instructor in particular (my peds instructor and community health) that felt the need to indoctrinate all students to her thinking. me and her clashed heads more than once Iused to pick prolife topics to write on just to get under her skin. i eventually had to report her to the dean to stop her obsesive behavior.

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I worried about the same thing before I got my first job. It wasn't talked about all that much at school, and when I interviewed it wasn't mentioned, but the director said that I would "help cover the acute side" which is women's surgeries. I guess I thought about it after I went home because I'm pro-life, and I didn't know a great way to call back and ask, and to me it was important enough that I wouldn't have taken the job if I was expected to help. I believe, as several others have mentioned, I wouldn't want to participate in the procedure, but I would have no problem caring for the patient otherwise. I finally worked up the nerve to ask a nurse from there...she felt as I do, and no, they don't do abortions there. Whew.

Most, if not all of the L&D nurses that I work with now are pro-life, and it was the same at my last hospital. You'll be fine!

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I worried about the same thing before I got my first job. It wasn't talked about all that much at school, and when I interviewed it wasn't mentioned, but the director said that I would "help cover the acute side" which is women's surgeries. I guess I thought about it after I went home because I'm pro-life, and I didn't know a great way to call back and ask, and to me it was important enough that I wouldn't have taken the job if I was expected to help. I believe, as several others have mentioned, I wouldn't want to participate in the procedure, but I would have no problem caring for the patient otherwise. I finally worked up the nerve to ask a nurse from there...she felt as I do, and no, they don't do abortions there. Whew.

Most, if not all of the L&D nurses that I work with now are pro-life, and it was the same at my last hospital. You'll be fine!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I guess we have options.....We can pick and choose where we work. At One of the places I work (Catholic hospital) abortions are not performed. (I am PRO CHOICE by the way, just to make things clear). But I believe you can uphold your standards and still practice OB/GYN nursing. ALL the surgeries are gynecological, including hysts, bladder repairs, etc, not AB's, where I work. I have never seen an AB come through in the NON Catholic hospital I work, either. I know in tertiary hospitals, there are terminations due to poor prenatal outcomes and such. I just have never worked at one. I am not saying I personally would not, but it is a choice I can make either way.

This is what I believe: You don't have to APPROVE the choices people make (like doing drugs while pregnant) but can refrain from making judgements that affect the care you provide. Besides abortion, are there not a HOST Of things that our patients/client can do that are offensive to our sensibilities or against our religious practices and beliefs? I know I have seen it. It is indeed challenging. But I do NOT let it affect my judgement and how I care for them. I think you need to separate this. You care for the PERSON not the DEEDS they do. Anyhow that is what I believe; I will refrain from a prolife-v-prochoice fight here...always have.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I guess we have options.....We can pick and choose where we work. At One of the places I work (Catholic hospital) abortions are not performed. (I am PRO CHOICE by the way, just to make things clear). But I believe you can uphold your standards and still practice OB/GYN nursing. ALL the surgeries are gynecological, including hysts, bladder repairs, etc, not AB's, where I work. I have never seen an AB come through in the NON Catholic hospital I work, either. I know in tertiary hospitals, there are terminations due to poor prenatal outcomes and such. I just have never worked at one. I am not saying I personally would not, but it is a choice I can make either way.

This is what I believe: You don't have to APPROVE the choices people make (like doing drugs while pregnant) but can refrain from making judgements that affect the care you provide. Besides abortion, are there not a HOST Of things that our patients/client can do that are offensive to our sensibilities or against our religious practices and beliefs? I know I have seen it. It is indeed challenging. But I do NOT let it affect my judgement and how I care for them. I think you need to separate this. You care for the PERSON not the DEEDS they do. Anyhow that is what I believe; I will refrain from a prolife-v-prochoice fight here...always have.

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I agree with you on that! Their choices are just that, their choices, and I would not treat my patients any differently in the care that I give them regardless of their choices. I won't participate in the actual abortion procedure itself, just as I wouldn't participate in the host of other stuff, such as "doing drugs" that you mentioned either. I have cared for many addicted mothers and treated them with respect as well.

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I agree with you on that! Their choices are just that, their choices, and I would not treat my patients any differently in the care that I give them regardless of their choices. I won't participate in the actual abortion procedure itself, just as I wouldn't participate in the host of other stuff, such as "doing drugs" that you mentioned either. I have cared for many addicted mothers and treated them with respect as well.

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Thank you all. I think your thoughts were just what I needed to hear. I just needed to know that I would not necessarily have to choose between my beliefs and what I think may be my calling.

I absolutely do want to care for all the patients no matter their choices or circumstances, and I totally agree with you about caring for the person and not the deeds. I just don't want to get into a situation where I'm forced to participate in the actual procedure, or where I'm an outcast among my peers because I don't tow the same party line.

So it is good to hear all of your feedback. Thanks again!

:)

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Thank you all. I think your thoughts were just what I needed to hear. I just needed to know that I would not necessarily have to choose between my beliefs and what I think may be my calling.

I absolutely do want to care for all the patients no matter their choices or circumstances, and I totally agree with you about caring for the person and not the deeds. I just don't want to get into a situation where I'm forced to participate in the actual procedure, or where I'm an outcast among my peers because I don't tow the same party line.

So it is good to hear all of your feedback. Thanks again!

:)

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Absolutely! You can be pro-life, as I am, and work as an OB nurse. I have no difficulty explaining my stand on the issue to fellow co-workers as well. At my hospital, there are occasionally terminations done between 18-22 weeks. These are ONLY extreme cases.......anecephalic, trisomy 18 etc. To be involved with the "induction" is purely voluntary. We DO have the right to refuse. In these cases, these patients need as much support and help as they can get. I know it's not an easy decision for them to make. I also know I cannot give them what they need.....I just can't do it. So, I opt to stay off the "team". There are many wonderful nurses who ARE able to give more of themselves than I am able to....

Joyce

PS we do not do "routine" abortions........least not in L&D

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Said it before, I'll say it again. It's not my job to moralize. It's my job to take care of pts who have already made their decisions. I think you have a right to refuse to take part in ETOP. I am not for abortion for convenience, only for lethal anomalies or for malignant maternal conditions.

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Specializes in OB.

I don't feel it's my place to judge whether a patient's "reason" for an abortion is valid or not.

(I'm not trying to be argumentative, just feel strongly enough about this that I have to state this. I'm not out to try to change anyone else's beliefs as long as they don't try to restrict mine or other women's)

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