Circumcision

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 25, 2013

I am not a nursing student yet, but I figured current nursing students would have better knowledge.
I am extremely against routine infant circumcision. Would I be forced to sit in on them or participate in them during nursing school? I have no plans in working a place that performs them if and when I complete it. Just wondering. And if they do make you, would they understand if I took no part in it?

As a nursing student you shouldn't have any parts of a circ. You may have an opportunity to watch but I can't see any school or facility allowing a student nurse to participate.

I have a personal belief against routine circ. I did see one during nursing school and it reaffirmed my beliefs. I then took a position in L&D and still had no part of it.

I wouldn't worry about it. You should be fine. If it comes up just state that you are not personally comfortable with it and would prefer to not participate. Just be respectful when stating your views to keep peace.

chrisrn24 · Jul 25, 2013

I think your views are fine. But if you are doing your L and D rotation you may see it. Don't be that person who starts getting upset with their clinical instructor or floor nurse about it or go on a rampage about how it is wrong. Just say yes and avert your eyes or go to the bathroom.

TexRN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2013

Thank you, I used the "search" option to find more info on this question. So I will be glad to take my answers from you 2 and leave it at that. No debate or arguments required. :) Thank you! That makes me feel better!

Mewsin · Jul 25, 2013

I am not a nursing student yet, but I figured current nursing students would have better knowledge.
I am extremely against routine infant circumcision. Would I be forced to sit in on them or participate in them during nursing school? I have no plans in working a place that performs them if and when I complete it. Just wondering. And if they do make you, would they understand if I took no part in it?

I have been told that I will not have to participate, or even bring up the subject to a new mother, in clinicals even in l&d. I didn't ask for this, I think just because my views are so strong my instructors think it is better to keep me away from the whole situation

RLtinker, LPN · Jul 25, 2013

It may come up doing your OB rotation, but you usually have the option if you want to watch any procedure or not. When it was done doing my OB rotation it only happened once, and the baby was taken to an aseptic room for the procedure to be performed. The room itself had a widow so we were able to watch if we wanted too. But it wasn't a requirement.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2013

I am not a nursing student yet, but I figured current nursing students would have better knowledge.
I am extremely against routine infant circumcision. Would I be forced to sit in on them or participate in them during nursing school? I have no plans in working a place that performs them if and when I complete it. Just wondering. And if they do make you, would they understand if I took no part in it?

I admire your convictions. However....your personal opinions/beliefs belong to you OUTSIDE of the hospital. Patients personal beliefs and in some cases religious beliefs...are your responsibility as a nurse to protect and respect.

I know you are not going to like what I have to say.....

To say that you will NOT work at a facility that performs circumcisions will eliminate many facilities with obstetrical units........... there are still circumcisions that are performed for medical reasons way into adulthood. You will be severely limiting your field of employment in a poor economic time where nursing unemployment in some areas of the country are as high as 47%....and a saturated new grad environment which is EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE with hundreds of applicants for a very few positions available.

You will eliminate yourself from the job market.

what is more important.........As a nurse your personal opinion, in many ways, doesn't count.....it is NOT about you but about the patient. You can't argue or shame a Jewish mother about the circumcision of her son because you personally are not an advocate of that procedure. Your job....is to care fore that mother and baby and educate them about the proper care of the baby after discharge...which has NOTING what so ever to do with your personal beliefs.

mssjez · Jul 25, 2013

I just did my OB rotation this spring. I did get to see a circumcision. As a student nurse, your interaction is limited to soothing the baby with sucrose and getting him changed back into a diaper and clothes after the procedure is done. You're with the primary nurse the whole time. I must say, the procedure is much more invasive than I thought it would be and it was a good experience so that I can gain knowledge about the procedure. When we become nurses, our job is to support our patients. If you have a patient who wants their newborn to have a circumcision, you have to be able to give them the information they request and support their decision. You will experience a lot of things you may personally disagree with as you work with patients. But it is not our job to have an opinion. It is our job to care for our patient, advocate for them, and to put the health of the whole person above all else. Good luck!

priorities2 · Jul 25, 2013

I admire your convictions. However....your personal opinions/beliefs belong to you OUTSIDE of the hospital. Patients personal beliefs and in some cases religious beliefs...are your responsibility as a nurse to protect and respect.
I know you are not going to like what I have to say.....
To say that you will NOT work at a facility that performs circumcisions will eliminate many facilities with obstetrical units........... there are still circumcisions that are performed for medical reasons way into adulthood. You will be severely limiting your field of employment in a poor economic time where nursing unemployment in some areas of the country are as high as 47%....and a saturated new grad environment which is EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE with hundreds of applicants for a very few positions available.
You will eliminate yourself from the job market.
what is more important.........As a nurse your personal opinion, in many ways, doesn't count.....it is NOT about you but about the patient. You can't argue or shame a Jewish mother about the circumcision of her son because you personally are not an advocate of that procedure. Your job....is to care fore that mother and baby and educate them about the proper care of the baby after discharge...which has NOTING what so ever to do with your personal beliefs.

I think it's quite exaggerated to say that she will eliminate herself from the job market. The vast majority of nursing positions don't require the nurse to assist with circumcisions. To go into nursing, you don't have to want to do every single thing every single type of nurse does. I'm sure not very many people would fit that criteria if that were the case.

But, I do think there's something really important to keep in mind in what you're saying, Esme -- it's not our place as nursing students (or future nurses) to impose our personal beliefs on patients. If your belief is sooo strong that you can't imagine yourself taking part in the procedure, that's probably workable, as I'm sure there are lots of nurses who would rather not participate in an abortion or something like that. But you probably shouldn't be making your views known to patients or even your employer, as they could definitely be construed as offensive or contentious (just as if someone voiced their views on abortion at work). Best of luck, OP!

TexRN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2013

Thank you, I would like to reiterate that I am not against circumcision. I am against non therapeutic routine infant circumcision where informed consent can not be given by the patient himself. I will do no harm, nor assist in harm being done to a person that cannot consent to a procedure himself without medicalnecessity. My main goal is to become a Lactation Consultant through the IBCLC Program and perhaps work at a birth center where they have a more natural minded place of work. This is not a debate, just making sure I am understood in my opinion.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 25, 2013

Thank you I would like to reiterate that I am not against circumcision. I am against non therapeutic routine infant circumcision where informed consent can not be given by the patient himself. I will do no harm, nor assist in harm being done to a person that cannot consent to a procedure himself without medicalnecessity. My main goal is to become a Lactation Consultant through the IBCLC Program and perhaps work at a birth center where they have a more natural minded place of work. This is not a debate, just making sure I am understood in my opinion.[/quote']
And as an L&D RN with the same opinion as you...it all works out. I never had an issue on the floor. I never had an issue with patients. If they wanted it...I marked it as such. If they were unsure I encouraged them to consider the options and make an informed decision.
I'm also an IBCLC actually. I have left L&D...part because I'm tired of some of the crap that happens.
Good luck to you!

TexRN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2013

I feel like I know what you mean by "Some of the crap" and that's why I'll never want to work on L&D floor. :)