Circumcision

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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?

Specializes in Pedi.
I gotta say ECT and circs totally different. ECT is ALWAYS done as a therapeutic measure usually as a last resort and the Pt has full informed consent. I work in an ECT facility and I have literally seen it work wonders, almost to a magical degree. We have an elderly man right now who has been with us since May. He was committed with such severe depression he had basically no affect, refused to leave his room, literally could not get oob to use the toilet. We had depends on him, but there was no medical reason for him to be incontinent. He has had just a few procedures and he is a totally different person. Still quiet but leaves his room, is easy to engage and he actually HAS an affect now. Smiles and laughs instead of that shut down glazed over look.

I am also not fond of circs. I observed one in NS and it solidified my belief. I think for many of the women in the general population, if they ever actually saw a circ done, they would choose otherwise. Religious reasons are totally different. I would never begrudge parents who circ for religious reasons.

I'm not trying to equate the two, just saying that there are things you will see in nursing school that may challenge what you believe... or what you think you believe. For me, that thing was ECT.

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Comparing male circumcision to female genital mutilation is ridiculous. Two totally different things done for totally different reasons.

And to me, you not knowing that level 1 and level 2 female genital mutilation is the same as male genital mutilation is ridiculous, just different perspectives on the matter. It is just acceptable for it to happen to our boys.

I personally think that if we offer it for the families of boys due to cosmetic and religious reasons we should offer the same procedure to the families of girls. I think neither should be offered, it should be up to the owner of the member or vulva.

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Until evolution catches up, humans will continue to be born with and develop stuff that is a throwback to the days we walked on all fours and had tails, but that now only causes disease, and even death. Unfortunately, only one of those things-foreskin, can be removed right after birth, and quick and cheap. The othe stuff lingers and causes all kinds of havoc, then costs billions to try to remove or correct- molars, tonsills, adenoids, the appendix, and other possibly unknowns.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
Until evolution catches up humans will continue to be born with and develop stuff that is a throwback to the days we walked on all fours and had tails, but that now only causes disease, and even death. Unfortunately, only one of those things-foreskin, can be removed right after birth, and quick and cheap. The othe stuff lingers and causes all kinds of havoc, then costs billions to try to remove or correct- molars, tonsills, adenoids, the appendix, and other possibly unknowns.[/quote']

Seriously? This response actually turns my stomach a little. The foreskin does cause disease or death. It has a function yet it is removed because of issues from the past that are not issues in modern times.

Maybe you were being funny? We should all just have our fingernails removed and our molars and so on...stop the problems before they come up. Some of these things have less function than a foreskin.

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We have nails because they used to be used as tools to help us climb. I'd just as soon not have any- I've had two ingrown toenail surgeries, and my toenails routinely blister and fall off because I run so much. As far as fingernails- I guess for now they keep a few thousand million nail salons open, if that gives them any utility- but as nurses we know what can grow under them, eh? I've also had the tonsil surgery (fun), and blown $5000 on impacted wisdom teeth removal (more fun). As far as circumcision, a good overview of the health benfits can be seen at circinfo.net. "Erin go Bragh!"

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

MODERATOR NOTE:

This thread is about being forced to participate in procedures in nursing school that one is opposed to.....and do you have a right to refuse.

lets stick to topic please.

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I'm going to equivocate this to a Jehovah's Witness being against blood transfusions. If you're a nurse, you participate in or observe things that you are morally or religiously opposed to. I don't think you can be a nurse and not give blood transfusions. If you're against circumcision, don't circumcise your sons. If you're against blood transfusions, don't have one. As long as you aren't pushing your personal beliefs onto your patients, you'll be fine. (I'm not saying a blood transfusion is the same as a circumcision but it is something that more than one of my coworkers have been religiously opposed to and participated in as required by their job)

I've seen many an adult male have a circumcision due to infection from lack of proper self care and I've had patients and friends circumcise their sons in an attempt to avoid it as an adult. Parents make the decision they feel is best for their child. My best answer to you is that they certainly cannot force you to observe or participate in a circumcision but be prepared for whatever consequences arise from your desire to be separate from the procedure. You may not be able to work in a care area like a mother/baby unit without exposure to the procedure at the very least.

I didn't see or participate in any in nursing school. I've not seen any as a practicing RN. It's going to be difficult to find a facility that doesn't practice male infant circumcision even if you don't work in that care area. The birthing center where my daughter was born would not provide that service but would give referrals for parents wwho asked.

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Funny story to lighten this up. When I was in high school, one of my good friends had a kid that she chose not to have circumcised. people raised their eyebrows but no big deal. He turned 17 two weeks ago and came home from summer basketball league and said to her "thanks for making me the weird kid!" And slammed his bedroom door. I laughed and asked her what she did and she screamed "I got news for you dude, I was a 17 year old girl that chose to have a kid with a gang member...I invented being the weird kid!!!!" I cracked up! She drank Pinot Grigio.

He claims he is getting it done when he turns 18.....this should be interesting!

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Thanks for sharing!! Kids can definitely be cruel, especially high school!

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Specializes in Pedi.
Funny story to lighten this up. When I was in high school, one of my good friends had a kid that she chose not to have circumcised. people raised their eyebrows but no big deal. He turned 17 two weeks ago and came home from summer basketball league and said to her "thanks for making me the weird kid!" And slammed his bedroom door. I laughed and asked her what she did and she screamed "I got news for you dude, I was a 17 year old girl that chose to have a kid with a gang member...I invented being the weird kid!!!!" I cracked up! She drank Pinot Grigio.

He claims he is getting it done when he turns 18.....this should be interesting!

I remember discussing circumcision with a friend when we were in college and she said that she likely would circumcise a son, even though she thought it was stupid, because the vast majority of boys in the US are circumcised and she wouldn't want him to feel different in the gym locker room.

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"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. " As noble as that sentiment sounds, it is really none of your business. Parents have very valid reasons for getting their children circumcised, and whether it be one of religious identification or because they saw in a back issue of Reader's Digest that a circumcised glans is less likely to spread HIV, you have no right to have an opinion on their decision. Just as you have no right to tell them what brand of diaper to use, whether to breastfeed or use formula, whether to send them to Montessori or a bilingual pre-pre-kinder. It's none of your business at all. If you want to be a successful nurse, you had better absorb that right now.

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Glad you guys chuckled, I Thought you guys might enjoy! Poor parents, condemned if you do, condemned if you don't. There is always a controversy over something. Makes me feel better about my decision to refrain....

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