Does abortion play a role?

Published

Hi, I am Jen and I'm 30... I am a student nurse looking to go into the maternal/L&D/Midwifery world as a specilty after graduation. Whether that is being a L&D nurse or actually becoming a CNM, i am not 100% yet.

My question to you is... I am against abortion, i do not feel i could perform abortions or even refer women to get them die to my moral standpoint on them. I am 100% for family planning, IVF, and every other aspect of the women health world. Is is possible to be a CNM and have these ideals? or is it a conflict of interest? How would a CNM approach a situation where s/he didn't want to refer an abortion? Would you simply say to the pt that there are other CNM on staff who could refer you??

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I work for a Title X clinic. We do not provide abortions, but we do maintain a list of abortion providers in the community. CNMs generally do not provide or assist with abortions, however, they do provide information, education and resources for all pregnancy options, including abortion. I'm quite sure that there are many CNMs who are pro-life/anti-abortion, just as I know there are many OBs who are as well. But in order to function ethically, I think any women's health provider should be able to provide ALL viable options and information to a woman who is considering termination, and should be able to do so without bias.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Jen_Loves_Nursing said:

My question to you is... I am against abortion, i do not feel i could perform abortions or even refer women to get them die to my moral standpoint on them. I am 100% for family planning, IVF, and every other aspect of the women health world. Is is possible to be a CNM and have these ideals? or is it a conflict of interest? How would a CNM approach a situation where s/he didn't want to refer an abortion? Would you simply say to the pt that there are other CNM on staff who could refer you??

The bolded and underlined portion is the only part I see being an issue. CNMs, even in CA, must undergo additional training in order to perform abortions, so of course, should you choose not to pursue that training, you would not be obligated (or allowed) to perform abortions. However, I don't know that there are any exemptions that allow for withholding referrals for these services. Certainly you wouldn't be the only CNM that believes that abortion is morally wrong, but I believe you are obligated to provide referrals for these services.

There is a Catholic hospital system where I live, and they refuse to provide abortions, or even hormonal birth control if not "medically indicated," but they are required to provide information on where one can get these services.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
RunBabyRN said:
CNMs, even in CA, must undergo additional training in order to perform abortions, .

As far as I know, California is the ONLY state that allows midwives to perform abortions. I'm pretty sure it's out of scope of practice in all other states.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Jen_Loves_Nursing said:
If i was a practicing midwife and I had a women come to me for abortion advise and consult... possible referral... I could do all those things but morally am I being hypocrite by offering her abortion assistance?

IF you believe that abortion is wrong then I am not sure. If you believe that abortion is a sin then yes. The difference is that if you believe it is a sin how can you assist someone else to sin without being a hypocrite. No easy answers here. Hang in there.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
klone said:
As far as I know, California is the ONLY state that allows midwives to perform abortions. I'm pretty sure it's out of scope of practice in all other states.

California, Vermont, Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire allow CNMs, NPs and PAs to provide surgical abortions, and Washington State, New Mexico, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland and New York allow "non-physicians" to administer medical abortions. There are some grey areas, but generally speaking, all other states only allow physician-only abortions.

https://www.ansirh.org/research/primary-care-initiative

I work with an OB who does abortions at planned parenthood, and she bemoans physician-only riders all the time. 1st trimester aspirations and medical abortions are clearly well within the scope of APRNs and PAs, and as abortion access becomes more restricted, non-physicians are going to become increasingly important in abortion care.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

Not to derail, but thank you cayenne06 for that link! I've searched many times for that exact info and for some reason have never been able to find it.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
LibraSunCNM said:
Not to derail, but thank you cayenne06 for that link! I've searched many times for that exact info and for some reason have never been able to find it.

I know, LibraSun! I searched high and low for that info when I was putting together a presentation for school. It was bizarrely difficult to find.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ER, Maternal, Psych.
JoseQuinones said:
Girlafraid13, perhaps you should apply that same standard to your answer to OP's question. She is asking for guidance on standards of practice, not your opinion about her convictions. As nurses, our job is to educate people on their options whether or not we agree with their opinions or feelings. We do not offer judgment or opinions of our own. Give her the facts from your experience and let her make up her own mind.

Much appreciate answer and has helped me wrap my mind around this career choice. Coming from the perspective of non-judgement... inform... and let them make their own informed decision is something i COULD do.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a pro life midwife. Yes, you can absolutely choose to be a midwife! You will need to learn about all of patients' options while in school, but your biggest challenge in school is having your views accommodated in your clinical rotations. Be prepared to have your beliefs questioned often, and sometimes with hostility.

Once you are looking for a job there are Catholic hospitals all over the country where pro life won't be an issue. If you are in other settings you have the legal right to decline discussing options you ethically do not agree with. But at the same time to have to provide an alternative provider for the patient. My standard line when a patient asks about abortion is to say, "As a midwife, my role is helping women have healthy pregnancies. If you need to discuss other options, I can have my colleague so and so come in to speak with you." Compassion regardless of circumstance...

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.
imdeborah said:
My standard line when a patient asks about abortion is to say, "As a midwife, my role is helping women have healthy pregnancies. If you need to discuss other options, I can have my colleague so and so come in to speak with you." Compassion regardless of circumstance...

Do you really feel that that is a midwife's sole role, attending women through pregnancy?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Our midwives spend at least 50% of their time with gyn-related issues and family planning.

I imagine that it depends on where you work. If you're employed by a FSBC, sure, I guess your role is pregnancy/childbirth.

But there is SO much more involved in women's health and midwifery practice than pregnancy.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I think that, wherever you work as a nurse, you'll find people whose lifestyle choices you don't agree with.

As the OPs said, try to just do your job. It's hard to block out your personal opinions, but it's necessary, in my opinion.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion