Blood transfusions??? just say no...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

I would like to become a nurse, but I don't believe in blood transfusions, getting them or giving them. That said I would never tell anyone not to get one, or say anything against the doctors order, I believe it is a personnal choice but I don't want to have to give them. I'm in nursing school now. Do you or anyone you know have this issue and if so how do they deal with it and what areas or floors can they work on? I know oncology and ortho are poor choices. I was hoping for a job where It wouldn't come up often and if it did I could get the supervisor or another nurse to do that. while I did all other care.

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may i ask why this is an issue for you? i think you may want to spend some time on a unit working with patients (observing) who are receiving blood transfusions. it may or may not make a difference in your thought process, but it can't hurt. i had a patient today who received a blood transfusion because she was losing lots of blood. she was so delightful and YOUNG. i just can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with this. that's why i ask your reasoning. maybe dealing with real PEOPLE who need blood would make a difference. what you do or don't believe in theory often changes when it becomes real.

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

Religious Reasons. I/we don't believe in blood or blood products. Like how many Catholics have a problem with abortion and would not take part in one. Or those that don't believe in giving out the morning after pill. I do get what getting blood can do. I have seen many patients in clinicals get it, I just don't want to give it.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
Religious Reasons. I/we don't believe in blood or blood products. Llike how many catholics have a problem with abortion.

Do you believe that I should have the right to push my religious beliefs on you? Refusing to give blood/blood products to another person who is not of your same faith is the same thing. Please do not get me wrong... I absolutely would fight for your right to refuse blood/blood products for yourself and/or others of a similar belief. As healthcare providers we all should advocate for our patient's health... not advocate for or against a religious view.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
It wouldn't come up often and if it did I could get the supervisor or another nurse to do that. while I did all other care.

I disagree. It your responsibilty to find a position that does not conflict with your religious views. It is not up to your supervisor or your coworkers to do your job because of your particular religious beliefs.

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.
it your responsibilty to find a position that does not conflict with your religious views.

i believe i was asking about that. also, it takes 2 nurse to verify the blood would it be really so hard for another nurse to start the blood? after all they would just need to spike the bag and get it going. i could do something for them instead like wound care if it was a time issue.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If you do not want to give blood products, my friendly suggestion is to seek employment outside of the hospital setting. You will never have to worry about administering blood products if you are working in a clinic, doctors' office, nursing home, home health agency, hospice, psychiatric facility, dialysis center, or other non-hospital workplace.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
If you do not want to give blood products, my friendly suggestion is to seek employment outside of the hospital setting. You will never have to worry about administering blood products if you are working in a clinic, doctors' office, nursing home, home health agency, hospice, psychiatric facility, dialysis center, or other non-hospital workplace.

I agree with this, although while in school we had to practice in lab (with fake blood of course) and view in a clinical setting for experience. Make sure you check into that as well. Good Luck to you!!

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Specializes in Recovery (PACU)-11 yrs, General-13yrs.
i believe i was asking about that. also, it takes 2 nurse to verify the blood would it be really so hard for another nurse to start the blood? after all they would just need to spike the bag and get it going. i could do something for them instead like wound care if it was a time issue.

blood transfusions involve more than just 'spiking the bag & getting it going'. who is going to monitor your patient for the next 4 hours-do obs etc, while the transfusion is running, contact the doctor if there is a reaction, attend to any other care the patient requires during that time?

as with alot of things in nursing, it's not always as simple as you'd think.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

i

believe i was asking about that. also, it takes 2 nurse to verify the blood would it be really so hard for another nurse to start the blood? after all they would just need to spike the bag and get it going. i could do something for them instead like wound care if it was a time issue

would you check the blood with another nurse? would you monitor the pt once the blood was started? if you pt was receiving blood and developed a reaction requiring emergency treatment would you provide that? or would the other nurses on the unit have to do all of this for you?

if another nurse's pt required blood, would you do the double check with her?

see - its not an easy thing to say that another nurse can administer the blood while you do something else for her.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Agree that finding a job outside the hospital would be best. Other things to consider:

1. Would you be ok monitoring a pt who is getting blood.

2. If a pt needed blood, could you call the provider to get the order?

3. Can you order blood fromthe blood bank?

Its not always possible to get someone else to hang blood for you so I think you might consider not putting yourself in that position.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

Don't think you'll make it then and should consider something else. Sorry to be so blunt, but its the truth. Because not only will you be giving blood, you'll be giving blood products.

In nursing, we have to look at our own beliefs and evaluate them. Understand, i DO believe in giving blood products, there is no issue with that to me. I took care of a lady during my senior synthesis who died because she refused to receive blood products. This is HER PERSONAL CHOICE!...we respected that.

You need to realize that when a patient chooses to receive blood products, you need to respect that choice just like i respect the clients choices when they choose not to receive it.

You have to set your own beliefs aside and provide care to the patients, they care that they want/deserve. It is not fair to your client if they want and NEED blood, you refuse to give it. So it's basically saying "Even though i can save your life, i refuse to do so because i don't believe in it." It is not fair to your patients.

My suggestion? Seek employment outside of the hospital or healthcare setting. Even if you find a job outside of the hospital, you WILL be expected to give blood products in nursing school. It is a part of our health care system in America, and it's just the way it is.

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