Pro Life Beliefs and Nursing

[Tuzla99]

After spending weeks at a hospital while my dad was there I decided I wanted to pursue nursing as my future career after the great care they provided and I wish to do the same to others. I have pro-life beliefs and would not be able to live with myself killing a child. I know abortion is not an easy topic to discuss and I find I am very ignorant on the subject.

I would never treat anyone who has had an abortion differently and would give the best care to anyone regardless of religion or life choices. If anyone was in a certain situation when they started nursing school I would love to hear advice on what you did. I see myself either specializing in nurse researching/informatics or even oncology. I'm still learning and everything seems new and overwhelming to me so any input is greatly appreciated.

This is in no way meant to push any of my beliefs on any individual or to start arguments. I thank each and every one of you who are in a nursing field or will be in the future. Your work is invaluable.

[Surfin USA]

Also, most domestic violence BEGINS when a woman is pregnant.

Men who abuse, will be so stressed over fatherhood, and abuse her lady parts (either punching her or fisting it who knows I've had both happen and it sucks the life out of you... And all the fun out of the idea of parenting or bringing another life to protect into the relationship) and hit her in the tummy etc.

So yes you hit the nail on the head when you said you are new at this and pretty ignorant.

I would invite you to please start studying women's issues..

We are nurses and nursing assistants. We ARE the matriarchy, and we rule!!! 🥇🥇🥇🥇

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Getting some clear specifics from the people who do this work every day, might be really nice. If anything, I hope it can simply reinforce the reality that abortion is just another part of healthcare, one that can come with some heaviness, or none at all. And the people who perform abortions, and who have abortions, are just regular people.

We only do medication abortions at my site, so protestors are rare and its usually a nice old couple who sit quietly in lawn chairs. I dont even know if the patients realize they are protesting lol. I always wish I could just invite them in to spend half a day with me. Heck, any prolifer. Follow me around one day. The reality of this work is nothing like the prolife narrative.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Abortion is not a procedure routinely performed outside of specialty clinics. As long as you avoid seeking employment specifically in women's health the odds of ever dealing with abortion patients are very, very slim. At most you might know of a woman's previous abortion through their history and physical, unless you are dealing with that patient for post procedure complications that history would most likely not be relevant to current care.

In the unlikely case that you are ever in your nursing career caring for a patient that has had an abortion without having actively sought the type of employment where seeing abortion patients is expected don't let you personal beliefs affect the care you provide. Same as with any patient population. For comparison I have a big problem with white supremacists and violent gang members but if I worked in a setting where I could reasonably expect to be exposed to that patient population I wouldn't be providing a lesser level of care just because I don't like the patient.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

You are pro-life, so you won't be having an abortion. You also won't be suggesting anyone have an abortion. You won't have to participate in an abortion, so what is the problem?

Your beliefs have no place here, they're irrelevant. Opt to not discuss it if it comes up and don't bring it up.

[jeninoel5966]

I'm pro-life, but I'm there to care for the patient. I will never recommend an elective abortion nor participate in one, but that is exceeding rare outside of a very small number of specialties. While I would personally far prefer care by providing birth control and ensuring that parents have adequate resources so that keeping their baby is a easier choice, I do not get to choose how our health system exists or make decisions for others. I wouldn't be surprised if someone comment on my beliefs and being a man, but I also think that fathers should be involved and have more responsibility than many do.

We certainly get quite a few patients from sexual health/abortion clinics into the ED who either were not completely informed of the risks and side effects of abortions or are having complications and need treatment. Life threatening hemorrhage or infections are also not unheard of.

I do not have any problem caring for these patients, they are sick and need our help. I don't judge their decisions, the reality is that they have already chosen that. It is also not my place ethically or morally to judge them and I condemn any nurse that does. I don't have a problem with providing medications for eptopics or participating in care of those who medically need abortions, these are not viable in my view and don't cross that ethical/moral boundary.

If you are really worried about being involved in elective abortions I would suggest working in a catholic or similar hospital, they tend to have very strong policies around this.

(Personally, I wish more men had an opinion on this - thank you for speaking up)!

I've worked in OB, NBN, NICU, and High Risk Antepartum my entire nursing career - and I have been personally faced with the task of initiating meds to terminate a pregnancy (both for medical reasons and elective).

Thankfully, in all of my places of employment, I've been given the option to participate or not - and have never had to do so. I, personally, am pro-life so I have chosen not to be the person to actually place the medications and/or initiate the termination, but I will still provide the professional care and compassion that these women deserve.

In nursing, we may face all kinds of diverse scenarios that we don't agree with or believe in, but it's not our place to judge, it's our place to nurse. There's something very humbling sitting at a bedside, holding a weeping mother who's come to this decision. Even more so holding a 22-weeker and rocking her until she took her last breath.

I personally don't believe in abortion, but who am I to tell someone else what is best for them? I feel this job is a calling and a ministry in, and of, itself - providing compassionate care above and beyond my personal beliefs.

I guess all of this is to say - if you're going into the field of women's health and are afraid of encountering this situation - then I suggest discussing that with your hiring manager. I've personally turned down L&D positions where I would have been required to initiate terminations, and didn't feel comfortable doing so.

Either way, good luck to you!

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Abortion is not a procedure routinely performed outside of specialty clinics.

And this is a shame. Early abortions, both aspiration and medication, are straightforward and low risk. Well within the scope of any competent GYN provider who wants to learn how.

There is no *medical* reason for it to be segregated from the rest of women's health care.

There is no *medical* reason for legislatures to place targeted regulations on abortion that do not apply to other outpatient procedures.

[mwilsbsn]

As a nurse, you may be tasked with providing care to a pedophile, a racist, a verbally and/or physically abusive towards you patient, a murderer, the drunk driver responsible for hurting another patient on the unit, etc... Since you are pro-life, than you should know that each patient deserves to be treated with dignity and should receive the same care you'd give the Queen of England. Treat all of your patients with kindness and compassion. Even the ones that it may feel like they don't deserve that.

If you don't want to be involved in the abortion process, that's as simple as not taking a job that would require that. If it comes up in a medical history that a patient has had an abortion, don't let that change the care you give her. She is your patient, and it is your responsibility to care for her. And, if it helps, if your pro-life stance is based on religious beliefs, think about how Jesus would treat her. Think of how he spent time with lepers and prostitutes - he would treat her with love, compassion, and kindness.

[elkpark]

As a nurse, you may be tasked with providing care to a pedophile, a racist, a verbally and/or physically abusive towards you patient, a murderer, the drunk driver responsible for hurting another patient on the unit, etc... Since you are pro-life, than you should know that each patient deserves to be treated with dignity and should receive the same care you'd give the Queen of England. Treat all of your patients with kindness and compassion. Even the ones that it may feel like they don't deserve that.

If you don't want to be involved in the abortion process, that's as simple as not taking a job that would require that. If it comes up in a medical history that a patient has had an abortion, don't let that change the care you give her. She is your patient, and it is your responsibility to care for her. And, if it helps, if your pro-life stance is based on religious beliefs, think about how Jesus would treat her. Think of how he spent time with lepers and prostitutes - he would treat her with love, compassion, and kindness.

Ouch! Did you really just compare the nearly 25% of American women who have had abortions with "lepers and prostitutes"? :)

[Emmasmom03]

I worked in Women's and still was not an issue. The only time I remember something remotely similar was a woman who was less than 20 weeks and who was dilated and contracting and maybe an infection?? I can't remember, but I know there were some nurses who let this poor woman stay in pain because giving the pain meds would relax her and she would deliver a non-viable fetus. It had already been determined that there was nothing more that could be done to stop labor, but all but one of the nurses refused to give the meds as they did not want to participate in what basically became an abortion. It was sad any way you looked at it.

[osceteacher]

This actually made me laugh out loud. Not likely you'll see euthanasia in a critical care unit (no matter the state).

How so? I can recall countless times where I turn off quad strength norad or extubate a patient who is then dead within a minute or two, most often without their consent. If you're pro life then you may find being the person in control of life or death quite a heavy burden, well, we all do regardless of your stance. Sure its the teams decision but you're the one pressing the buttons ending that patients support knowing that they'll die. Euthanasia is a strong word to use but it does fit to a point.

[Triddin]

How so? I can recall countless times where I turn off quad strength norad or extubate a patient who is then dead within a minute or two, most often without their consent. If you're pro life then you may find being the person in control of life or death quite a heavy burden, well, we all do regardless of your stance. Sure its the teams decision but you're the one pressing the buttons ending that patients support knowing that they'll die. Euthanasia is a strong word to use but it does fit to a point.

I strongly disagree with calling taking someone off life support euthanasia. Just because the technology is there, doesn't mean that we should continue to prolong life if it is futile (no chance for improvement) and that we are essentially torturing the patient by continuing care. I've never seen anyone taken off support without discussion with the patient, the family and/ or the public trustee - the latter making decisions for the patient which should be in their best interest

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

How so? I can recall countless times where I turn off quad strength norad or extubate a patient who is then dead within a minute or two, most often without their consent. If you're pro life then you may find being the person in control of life or death quite a heavy burden, well, we all do regardless of your stance. Sure its the teams decision but you're the one pressing the buttons ending that patients support knowing that they'll die. Euthanasia is a strong word to use but it does fit to a point.

The scenario you describe is not euthanasia. Removing someone from heroic measures/life support -- while not to be done lightly or without the proper authority and input from patient and family members/POA -- is not actively helping someone die. It is, in any instance I have been a part of it (often), merciful.

At the end of the day ICU nurses are about keeping people alive (right or wrong). The ethical realities of that can be challenging, yes -- but in my experience those have existed vastly more on the side of prolonging death rather than withdrawing support.