How to get a job working with babies

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hi everyone! I wanted to know if anyone out there could lend me some advice. I start my program this Fall at Gwinnett Tech. I have wanted to play a role with babies (neonatal, newborns, NICU, L&D, etc). I was wondering what steps I should take to getting a position in one of those areas of a facility. I should probably add that I am pro life so I don't want to play a role in elective abortions.

Also, I understand that certain situations can occur during a wanted pregnancy that forces us to make hard decisions. Do we risk the mother's life for the child, or vise versa? Or do we leave it all up to the mother and family? How do we weigh out what to do in such situations? I know there are bound to be some sad cases in my future, especially since this area is full of sad occurrences.

Any testimonials would be appreciated as well on how to cope when you start out. I have a feeling I will have a lot of break downs where I'll wanna cry my eyes out. How do you stay strong for the families? Thanks in advance for all the advice!!! :)

A nurse whose purpose is just to advocate for the patient is bias? The only law that protects your beliefs that I know of is the right to freedom of religion. That doesn't mean everyone else needs to respect the list of wishes you may have. If an employer doesn't see you are a good fit because you want days off, want to opt out of several practices, they will more likely hire a nurse that is flexible and right for the job.

So, yes you have right to your beliefs, but I am not sure an employer is obligated to honor them. Either way, good luck with your issues.

A nurse whose purpose is just to advocate for the patient is bias? The only law that protects your beliefs that I know of is the right to freedom of religion. That doesn't mean everyone else needs to respect the list of wishes you may have. If an employer doesn't see you are a good fit because you want days off, want to opt out of several practices, they will more likely hire a nurse that is flexible and right for the job.

So, yes you have right to your beliefs, but I am not sure an employer is obligated to honor them. Either way, good luck with your issues.

Of course wanting to work with babies there are going to be difficult decisions for the parents to make. I dont think this issue is black or white. But there is a law that if a nurse is hired and signs a particular form, it protects health care providers from being obligated to perform abortions.

"YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CONSCIENCE PROTECTION LAWS

What Are the Federal Health Care Provider Conscience Protection Laws?

The Church Amendments, Section 245 of the Public Health Service Act, and the Weldon Amendment, are

collectively known as the “Federal Health Care Provider Conscience Protection Laws.” These laws prohibit

recipients of certain HHS Federal financial assistance (FFA) from discriminating against certain health care

providers because of the provider’s refusal or willingness to participate in sterilization procedures or abortions

contrary to or consistent with the provider’s religious beliefs or moral convictions. Most of these statutory

protections have existed for decades.

In addition, the Affordable Care Act includes new health care provider conscience protections within the health

insurance Exchanges. These laws protect the conscience rights of health care providers, just as other Federal

civil rights laws protect the rights of patients to access needed health care.1P"

All the details of this are found by clicking the link below:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/provider_conscience_factsheet.pdf

I imagine that law was placed when a place of employ did not perform these procedures, decided they should add it. In that case, it wouldn't be fair to the people working there who applied to the job knowing that those procedures didn't happen there if that was a major concern to them. According to that document, yes it's discrimination if the employer would want to terminate nurses who don't want to perform that.

However, if you are applying to a job and that job also entails abortions, and you were aware or they made you aware, and you opposed to it, why would the employer hire you when they are looking for the best possible candidate who can do the job? That's not discrimination. Discrimination is discriminating against things that have nothing to do with capabilities with job performance, like race, sexual orientation, and other things. With religion people can pick and choose what they will or will not do whether it conflicts with their morals or not. If an employer needs someone to work weekends and a religious person says "they can't" I do not understand how hiring someone else who CAN is discriminating.

Perhaps a nurse or even a lawyer on this forum who is knowledgable on abortion laws can shed some light on the subject. Either way, I'm grateful for nurses who don't judge women for the right to choose. ?

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

The sanctity for each parent to CHOSE for her children should be respected. Just as a woman's right to abortion should be protected.

It is the OP's choice to chose circumcision for her son and she CHOOSES to not participate in elective abortion. That is HER CHOICE and she is entitled to her choices. Nurses are allowed to opt out abortions as their conscience dictates.

We need to return to the topic. The OP wants to know about being a L&D nurse

I have wanted to play a role with babies (neonatal, newborns, NICU, L&D, etc). I was wondering what steps I should take to getting a position in one of those areas of a facility.
Please stick to topic.

A gentle reminder....while AN promotes a good debate we DO NOT tolerate personal attacks. Debate the post not the poster.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
You notice how the way you are turning this on me, it presents my same feelings about unnecessary abortions only being about the mother....I was still the patient, and for some reason you feel it's okay to judge me on this forum

You were not the patient. Your son was.

With regard to abortion - places that perform abortions as a primary part of their service make it VERY clear that you MUST be in agreement with pro-choice philosophy in order to work there. Someone who is anti-choice would never apply there, because a primary duty is assisting with abortions.

You were not the patient. Your son was.

With regard to abortion - places that perform abortions as a primary part of their service make it VERY clear that you MUST be in agreement with pro-choice philosophy in order to work there. Someone who is anti-choice would never apply there, because a primary duty is assisting with abortions.

I just had my son, so I was still a patient. regardless of whether he was born yet does not change that we were both patients under their care. No matter what, I still had to make a decision for him since he was only an infant unable to make that choice for himself. I already posted on here that I wouldnt apply to a facility like Planned Parenthood or anything like that. I have to make some level/form of judgement to even live. So at some point we are making judgment to make judgment calls on what we are willing to do in each aspect of our lives. What we choose for our children, jobs, prioritizing life. So yes, at some level I have to make judgments about my patients, but I wont turn around and attack them for thinking differently than I do. Of course, like I said before, this isnt a black and white issue. There are 11 year old girls out there who are incest victims, as one poster informed me of a complicated scenario, and their bodies are not ready to undergo what an 18 year old or older mother to be is ready for. If I have a patient and she doesnt want to terminate, but then decides to because of a life or death situation, its different to me. I am allowed to deny doing a procedure. I love how you yourself choose to cherry pick what the laws are protecting and that I am not within such boundaries of protection. It is a very bias position, and for me, I stand where I stand, and just as I have to respect those who terminate, they, and you, and employers, and patients, DO have to respect that. Being a healthcare provider does not require complete submission to my boss or patient. I will do my best to provide care, and that will show to my patients and co-workers.

The sanctity for each parent to CHOSE for her children should be respected. Just as a woman's right to abortion should be protected.

It is the OP's choice to chose circumcision for her son and she CHOOSES to not participate in elective abortion. That is HER CHOICE and she is entitled to her choices. Nurses are allowed to opt out abortions as their conscience dictates.

We need to return to the topic. The OP wants to know about being a L&D nursePlease stick to topic.

A gentle reminder....while AN promotes a good debate we DO NOT tolerate personal attacks. Debate the post not the poster.

Thank you Esme12, for pointing out that this is a two-way street. The Constitution not only protects our right to our own opinions, but our choices carried out by those opinions :)

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I love how you yourself choose to cherry pick what the laws are protecting and that I am not within such boundaries of protection.

I don't understand what you mean. What laws am I cherry picking? I have not mentioned anything about laws.

I love how you yourself choose to cherry pick what the laws are protecting and that I am not within such boundaries of protection. It is a very bias position, and for me, I stand where I stand, and just as I have to respect those who terminate, they, and you, and employers, and patients, DO have to respect that.

Again, I do not see why a person who is adamantly anti-choice, would look into applying at a job that may carry out such procedures and request their employer to opt out of them.

It's like if someone were to walk into a BBQ restaurant demanding the chef to cook a vegan meal.

No one is saying the laws shouldn't protect you, but if you are applying to a job where these circumstances may arise and that you were hired knowing what the job entails, I really am not sure how the law would protect you or anyone.

Anyway I am not sure why you are so obsessed with this topic. People already shared their opinion on where you can apply for a job (like religious facilities). Let pro-choice nurses care for women who want the right to choose.

I don't understand what you mean. What laws am I cherry picking? I have not mentioned anything about laws.

My apologies, that was intended for another poster.

Specializes in CCM, PHN.

My advice to you, OP, is this:

1. Get your BSN.

2. Likely you'll have to work in LTC or home health taking care of old folks your first year or two. That's the reality.

3. Unless you luck WAY out and get into a New Grad internship program in L&D or peds which is highly unlikely.

4. Get an ANCC certification as soon as you're eligible (most require a couple years experience in the specialty you're seeking certification in) and start a part time MSN program.

5. MAYBE then you'll be ready to apply at hospitals and have a fighting chance at a job working with babies.

6. During this whole process, DO NOT mention your beliefs about abortion in ANY WAY AT ALL. If you do, be prepared for rejection and a lot of difficulty professionally. .

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