I got a job!At an abortion clinic?

[rrandle02]

Hello,

My friends that are nurses and other people have been giving me grief about taking a job at an abortion clinic. Is it really that bad. I have a "things happen" attitude about abortions, but I kind of have an uneasy feeling about the whole thing (mainly because everyone disapproves). What do you guys think? I have bills and they are paying me VERY well.

[crna2bkristan]

Doctors take the Hippocratic oath of "First, do no harm". We're not doctors but as a nurse I take the same oath to heart. Can you say in your line of work you are doing no harm? If you can't then perhaps you might want to find another area of nursing to pursue.

Judge not...

[happydays352]

The woman is your pt not the fetus, she obviously feels that carrying the baby to full term would do her a great deal of harm. Otherwise she wouldn't be making such a difficult choice.

To the Op your job is your business if you like it and you want to continue then put up some boundaries with your friends. Tell them you respectfully disagree with them and that you will not continue to discuss this topic with them. True friends will respect your boundaries despite their personal convictions.

[SakredStrega]

I'd say go for it. I'd love to have an opportunity like the one you have.

[DrugReptoNurse]

This is what the classical version of the oath says...

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

For the record I am personally pro-choice but at the same time I realize murder is murder. If you kill a life...whether it is a convicted felon or a fetus. As a nurse I couldn't do that for a job. I think the OP needs to think can she do it and will she have regrets later on. If she can...then go for it. I suppose somebody has to pull the switch on the electric chair and somebody has to destroy a fetus.

[LydiaNN]

Why does someone always infer that people who have set beliefs and convictions are always close minded? Is one considered closed minded if they are dead set against pedophilia? I understand what you are trying to say about being confronted with an issue but to classify most people who disagree with a belief as close minded is a little absurd.

My sophomore year roommate was also dead set against abortion. Until she went ahead and had one. Even then, it was still wrong for other people. She was just special. Having a baby would impact her life more so than it would impact others. Uh huh.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

I think it's time this thread got canned. The only advice that CAN be offered in a totally nonjudgmental way is "do what you feel is right." After that you can only expect to be given advice based on what the person believes to be right or not right. That's what ADVICE IS!! It's not blatantly pushing your views on others, it's ADVICE, which is what the OP asked for. You can't ask a question like that and have a completely unbiased, non-inflammatory response. The issue of abortion will continue to be debated, why would we expect anything else on this forum? Just because we're nurses doesn't mean we can't express our personal feelings when asked or led to. People vent on here all the time.

[bigreddog1934]

i dont think threads need to be eliminated just because there is actual debate taking place. if the nursing community can not discuss the abortion issue and present differnt views on a hotly debated issue, i dont know why we need threads to begin with.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

For whatever reason this job pulled at you, I just want safety for you.

Peace Out

Sharona

[rrandle02]

I would never take this job no matter how much they paid me. But that is ME not YOU. You have to do what is comfortable with you, every one has their OWN convictions that they own and they should not try to make other people own them too. Not that people will not try to push their ideas and ideals on you for working in this environment. I do not think there is anything wrong with you working at this place if it does not bother you, but be prepared to be harassed, and it will never stop.

I just want to clear one thing up....It's NOT about the money.

[CyndieRN2007]

Do what you want to do. It your life, your decision. Period.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Why does it matter what other people think?

The fact that you're concerned about what your "friends and other people" think and have been telling you really shouldn't be an issue if it's something you want to do. And the fact that you came on here asking us if it's "really that bad" and asking what we think makes me think you're not totally sure it is what you want.

It's just one of those things that you're going to have to look within yourself and decide for your own self what it is you want to do. No one else can answer that for you and it shouldn't matter what ANYONE else thinks about it, as long as you're ok with it.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I have a bit of experience in this area.Iassisted with second trimester abortions inpt setting for woman with either fetal genetic anomalies or for elective terminations up to 22 wks . A lot of nurses and physicians objected it was a pretty intense labor and birth, but I felt the patient deserved someone who wanted to be there no matter who she was and for what purpose she was having the procedure everyone deserves acaring,competent,nonjudgemental advocate/health care provider.I also assisted w/ alot of 1st trimester abortions in outpt clinic. all were elective, some very emotionally disturbing for the patient.All require emotional support, teaching followup. It didn't matter if I didn't agree morally with their decision. My job was always satisfying knowing I gave them the best care I could, I say go for it!