I am starting my second semester of an RN program right now, the families semester. I'm really excited to start the semester, as I am becoming an RN on my way to become a lactation consultant, and this is my area of interest. One thing I am very concerned about, though, is that I will possibly be involved in the practice of infant circumcision. I am morally opposed to this, and I don't think I can be involved in such a thing. I know you have to put your own feelings aside sometimes in nursing, like if you are caring for a patient that does something you disagree with, like taking drugs while pregnant, and I think I will be able to take care of someone like that, even if I dislike it, because I am simply doing my job of providing them with nursing care. For me, I feel different about infant circumcision, because I would actually be involved in the procedure that I am against. Anyone know if we normally have to see/participate in infant circumcision during nursing school?
I am not a nurse, I am not in nursing school yet but I wanted to share my opinion for whatever it's worth.......
When working with the public, you have to put your own feelings and beliefs aside sometimes (more often than not). You are there to care for someone and in all honesty, your belief isn't going to change a parents decision about their child. There are tons of controversial topics out there (abortion, circumcision, etc.) that you will encounter working in the health care field and you will just have to swallow your feelings and do what you gotta do.
Ask yourself this... what if you were giving birth to a baby and a nurse didn't like your decision NOT to circumcise, so she/he decided they weren't going to participate in your labor/delivery? Seems pretty silly, right?
Either way, a parent is going to do what they want to do. It is a known controversial topic and people aren't going to stop and hear your side of the story. Most people have their minds made up already about this stuff and it is not easily changed.
ITA!
And honestly, if you let your beliefs get in the way everytime a patient wants a procedure you don't like and you try to deny them that or expect special circumstances to opt out, I think you're in the wrong profession. It's like those religious pharmacists that try to withhold birth control or plan b because they don't believe in it. Well then why are you a pharmacist?! Do you think it wise for a vegan to become a butcher when they are against human consumption of meat?
The OP is not saying she won't participate in the labor and delivery. She is simply saying she will not participate in the circumcision. Really not a big deal, and I know some L&D floors accomodate this routinely....
I understand that she is not saying she won't participate in the L&D.. I was just trying to give her a scenario of someone not sharing her beliefs. I could have used any scenario.
Sometimes you just gotta seperate your personal life/beliefs/morals from your professional life.
When working with the public, in ANY profession, you will come across people of all walks of life with their own beliefs about life. Do your job to the best of your ability and then go home. It's that simple.
I am about to begin my 4th semester of NS which entails my pedi, ob, and psych rotations....when I think about this position, many thoughts come to mind. Firstly, in my past 2 semesters of clinicals there were PLENTY of things that I was morally opposed to but had to 'be' around b/c of the circumstances...I don't know, part of me says, well, what good is it going to do if you 'refuse' to participate in infant circumscision, as it will still be done otherwise, people, including myself have chosen this decision for their sons and will continue to do so for the rest of eternity...you don't have to necessarily agree with everything, and just b/c you are present at that moment does not mean that you are agreeing with that train of thought.
I used to be a kindergarten teacher and had my eyes opened up to MANY things that I was morally opposed to and I know that this new profession of nursing will not be any different...I know what my beliefs are and just b/c someone else's beliefs differ from mine does not make mine any less valid...it's a part of the job. I try to have an open mind :)
I also want to say, I'm okay with caring for a circumcision after the fact, teaching parents how to care about one, all that, but as I am against the procedure I wish not to be involved in it at all, as a student or nurse.
And for those of you saying there is other situations where I will be opposed to what is going on, the difference for me is that if an adult or someone who can decide and is informed chooses something for him/herself, that is one thing. I can put my feelings aside. If I have to perform routine nursing care on a patient who is doing something I am against, I can put my feelings aside and do my job. I CAN NOT, however, participate in the very act that I find to be an injustice and a violation of human rights.
And I'm not making this a debate. Just giving my reasoning. That the prepuce is an important, functioning organ is just fact.
And honestly, if you let your beliefs get in the way everytime a patient wants a procedure you don't like and you try to deny them that or expect special circumstances to opt out, I think you're in the wrong profession. It's like those religious pharmacists that try to withhold birth control or plan b because they don't believe in it. Well then why are you a pharmacist?! Do you think it wise for a vegan to become a butcher when they are against human consumption of meat?
I'm not opposed to helping the patient get what they want. But there is not a newborn in this world that would consent to circumcision! I know I can't come in and shove my opinions down the parents throat. But if they ask for information, there is plenty of facts I can give them about the whole thing. I can stick to facts, there are plenty.
I know my feelings about the whole thing are pretty black and white, but it's where I draw the line. I know being a nurse, it's not about me, but I also sometimes have to look out for my morals. I wouldn't work in an abortion clinic, and I don't want to participate in circumcisions. Those are really my only lines I draw in general for limits on my nursing care.
This is why i banged my head against my desk so violently during the unit when Circumcision came up. We get it. No one agrees on it. You are going to go back and forth on it forever.
Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, Special Care, Postpartum.
I just wanted to say, without getting into a debate or anything, that no infant will object to anything. They are in the care of their parents, who will do what is best for their child as they see fit. But like some other posters said, if you don't want to participate then don't. It's not a big deal if you don't, clinical will go on and so will everything else. :dncgbby:
I just wanted to say, without getting into a debate or anything, that no infant will object to anything. They are in the care of their parents, who will do what is best for their child as they see fit. But like some other posters said, if you don't want to participate then don't. It's not a big deal if you don't, clinical will go on and so will everything else. :dncgbby:
Wow on the first thing you said, but anyway not debating.
Anyway, that's great if I can just not participate. That's why I asked the question in the first place. I didn't know if it was a mandatory/commonplace thing in nursing school that you HAD to observe/participate in such a thing.
They are not "chopping off a functioning organ!" It is simply a very small piece of skin that covers the tip of the member and serves no function and removing it makes the member cleaner and easier to care for.
Wow, someone needs to be educated! Tell that to the hundreds of thousand of men in the US who are actively restoring their foreskin. If you would like more information on the prepuce and it's functions (and yes, it does have functions) pm me.
I worked Mother/Baby for a while, and I am morally opposed to circumcision.
It wasn't easy, and depending upon the culture of your unit, you might get some flack. Working nights is best, because circs don't occur on nights typically. However, night shift is sometimes responsible for prepping babies for circs. I typically traded duties...I'll get your vitals if you prep my babies for circs. I kind of got to the point of "what's the difference?" though, and ended up prepping my own babies in the occasional event I had an infant to prep. I hated it, though.
Thankfully circs are becoming fewer and fewer. It was nice for many of my patients to have a nurse who was supportive of their decision to leave their infant intact. For those who were on the fence, I was able to discuss with them the pros and cons, and also reassure them that if they chose to leave their son intact, there were many other intact boys around, and that if they changed their minds, pediatricians can do circs in their offices or as an outpatient in the hospital. If you work in an area that has a lot of immigrants or minorities, these seem to be the people who are less likely to circumcise historically, so perhaps you can try to work in a facility that serves these populations. Larger units are typically going to have less cross over training, whereas smaller units will often have nurses who wear many hats, with mother/baby nurses assisting in the nursery or cross-training in the nursery; so many you should also consider the size of the department when you apply for jobs.
You should be able to work as a mother/baby nurse without participating in circumcision. I think you should learn the procedure, however, for a couple of reasons. 1) You need to know what you're talking about when you discuss circumcision with parents. 2) Circumcision is occasionally medically indicated. 3) Circumcision is a reality of life in this culture, unfortunately, and you need to know how to care for those babies post-circumcision.
ETA: In nursing school, when I was offered the opportunity to participate in a circ as the assisting nurse, I declined. When my instructor pushed me to participate, I took her aside and told her I was morally opposed to circumcision, as I felt it violated the infant's human rights and that I was not interested in participating. I was a great, eager, prepared student and I did not make a big, public deal about my feelings regarding circs. My instructor did not push it. If I would have been a struggling student, ill prepared, often seen sitting around at the desk, perhaps she would not have taken my refusal seriously. As it was, she disagreed with me, but was respectful and my grade was not affected. You should be able to get through nursing school without assisting with a circ.
I don't care to debate this issue but I will tell you my experience as a mother of two sons. I left this decision up to my husband, however I was present during the procedure for both boys. The dr used topical medication to numb them. There was not a nurse present either time - just the dr and the us. The whole thing took about two minutes. One boy cried for about two seconds and stopped as soon as I put him to the breast. The second wailed for about thirty seconds and calmed when the dr gave him a sugar water bottle.
I wonder sometimes how I will handle it if I have to take care of a patient that has had or will have an abortion. I guess we all have different moral points of view. In the end, unless I am personally being asked to perform a procedure I have a moral objection to there is nothing to do but be professional. The hospital setting is not the place for activism.
:dncgbby:
on the first thing you said, but anyway not debating. 
QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP
549 Posts
ITA!
And honestly, if you let your beliefs get in the way everytime a patient wants a procedure you don't like and you try to deny them that or expect special circumstances to opt out, I think you're in the wrong profession. It's like those religious pharmacists that try to withhold birth control or plan b because they don't believe in it. Well then why are you a pharmacist?! Do you think it wise for a vegan to become a butcher when they are against human consumption of meat?