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?
The best advice I can give you as a nursing instructor is to discuss this IN ADVANCE with your instructor. I would offer few details unless asked (ex- just state that if possible, you would prefer not to observe or participate). If your instructor seems to want more details, you could provide him/her with your reasons at that time. Of course you feel strongly, but try not to polarize the issue in your discussion with your instructor as he or she may also have opposite views and their own reasons to believe in them. I do not say this because I believe that students should cower around instructors by any means, or that their opinions are less valuable or informed. But in most cases, stating your belief succintly along with evidence without moralizing the issue will usually get the best response. For example, regarding the issue of abortion, if I said "My belief is blah, blah, blah and this is why...." it is less likely to put things down the wrong path than if I say "It is morally wrong to....."
One way opens the door for dialogue and discussion of very differing viewpoints and possibly greater understanding of another's viewpoint, the other can come across as an attack when none was intended.
The benefit of an early discussion helps your instructor see you as an advocate who wants to fully participate in the clinical experience, just not in a certain area. If you have never met this instructor, this could really help.
Personally, I would have respect for any student who could articulate a well-reasoned argument either for or against the issue, and would respect their wishes during clinicals. In an ideal world, my classroom would be FULL of people with researched yet differing opinions and I love a good, open debate/discussion. You might even be able to ask to discuss this issue with your class or clinical group as it is certainly a controversial ethical dilemma.
In any case I wish you luck during this clinical placement and certainly understand that this could place you in a difficult spot. Please do not give up on nursing this easily if you meet resistance. We need nurses who research information and come to their own conclusions, whether we agree or disagree with those conclusions. My only issue with students comes with the rare student who drags their feet, tries to hide during clinicals and seems to avoid any learning experience. This is obviously NOT you, and I would like to think most instructors would be thrilled to have a student who is passionate about a topic.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
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?
We had the opportunity to watch in our OB rotation. It wasn't required though. I had no desire to watch it, I didn't. The students in our class didn't take part though, they observed, but it was optional.
I want to thank everyone for their responses. I appreciate your thoughts and answers. My Clinical Instructor is a new teacher here (my families teacher) and I think she will be understanding when I explain to her my concerns.
I'm wondering if I should email her soon, talk to her in clinicals if it becomes an issue, or talk to her in her office before the first week of clinicals it could be an issue.
AOx1, you said talk to them in advance, which way do you think I should bring it up?
We had the opportunity to watch in our OB rotation. It wasn't required though. I had no desire to watch it, I didn't. The students in our class didn't take part though, they observed, but it was optional.
There isnt much you can really do when helping. I helped once with a circ during clinicals and all I did was get the equipment ready and provide the sugar pacifier for the kid. I was given the option of helping and I said sure. I figured the more I could get my hands on the better.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
There isnt much you can really do when helping. I helped once with a circ during clinicals and all I did was get the equipment ready and provide the sugar pacifier for the kid. I was given the option of helping and I said sure. I figured the more I could get my hands on the better.
That's right, the students helped with calming the baby, like the sugar water. I forgot about that. I watched one on Youtube once after having my 3 sons done. My mom watched theirs. After watching the Youtube video I felt bad about getting them done and never wanted to watch one again. It broke my heart. I couldn't watch when my son had a spinal tap either. Granted it's different when you're watching your own kid.
I want to thank everyone for their responses. I appreciate your thoughts and answers. My Clinical Instructor is a new teacher here (my families teacher) and I think she will be understanding when I explain to her my concerns.
I'm wondering if I should email her soon, talk to her in clinicals if it becomes an issue, or talk to her in her office before the first week of clinicals it could be an issue.
AOx1, you said talk to them in advance, which way do you think I should bring it up?
I'm not AOx1 but in my previous post I also suggested to bring it up in advance because once you get going, your CI is pulled in a hundred different directions. I also wouldn't offer details and can guarantee that your CI KNOWS the different sides of the debate already.
Whenever I start a new clinical, I always tell the instructor my personal goals of the semester. That way, if something becomes available, they have me in the back of their mind to come and grab. So, at the start of clinicals, when you get an opportunity (try to be early to one of your clinicals, it's the best time to talk), I would just pull the instructor aside and state, "If you hear of an opportunity to do X, Y or Z, I haven't done them yet and would like to do/observe this. And, if you hear of an opportunity to participate in a circ, I would rather not, if that's okay with you". You've brought it up in such a manner that you don't seem like you are trying to avoid anything in clinicals and you've put the ball back in their court. Really, it's not going to that bad!!!
AOx1, you said talk to them in advance, which way do you think I should bring it up?
If there is a chance to stop by your new instructor's office during office hours, that would be my recommendation. Although you are communicating very eloquently here, in my opinion an in-person discussion will give a new instructor a better sense of your personality- she will see in your expression and demeanor that you are eager to learn, but are simply opposed to this one aspect of care. You could also tell her how much you enjoy this topic, especially the role of the lactation consultant. I completely agree with the previous post for many reasons. In clinicals, I enjoy knowing more about my students and their interests as it can help me tailor their clinical experience. If they tell me they are weak in a certain area, I can better help them get that experience. If they tell me they are interested in a given area as a career, I can introduce them to recruiters and managers while at the clinical site. In-person will give her a chance to steer your experience towards things that will help you learn and grow. If I were your instructor, I would make sure you were able to spend a day with the lactation consultants if I knew that was an area of interest.
I've seen the procedure done two times. It was my choice, not something I had to do. However, 1.)the infant is strapped to a board, you don't hold him down. 2.)The member is numbed and both babies I watched didn't cry a bit. 3.) 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.
It serves the same function as your clitoral hood and is actually the same thing. If for any reason you ever have council parents about the procedure it will be your responsibility to give the actual facts and not your personal opinion which is far from fact as well as inconsistant with the current AAP and AMA stance.
In my OB rotation there weren't too many circumcisions performed (it's usally done at the pediatrician's). Another classmate and I saw one, but I volunteered to go. They're not going to drag you into the procedure room and make you watch.
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?
Growing up all I wanted to do was be a nurse in maternity. But since becoming a mom I've researched a lot of topics and have come to realize how ignorant America is about such topics as circumcision, breastfeeding, L&D and so on. So now I would never ever want to step foot on the maternity floor as a nurse. I've pondered the idea of eventually becoming an LC but then I'd have to deal with the ignorance of bad advice from nurses/drs. and it can get pretty conflicting to a new mom getting 2 different pieces of advice. So I don't know. Anyway....I counted down the days until our maternity rotation was over! I feel just like you about this subject. We had an ethics paper during that rotation and of course I did mine on circumcision. I always thought the circs were done the morning of discharge, so I chose an afternoon clinical so I could never have to be around it. Well at the hospital I do my clinicals at, they do the circs the day before discharge. So I was quite surprised when I was changing a baby and pulled his diaper off and I had to see this freshly mutilated little member. It was the worst thing ever! So sad! As for putting your feelings aside....it'll be hard with this subject because the baby is also your patient, not just the mom.....it's hard to advocate on what the baby would want when you have uninformed parents and a Dr. that wants to get paid. I guess all you can do is just educate educate and educate! You have some bravery to want to work in maternity, especially here in America....I wish you luck!! I should say though, I'm sure you know this already but the rates are going down...so less parents are doing this to their kids. The circ rate was about 33% last year...definitely improving! Good luck!!
I did not read all the responses, but thought I would comment real quick. I too, am not for routine male circ, so when I was in maternity, I just kept my mouth shut, think that if it came up then I would say something. Well it came up & I had an opportunity to observe, but I quietly told my CI that I could not do that. She said that's fine. No biggie. I did something else instead.
Growing up all I wanted to do was be a nurse in maternity. But since becoming a mom I've researched a lot of topics and have come to realize how ignorant America is about such topics as circumcision, breastfeeding, L&D and so on. So now I would never ever want to step foot on the maternity floor as a nurse. I've pondered the idea of eventually becoming an LC but then I'd have to deal with the ignorance of bad advice from nurses/drs. and it can get pretty conflicting to a new mom getting 2 different pieces of advice. So I don't know. Anyway....I counted down the days until our maternity rotation was over! I feel just like you about this subject. We had an ethics paper during that rotation and of course I did mine on circumcision. I always thought the circs were done the morning of discharge, so I chose an afternoon clinical so I could never have to be around it. Well at the hospital I do my clinicals at, they do the circs the day before discharge. So I was quite surprised when I was changing a baby and pulled his diaper off and I had to see this freshly mutilated little member. It was the worst thing ever! So sad! As for putting your feelings aside....it'll be hard with this subject because the baby is also your patient, not just the mom.....it's hard to advocate on what the baby would want when you have uninformed parents and a Dr. that wants to get paid. I guess all you can do is just educate educate and educate! You have some bravery to want to work in maternity, especially here in America....I wish you luck!! I should say though, I'm sure you know this already but the rates are going down...so less parents are doing this to their kids. The circ rate was about 33% last year...definitely improving! Good luck!!
You've said that moms are ignorant, America is ignorant, doctors are ignorant, nurses are ignorant, and finally, implied all of the above are uneducated if they would circumcise a male...
because someone prefers something that you don't does not make them ignorant or uneducated.
.thumb.jpg.5aa4d55557c0228e31b94de19666bbbb.jpg){kind=small}
.thumb.jpg.95579fecd0c06f764e0cfdf4eb6f58b0.jpg){kind=small}
AOx1
961 Posts
The best advice I can give you as a nursing instructor is to discuss this IN ADVANCE with your instructor. I would offer few details unless asked (ex- just state that if possible, you would prefer not to observe or participate). If your instructor seems to want more details, you could provide him/her with your reasons at that time. Of course you feel strongly, but try not to polarize the issue in your discussion with your instructor as he or she may also have opposite views and their own reasons to believe in them. I do not say this because I believe that students should cower around instructors by any means, or that their opinions are less valuable or informed. But in most cases, stating your belief succintly along with evidence without moralizing the issue will usually get the best response. For example, regarding the issue of abortion, if I said "My belief is blah, blah, blah and this is why...." it is less likely to put things down the wrong path than if I say "It is morally wrong to....."
One way opens the door for dialogue and discussion of very differing viewpoints and possibly greater understanding of another's viewpoint, the other can come across as an attack when none was intended.
The benefit of an early discussion helps your instructor see you as an advocate who wants to fully participate in the clinical experience, just not in a certain area. If you have never met this instructor, this could really help.
Personally, I would have respect for any student who could articulate a well-reasoned argument either for or against the issue, and would respect their wishes during clinicals. In an ideal world, my classroom would be FULL of people with researched yet differing opinions and I love a good, open debate/discussion. You might even be able to ask to discuss this issue with your class or clinical group as it is certainly a controversial ethical dilemma.
In any case I wish you luck during this clinical placement and certainly understand that this could place you in a difficult spot. Please do not give up on nursing this easily if you meet resistance. We need nurses who research information and come to their own conclusions, whether we agree or disagree with those conclusions. My only issue with students comes with the rare student who drags their feet, tries to hide during clinicals and seems to avoid any learning experience. This is obviously NOT you, and I would like to think most instructors would be thrilled to have a student who is passionate about a topic.