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?
Data from a national survey conducted from 1999 to 2002 found that the overall prevalence of male circumcision in the United States was 79%.
8 in 10 males in this country are circumcised. Making a big deal about it on a maternity floor and refusing to help with the procedure seems ridiculous to me.
2011nursingstudent, that is an old statistic. We could not even use that in a paper in our school, too old. While I do not have an actual article handy, the rate right now is about 50% are circ'd. America is slowly waking up to this medically unnecessary procedure.
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!!
Based on your handle, I'm not at all surprised you take this stance on these issues. I'm assuming you're all about medication free home birthing as well?
I have to agree with the previous poster who said you're basically call everyone who doesn't agree with you ignorant, which I promise you isn't the case. Guess what? I did all the same research you did when I decided to start a family, and guess what? I came to many different conclusions. If you want to be crunchy, all natural, no vaccinations, no circumcisions, no western medicine, etc. etc. etc. that is your right. But guess what? There is a lot of information out there that refutes the anti-hospital birthing, anti-vaccine, anti-everything medical approach to having babies and to be honest with you, I think it's overwhelmingly in favor of the medical community.
I personally prefer to act on science and take advantage of the leaps and mounts medicine has made in the last century and that includes vaccinating our children against deadly diseases, having babies in hospitals to increase a good outcome in the event that an unforseen emergency comes up, and medication to ease that pain of childbirth. (Hey- I take a Tylenol when I have a headache too)
I'm on the fence with the circ issue- I see both sides of this to be honest with you. My final decision was allowing my husband to make the choice. He has a member, I don't. He was totally in favor of it. That is what tipped the scale. Don't assume people who choose circ don't do their homework just because they don't side with your 'crunchy' view.
I'm curious how you feel about piercing a baby girls ears. Is that not mutilation?
I'm "against" scheduled C-sections for moms who are tired of being pregnant and want to choose their baby's birthday...but that doesn't mean I didn't have to watch one in nursing school.
We are nurses and will have to do, watch, and assist with things that we are either opposed to or just not quite on board with. But if they are legal and judged by the majority of thinking people to be ethical, that's what we do.
By the way, I would NEVER suggest going to speak with the clinical instructor ahead of time about your issue. Having done some teaching myself in the past, I would never choose to be the student who asks ahead of time for special treatment for something that, frankly, may never even come up. It may be perceived as your being a little too focused on yourself at this point and likely won't gain you the respect or affection of your instructor.
I had an elective c-section. Not because I was tired of being pregnant or trying to pick my kids birthday. (I love being pregnant) After a conversation with my OB we decided together it was the best for me and him. I have a very narrow pelvis that wasn't preparing itself for delivery by opening up. (Cephalo-pelvic disproportion) I had a child with a large head and football star shoulders and my doctor, when explaining to me the possible complications told me often in these situations the babies shoulder can get dislocated in order for them to make it through the birth canal. I asked him, "what are the chances I'm going to labor for hours and end up with an emergency section?" His answer was "pretty high". I asked right then for a c-section and he agreed. My son was a week overdue when we scheduled it (and not even close to coming out). My philosophy was this. Why put unnessisary stress on my innocent infant baby? Why risk putting my baby through the pain of shoulder dystocia? Nope, it wasn't even an opinion. I'd do anything, have any surgery to prevent the possibility he could be injured. :)
I had the anti-medical intervention, home birther, type friends tell me I was being 'lied' to by my doctor and such risks are low but you know what? They DO happen. If I can PREVENT them, I'm going to do it.
Anyway- I know I kind of steered away from the topic at hand but it does go back to trusting your doctor and believing in their advice.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I'm "against" scheduled C-sections for moms who are tired of being pregnant and want to choose their baby's birthday...but that doesn't mean I didn't have to watch one in nursing school.
We are nurses and will have to do, watch, and assist with things that we are either opposed to or just not quite on board with. But if they are legal and judged by the majority of thinking people to be ethical, that's what we do.
By the way, I would NEVER suggest going to speak with the clinical instructor ahead of time about your issue. Having done some teaching myself in the past, I would never choose to be the student who asks ahead of time for special treatment for something that, frankly, may never even come up. It may be perceived as your being a little too focused on yourself at this point and likely won't gain you the respect or affection of your instructor.
In our program they encourage to talk to our CI at the beginning (at orientation usually) to let them know of any special requests. As far as things you are interested in or not interested in. I let mine know I have no desire to go to the OR. If I had to I would, but if they are trying to find surgeries for the students that want to go, someone else can have my spot. Since we are so different the CI have always liked us doing this. They don't want to waste time and effort to get someone a surgery to watch if they don't want to be there. The general specialized areas we have to do. (like L&D for example) but like with the Circs, it was optional if we wanted to watch.
The OR was just an example, ICU is another one students can request a day in, or to go to the GI lab, NICU, ED. These aren't our normal rotations but they try to get us a day or two in an area like that we would really like.
I saw about 3 circumcisions in my OB rotation. The nurse prepared the baby and gathered supplies. If Sweet-ease was ordered, we, as the student could put the pacifier in it and give it to the baby. I'm sure if you were uncomfortable with the situation you could choose not to be there for the procedure...it is usually done in the nursery and takes just about 5 min.
2011nursingstudent, that is an old statistic. We could not even use that in a paper in our school, too old. While I do not have an actual article handy, the rate right now is about 50% are circ'd. America is slowly waking up to this medically unnecessary procedure.
It is 9 years old, I couldn't find anything newer on a quick search, but the fact remains that 8 in 10 males in this country are circumcised (not infants, but males of all ages - the circ rate in the 70's and 80's was 90%+ according to Wikipedia), and from a quick survey of my fiancee re: locker rooms, lol, men are quite happy that they are.
I'm not going to answer any more on this one b/c its not the right forum, but I've got two happy/healthy sons and sure would not have been happy if I had to deal with medical staff after all those hours in labor being judgmental b/c of their personal preference.
Actually it was 32.5 in 2009, even less than I thought.
Your article says right in it that that number doesn't include Jewish males that are circ'd outside of the hospital or any male that had the procedure not reimbursed by insurance. I had to pay $500 each time b/c my insurance doesn't cover it......that number is way off and the reality is the number is much higher.
I can see both sides of this one. It's cultural and traditional, but you're cutting nerve endings in a place where the kid will want them later in life.
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2011NursingStudent
346 Posts
Data from a national survey conducted from 1999 to 2002 found that the overall prevalence of male circumcision in the United States was 79%.
8 in 10 males in this country are circumcised. Making a big deal about it on a maternity floor and refusing to help with the procedure seems ridiculous to me.