Jehovah Witness RNs

[aimeeinorbit]

Ok, here I am waving my big "look at me" flag, hopefully not painting a giant target on myself..... :uhoh21:

Im looking for any RNs who are Jehovah's Witnesses. I am one (yes, active), and I have recently come across a work related issue that I have a question about. If anyone reading this is an active JW, please contact me (see email address on profile page) if you are comfortable talking. Thanks!

[smk1, LPN]

Ok so in the post about the C/S patient....

She signed the blood refusal form....did she have an advanced directive that states her family/spouse could make that decision...I am just confused leagally speaking...

If they sign the blood refusal....have not named anyone who can make decisions...and the family wants blood....can that patient recover, then sue the hospital???

Also....to any JWs out there....if patient comes in the ER from an MVA and is uncounsious....receives blood...are there any ramifications from the church.....

and if the MD gets a court order for a child to receive blood against the parents wishes....does that child have ramifications from the church??

this is all very interesting to me and I think this board is a great place to share opinions, ideas, and share experiences. I am not here to BASH anyone...I just find all this very interesting and informative.

side note....I have worked with one JW nurse before, never had an issues as far as giving blood, confidentiality, ect....that I know of. However, it was very common for us to have pot lucks for peoples birthdays....if she participates...is that against the JW religion? again...just curious....

If blood is given to someone against their wishes then there would be no reason for ramifications from their religious leaders because they had nothing to do with the decision to receive blood. I also keep in mind that everyone who says they are a JW may not "really" be. There are plenty of people who never got baptized or haven't been a practicing JW for years but still claim that as their "religion". This could account for a lot of the variety in what you see "JW's" doing.

[danamobile]

Not necessarily so. If an order goes against the religious beliefs of a nurse, she/he cannot be forced to engage in the order, regardless of who has written it. As long as the employer is aware of the beliefs, the employer cannot force an employee to act contrary to the employee's religious beliefs.

Woody:balloons:

I feel that everyone has the right to their own decisions, both patient and nurse, but as professionals we are here for the public whatever treatment it may be, against or for our beliefs or not. I want to think its our professional duty to follow their plan of care. if its something that can be managed (letting another nurse hang the blood) thats reasonable as care can be completed, but if it cannot be... that just seems unprofessional. thats my opinion... nothing to do with religion at all...

[eandgsma]

If anyone is interested in what their official website says, I would suggest going to http://www.watchtower.org. That is where you can find your answers. Just do a search on blood.

[eandgsma]

"For example, if a person associating with Jehovah's Witnesses is not married and obtains birth control products, Aimeeinorbit is expected to share this information with her elders. If she does not, she will be judged by them as "covering over a sin." Other medical procedures would also be covered by this: abortions, treatment for alcoholism, blood transfusions, or even receiving a blood fraction that does not have the approval of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Aimeeinorbit may have some very serious conflicts."

A JW can be on birth control without being married. Their are other reasons for being on "the pill" other than preventing pregnancy from having sex. And does this mean that a Roman Catholic RN has to report to her priest about a fellow parishoner (sp?) for obtaining BC without being married? Because it is my understanding that they are forbidden from using BC. (Please correct me if I'm wrong).

A JW can be treated for alcoholism; that is a disease just like any other.

See my above post on information from their only official website at http://www.watchtower.org for further information.

All I can say is that while I may not agree with other people's religions, I certainly do not go around bashing them, especially not on a public forum. As RNs it is expected that we treat all our patients with respect, dignity and without bias no matter who they are or what they believe. Just like we have to respect cultural differences, we have to respect religious differences.

I'm sure the OP is terrified of posting anything else now. Hopefully we can put this to rest since it has deviated from the OP.

[Labor Nurse]

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and work as an RN on a busy labor and delivery unit. I HAVE been in the position of losing so much blood (in childbirth) that I was told that I would die if I did not receive it. It is scary but displeasing our creator much more so. I did not receive blood and am here today yrs after the fact. I will not participate in abortions. This is also the stance of most of the nurses on my unit even though they are not JW's. No ramifications for standing their ground as it is a matter of conscience. As far as hanging blood, we help each other out and work as a team in all areas so I have encountered no problems here. I too suggest that you go to the Watchtower Society's only official site: http://www.Watchtower.org You will encounter more and more Jehovah's Witnesses as patient's. Be enformed!!

I wondered how long before we had this discussion.

[woody62, RN]

I feel that everyone has the right to their own decisions, both patient and nurse, but as professionals we are here for the public whatever treatment it may be, against or for our beliefs or not. I want to think its our professional duty to follow their plan of care. if its something that can be managed (letting another nurse hang the blood) thats reasonable as care can be completed, but if it cannot be... that just seems unprofessional. thats my opinion... nothing to do with religion at all...

I am a practicing Roman Catholic. AS a Roman Catholic I cannot have an abortion and I cannot assist at one. When this was an issue for me, I told my employer of my religious beliefs. They agreed not to assign me to any abortion. If a patient had come in, is miscarrying and in need of a surgical abortion, and I were the only nurse available, I would have put my religious beliefs aside and assisted. Then I would have gone to confession as soon as possible. And I doubt my regular confessor would have denied me forgiveness, which he could do. We had discussed just such a situation, when I asked for his guidance. He told me that a higher law, to save another's life, took over, in place of church law.

However, if my religious beliefs prevented me from giving care, my employer was aware of it, then I think there is nothing unprofessional in my refusal. Neither I nor others who had religious beliefs that prevent them from taking part in certain procedures, hide our beliefs. We only ask that they be respected, just like any beliefs you have, that you feel should be respected.

Woody

[limestone]

I am new to this thread so am coming in late, but HAD to make some comments.

If everybody expected to provide nursing care according to their personal beliefs, what a fragented system it would be--patient care would depend on the availability of a staff member who agreed with the orders.

I am an atheist but a vegetarian. I abhor the eating of our fellow cratures but I would never make it an issue at work. I serve my patients meals containing pieces of cows, fish and chickens and keep my own beliefs and practices to myself.

Re JWs, I find it interesting that they won't take blood into their bodies but eat meat which contains blood, last time I looked. And not hanging bags of blood, but running it after somebody else does.... Please, people, can we just stop the hair splitting and pontificating and get on with our work.

[feebebe23]

I sorta agree with your post....I would never IMPOSE my religion on a patient....as in "hi patient so and so...I am your nurse today and I would like to hold your hand and pray with you and ask the lord to bless the care I will be giving you today"...

On the other hand when I have been asked to pray with a family...I have smilled politely and agreed.

I do think a lot of this is splitting hairs....and it is hard to know when to draw the line....

I for example chose to not participate in terminations (I work in L&D)my employer has never had an issue with this....

but when I hear stories of ER docs not giving EC to rape victims or catholic hospitals not letting women with ectopic pregnancies have methotrexate(sp?) and forcing women to have surgery instead....I think thats wierd....

But at the end of the day we are all just people....nurses and patients...there will never be a separation of church and state. Politics and religion will always collide....you can't separate a person from their religious beliefs because they are wearing a badge that says RN or MD. So when a lovely lesbian couple comes in to deliver their baby...and nurse A says "that makes me uncomfortable" I am happy to take that patient and treat them with dignity and respect....and I could make a stink...report that nurse...right up a report....but the drama is not worth it.....so I will hang blood for another nurse if asked....and in return I ask that another nurse step up and take the termination patient because I will not....so I will close with that famous quote can't we all just get along:)

[AgentOrange]

There are plenty of people who never got baptized or haven't been a practicing JW for years but still claim that as their "religion

Ain't that the truth. I'm reminded that Michael Jackson is/was a Jehovah's Witness (I believe they have officially disfellowshipped him, but I'm not sure.)

[1funurseLVN]

So glad this topic is being discussed! WhileI am not a JW I married into one. I have seen this religion do A-mazing things in the lives of people that I love. Throughout my climb in the nursing industry (which climb I feel will never end) I have had the opportunity to be many things including a Cellsaver. When I took on this new task (some years ago) My sister-in-law sent me video that their church had made available to the public, I found it very informative and useful when dealing with Dr.s, staff, pts, and families.

There was a time when my sweet 16 yr old niece had to have surgery and it was very hard to sit through and be a part of...but do you think it was any easier for her mother? These are real people with real beliefs willing to make real sacrifices, right or wrong, it's not our place to judge. (which is also hard to do BUT IS OUR JOB) Advocate-YES Judge-NO

Many JW believe in Cellsaving so long as the "cyle is not broken" They prefer that the flow of blood be suctioned, cleansed and the blood pushed into the bag and spiked and with flow being uninterrupted. I really feel the answer is in offering possible alternatives, being sensitive to ones beliefs, and doing our freaking jobs (refer to the Nightengale Pledge we all took!)

I don't believe alot of the JW practices but I respect them as good people and feel that life is about give and take. Trust me the do alot of giving!

P.S. If ANYONE is violating pt confidentiality laws they will pay dearly for it whether in this life or the next! (Remember "Judge not lest ye be judged!)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

P.S. If ANYONE is violating pt confidentiality laws they will pay dearly for it whether in this life or the next! (Remember "Judge not lest ye be judged!)

Sounds like a judgement to me.

[danamobile]

I did not say it was unprofessional to refuse to treat someone based on your belief system. as i stated, both patients and nurses have a right to their own decisions. i feel that it would be unprofessional if the task, in general, could not be completed; if it could not be delegated to someone else to complete it. (as in the example with blood)