Hi, I have just joined the forum, I have been qualified 2 years now.
I was wondering if anyone can help me with some insight with the following.
I was working a nightshift with another SN that is a jehovah witness, there was a patient who had been admitted earlier that day with a low HB and needed 3 x RCC transfusion asap. The nurse whom I was working with told me that because of her beliefs she would not check or have anything to do with this duty:o. I had to arrange for the hospital co-ordinator at night to come down to the ward to assist me in setting up and checking the RCC. This caused a delay in the pt treatment as I had to wait till the co-ordinater was free to assist:-{
My question is was she right to put her beliefs and values before patient care. I know that there is issues in connection to JW not wishing transfusions for themselves etc., but surely as a nurse practitionare she should be putting the pt needs first?
I wanted to challenge this but being newly qualified at the time I was a bit unsure of my knowledge in this:uhoh3:. The nurse co-ordinater was also reluctant to do this due to political correctness, I have since researched this and have found nothing that forbids them performing this duty for others. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places for this information.
Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can give:up:
Being a nursing student and a Jehovah Witness i can address this issue. Here is an article from our Watchtower Publication that will help you to reason on a nurses or any other medical workers position regarding blood transfusions or any other blood by product. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.***w754/1pp.215-216AreYouGuidedbyaSensitiveChristianConscience?***
CONSCIENCE
ANDEMPLOYMENT
7 Employment is an area that brings up many problems calling for the exercise of Christian conscience. Some forms of employment, such as making idols, working in a gambling establishment or being employed by a false religious organization, are clearly contrary to the Scriptures. So Christians shun these. (1 John 5:21; Col. 3:5; Rev. 18:2, 4, 5) Not all employment matters, though, are that clear-cut. Certain employment may be in a "gray area," so to speak. And sometimes, while one's basic work is unobjectionable, one may be asked occasionally to do something questionable. So conscience can be involved.
8 For example, there are employment problems involving blood. The Bible states plainly that God's servants should not feed on blood. (Gen. 9:3, 4; Acts 15:19, 20) Hence, Jehovah's Christian witnesses do not eat food containing blood, such as blood sausage, or accept blood transfusions. But what if, on your job you were asked to handle blood or blood products occasionally? Would your conscience permit that? A Witness in Colorado worked in a hospital as the chief medical technician running tests of various types on body tissue and fluid. Among the many things he was expected to test were blood samples. Sometimes it was simply to check a patient's blood for the level of sugar or cholesterol. But at other times it was to cross match for transfusion purposes. Could he do that?
9 This Christian gave careful thought to the matter. It could be seen that it would not be right for a Christian to work exclusively for a blood bank, where everything was devoted to an end that was in violation of God's law. But that was not his situation; he ran tests of many kinds. Also, if one were a doctor responsible for the decision, one could not order a blood transfusion for a patient, any more than a Christian store owner could order and stock idols or cigarettes. However, this technician realized that in connection with blood he was merely running a test, even as a nurse might have taken the sample, a messenger might have delivered it to the laboratory and someone else might administer a transfusion or other medication on a doctor's orders. He reflected on the principle at Deuteronomy 14:21. According to that text a Jew finding a carcass of an animal that died of itself could clear it away by selling it to a foreigner who was not under the Law's restrictions about animal flesh not drained of its blood. So the technician's conscience at that time allowed him to run blood tests, including those of blood for transfusions to patients who did not care about God's law on blood.
10 Is that how your conscience would have reacted? If not, for the sake of discussion, ask yourself whether your conscience would permit you as an employee to bring the blood sample to the laboratory for testing. Or, taking yet another step farther away from the actual transfusion, could you as a truck driver deliver the testing equipment to the hospital? Or would your conscience let you make glass from which such equipment might be produced? It is clear that not all these things reasonably can be viewed as direct contributions to violating God's law on blood. But where does one "draw the line"? Here is where conscience comes into play. While the Christian must avoid things that are unmistakably in conflict with God's law, he is called upon to use his conscience in settling many matters. Would your conscience serve you well in such situations? Is it sensitive?
11 In this particular case, after many years of running tests, the technician began to be troubled by his conscience. It was not as if someone else should or could tell him that he was doing wrong. Nor was he looking for someone else to make his decisions for him. But he began to think: "Is it consistent to talk of neighbor love, and yet contribute, in part, to my neighbor's breaking of God's law?" (Matt. 22:39; Acts 21:25) Appreciating his Christian duty to support his family, he discussed the matter with his wife. (1 Tim. 5:8) Together they agreed that, if his conscience was troubled, it would be better to make a change. He left his $15,000-a-year job and began doing cleaning work, though he started off earning just $3,600 a year.
12 Let us not miss the point of this example. It is not related here to suggest that a Christian cannot be a medical technician; there are Christians who continue to work as medical technicians, nurses, truck drivers, and so forth. This example is given to illustrate that conscience can come into play on matters of employment. In your case the type of job and what you are asked to do may be quite different. But all Christians should give thought to whether they are living as closely as possible in accord with God's ways and principles. If your conscience trained by God's Word is pained because of what is asked of you, will you ignore it? Just how important is it to you to have a clear conscience before God and men?--1 Tim. 1:5, 19.
13 Of course, we cannot altogether avoid employment problems, for we are still in this system of things. (1 Cor. 5:9, 10) Thus you likely realize that you may not be able to move your boss to cultivate a Christian conscience. He may choose to disregard certain laws, he may exaggerate the merits of his products or he may stock some items that you would not if you owned the business. Or your fellow workers may lie on their production reports or loaf when the boss is not nearby. Still, you can and should respond to your conscience. So if it does not allow you to do certain things or if you are ridiculed for your hard work, accept that. The apostle Peter wrote: "If someone, because of conscience toward God, bears up under grievous things and suffers unjustly, this is an agreeable thing."--1 Pet. 2:18, 19.
The problem I have with this article is this, IMO this reads as if JW are only christians. With this being the case and as we speak of conscience we are speaking of one's personal belief. I as a nursing student and a true christian who happens to not be a JW do not have the same conscience as you. It dosn't mean that I do not have the same reverence for God that you may have, I simply have a different interpretation of this particular scripture. The point that I want to make is simply this, when you place your conscience this subject matter you are indeed placing your personal beliefs onto someone else, someone who has their own personal relationship with God and this is where I belief the shortfall comes about. Remember when a patient enters a hospital they are there for medical care and attention, I believe this is what we should be focusing on. Now if the patient ask me to pray with them, or to read a bible with them then that is another case in point. However, because I am a follower of God, and not the mind of God I can tell you what the word of God states but only God himself can tell you his own conscience, just the same as only God himself will make the judgement on who revence him to the level of revenence he requires, in other words, my job as a Christian is to follow God to the best of my ability as he reveals himself to me, to walk in the revelation of his word, and to utilize the gifts he has given me - such as the gift of nursing to assist in healing, I never know what God may have plan for another individual, they could be a non believer one day, and a God can meet him just as he met Paul and make him a believer. So, I think that that should be God choice, my job is not to judge and not to be judge but to perform my duties as a nurse- if I feel the need to pray about that to the Father, I can do this and know that His Grace is Sufficent to supply All Of my Needs
The nurses job does not primarily consist of transfusing patients.
If that were the case, we would all be out of work. Agree?
I onceor twice had to get someone to spike a bag for me. And that's because the person making the assignments forgot.
The last time this came up on the post partum floor; my co-workers were frustrated only because I was reluctant to remind them at the beginning of the shift in order to make a switch. I didn't want to give up the more difficult assignment.
It has not been often that transfusions were started on my shift in all the areas I worked, except for the Level III NICU. And even then it only took a couple of minutes for someone to start the infusion. I did everything else. They initially had issues with Jehovah's Witnesses in general in regards to blood transfusions, but once they were educated on the subject, their attitude toward me changed and some took extra measures to be sensitive toward my feelings.
Nurses help each other out. I remember my first nursing job when this patient died from a ruptured aorta and I stepped in to clean him up for my co worker who was also a new nurse. I had this dead phobia that I wasn't quite over yet but that's what nurses do for each other. Its part of who we are. I hope you have similar experiences of over coming obstacles or biases to be there for your fellow nurses.
Actually, the critical care areas have more nurses available to take the minute to hang blood for someone. And my co workers never seem to mind because we would do pretty much anything to help each other out in a pinch...especially if no one feels they are being advantage of. I even had people say they would come in from home to help me if I ever needed them. It probably would not have to happen, but it felt good to hear it.
To say that a JW just shouldn't be a nurse or take a job where she might occasionally have to hang blood is overkill. As the OP's post pointed out, a nurse can take a job in a department that rarely handles blood products and then be floated to another unit where it is more common and would be expected of her.
To eliminate any kind of nursing where her convictions might cause a conflict is like telling a breastfeeding mom who needs to pump on her shift that she should bottle feed or take a leave of absence so as not to inconvenience anyone else. In reality, pumping would be a far more frequent occurrence although it would also be temporary. If this kind of accommodation can be made (and it is all the time), why can't the other far less frequent need be covered as well. (BTW, I used this as one example of the way many of us help each other out, not as an invitation to discuss pumping breast milk at work.)
As in most situations, good communication (ahead of time) an agreeable attitude, a kind spirit, and the willingness to be flexible on everyone's part can go a long way toward meeting everyone's needs.
If there is a plan in place and maybe a plan b or plan c as well, this does not have to be a major malfunction.
Not everyone is agreeable to work with someone with unfamiliar beliefs, customs, backgrounds; and look for valid reasons to avoid having to deal with them. To say "itiswrongor unfair to get someone else to provide one form of medical treatment for a patient because of a particular conflict with the nurse's beliefs", and at the same time say "I don't want to work with someone whose beliefs are different from mine" is being a bit hypocritical in my opinion. If we are to be accepting, kind and supportive of our patients regardless of creed, color, religion, social status, and so forth, then we should feel the same toward someone we work side by side with.
From reading this thread, I believe this is going off point of the original question. The orginal question was, was it correct for the JW nurse to place his/her personal belief before the medical attention or care of a patient.
Which states to me, being open minded and in my honest opinion - No.
Sure we all have a consceince to follow, however, if I am looking at a patient in the same light that I view my ownself then I hold a certain amount of prejudice towards that individual. In other words, how can I say I am supportive of a patients right to certain medical procedures however, my religion has taught me not to perform a certain procedure and hence, I refuse to have any part on administering a part of this procedure to another patient. Through out this decision for the JW nurse not to move forward displayed the level of care he/she is allowed to give, in view of her own personal religious beliefs. This is not to say it is not done in the workplace just as it is not to say the JW nurse should not be a nurse.
However, to answer the question at hand - No a JW nurse or any nurse for the matter should place there own personal beliefs before the care of the patient. The patient is there for medical treatment they have the right to receive medical treatment of there choice. It is the duty of the nurse on duty to without judgement perform that medical treatment. There will be times, that I do not agree with certain procedures, and I may not perform certain procedures because of my own personal beliefs, however, this is a part of my weakness to cross the line of remaining mutual and non prejudcial about the matter, this dosn't mean I am correct, it simply means this is who I am and ethically this is the line I will not cross.
To put it another way - I have a spouse and a child I love both of them equally. I will not do certain things with my child that I would do for my spouse not because I am less supportive of my child or spouse but because, as a wife and a mother I may not feel what is being asked of me is morally or ethical correct to me. This is not to say that I do not love each of them nor is it to say I am not supportive of each of them. In these same tokens I cant say that because I have a religous belief that I feel others should make exceptions to accomodate my religion. Why because it is not my religous belief that is the focus, the focus is the choice of medical treatment that the patient has choosen. If I am a nurse, and I chose to partice in a certain focus of nursing then I should be expected to follow all procedures as required for the area I chose to focus on. It is my job or the expectation of the patient to perform the treatment that the patient came to me for. I would not say that a JW nurse should not be a nurse at all, but I will say that no nurse should choose a focus of nursing that would allow his/her ethical or religous beliefs to get in the way of treating the patient. For one, it could be a danger to the patient just as well as it could be misinterpreted as prejudice to the patients family and cause damage to the hospital.
Of course, you are entitled to your opinion. But I don't believe I was off the subject when I suggested that there may be some prejudice behind the anger and defensiveness I am picking up on by a couple of the postings to this thread. Often, prejudice can displaced by knowledge.
There are probably thousands of Jehovah's Witness nurses that work in most areas of nursing. So it has already been decided by those that make those decisions, that their employment is appropriate. In most cases, their stand on blood transfusions have already been disclosed.
No one is attempting to force their beliefs on anyone here. Just trying to answer some questions and clear up any misconceptions.
I do not involve my patients in my decision to have someone else perform this particular task. I am in the room taking care of them too, so from their point of view, there are a couple of nurses in their room at the moment performing nursing duties. No aspect of their care is delayed. So there is no problem involving the patient in this case.
The patient's beliefs, needs or wants are not denied or compromised.
I am not arging this point with you, but I will say this, if you are asking others to perform part of a procedure for you because of your own personal religous belief no matter how strongly you may feel about the belief, you are indeed imposing that belief on to someone else. It dosn't matter how many Jehovah Witness are nurses or not nor does it matter if another nurse is in the room with you. I believe this may clear up some questions ANA states the code of ethics to be as follows" Relationships to Patients The need to health care is universal transceding all individual differences. The nurse establishes relationships and delivers nursing services with respect for human needs and values and without prejudice. An individual lifestyle, value system and religious belief should be considered in planning health care with and for each patient such consideration does not suggest that the nurse necessarily agrees with or condones certain individual choices, but that the nurse respects the patient as a person" (nurseworld.org ethics code of ANA)
All nurses, have a code of ethics that should be followed I think the hostility that you maybe reading in some post is that, no one never knows how there beliefs may offended another person, and thus my beliefs has no business in the workplace. I cant say to another coworker I believe it is religously unethical to spike blood and hang it, so could you do it for me? He/She may feel like even though they see nothing wrong in spiking the blood and hanging, they are indeed just as spritual as you are.
In order to avoid all of this, why not simply choose a profession that will not put you or anyone else in that situation.
I am beginning to wonder one thing though? Situation- Lets say you are in a room with another Jehovah Witness nurse and the patient still need the blood transfusion, and no one else was available exactly what would you do?
I hope you have success as a student and in your future nursing career. My suggestion to you is to be a little less defensive and more open minded. I also hope you quickly learn what it means to be a team player. It will make others ready to help you out when you need it, and your early experiences will be more enjoyable.
I am beginning to wonder one thing though? Situation- Lets say you are in a room with another Jehovah Witness nurse and the patient still need the blood transfusion, and no one else was available exactly what would you do?
Yeah I just don't see that happening. Hopefully they would have spoken with the manager before hand if its in a regular med surg. Still even in a critical care setting there is time to find someone else. The nurses aren't going to be standing in the room and the doc come in with a bag of blood and say give it now! This isn't the 1950s.
I hope you have success as a student and in your future nursing career. My suggestion to you is to be a little less defensive and more open minded. I also hope you quickly learn what it means to be a team player. It will make others ready to help you out when you need it, and your early experiences will be more enjoyable.
Ok I can see that you have taken my being open minded in responsing to this question defensively, which shows me that maybe the defenses, you was reading into on the post you mention was due to your own personal perceptions. However, I have never been viewed as not being a team player by the team I work with nor have I ever been viewed as being closed minded and my early experiences are very enjoyable so I cant comment on that
but I will say to you thank you for wishing me success as a student and as a future nurse. I hope that you could see past the disagreement we may have due to the fact I am sure I am not the only one that disagrees with you, and realize that I am not in anyway trying to create a hostile environment I was just making a point.
I wish you much sucess as well, in all of your endevors bestbabynurse
Yeah I just don't see that happening. Hopefully they would have spoken with the manager before hand if its in a regular med surg. Still even in a critical care setting there is time to find someone else. The nurses aren't going to be standing in the room and the doc come in with a bag of blood and say give it now! This isn't the 1950s.
LOL yes I figure that too. that wasnt the point, I was making, though
AnnaSL, BSN, RN
71 Posts
Exactly!!!