Jehovah's Witness nurses in the critical care unit?

[asdf88]

Hello

This is my first time posting a thread. I was just wondering if anyone is or knows of a Jehovah's Witness nurse who works in a critical care unit. Also if you dont mind can you tell me at which hospital? The reason I am asking is that I am also one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I just passed my NCLEX. Yay I really want to work in the critical care unit, specifically the CCU. However, when I explained to the supervisor of the ICU/CCU about the issue with the blood transfusion, she said she couldnt hire me on to the critical care unit. Yes, this hospital is offering critical care positions to new grads. I was really devastated because i wanted to really work in the CCU. So I was wondering if it's the same for other hospitals. I explained to the supervisor that I am willing to care for the patient who is receiving the blood transfusion, but that I would need a second nurse(most likely the nurse who would be verifying the blood with me) to spike the blood and press the start button. I do understand why the critical care environment may not want to have a nurse who cannot initiate the blood transfusion. So I was just wondering if I do not have a chance at all in a critical care unit. For now I am orienting in the med-surg floor and I still have lingering feelings for the critical care unit.

Thank You

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

This thread has really sparked my interest re what nurses believe, and will/will not do based on religious beliefs.

I'm going to email my brother who is a JW elder and ask him about this starting pumps for blood, and see what he says.

I will re-post here when I get a reply from him.

I look forward to what your proposing here.

[Gluteus Maximus]

I don't believe in abortions so I don't work in an abortion clinic. If my job ever required me to I would flatly refuse and my boss would probably promptly fire me. They should fire me because that is what's best for their future patients. I should then pack up and leave that job with my head held high and trust God to bless me with something inside of his will. Simple as that.

At least you recognize your limits and don't expect the employer to make special accommodations for you. Good on you.

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

I hope this thread stays open. It is very intriguing and educational. I've even asked a couple of my professors what they thought. OP, I hope you find the answers you're looking for. Personally, I don't want my own beliefs to influence my care of my patients, but not everyone can separate that.

[Lisa, MA]

I see alot of you who don't feel she should work ICU because of the nature of work involved but still encourage her to explore other opportunities in nursing. Awesome!

As for me, I would do what I could to work harmoniously with a coworker who felt uncomfortable with a specific proceedure. Esp if it was deeply rooted in their belief system.

I would hope that others would do the same for me. :)

That said, you do have to consider how your stand on this topic would/could effect your patients. Just as you want others to respect your views, you should respect those of others. If hanging, pushing and tending to blood products with a patient goes against your belief system, then you should not put yourself in that position.

I think the most important thing said here several times is...that while many of us would be willing to trade duties with you, it cannot always be done. There may be situations where no one is available to help you....so then what? Not a good position to be in.

Consider all the facets of this delema before you make an informed decision.

[Lisa, MA]

Since that is the case, I would urge any of you interested in knowing the TRUTH about what this religion believes and how it may impact the job performance of a nurse, to do research and speak to those actual members of the faith instead of relying on disgruntled former members or those merely THINK they know what they are talking about.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

As I was not always a witness, I know that some of our beliefs can seem weird to others, but they are really not that difficult. I invite/ encourage any of you who really want answers to why we do or do not do certain things, to talk to JWs if they ever come to your doorstep, that's one of the reasons we go door to door. Get info "right out of the horses mouth". We honestly don't go around to your door to try and convert you, where there to answer questions you may have.

Jehovah's Witnesses have a strong belief system, not saying other religions don't. We don't just simply drop or disregard our beliefs at various times or moments in life. Our religion effects our whole life, and the decisions we make there in. That's why a JW nurse may hesitate and try to find an alternative when it comes to administering blood, it' not that our religion trying to get in the way.

[Fribblet]

. We honestly don't go around to your door to try and convert you, where there to answer questions you may have.

/derail

After years of having JWs ring my doorbell in the AM and waking me up after I've just fallen asleep after a night shift, despite me telling them again and again to take my house off their list, I'm gonna have to call BS on that.

/end derail.

To add to this thread, if your religion is going to impair you from caring for your patients and potentially put them at risk, then you need to consider another area of work.

I agree with others who say that if you're absolutely unwilling to start blood on non-JW patients, potentially to putting that patient's wellbeing at risk, you may want to consider a less acute setting. If you don't want blood, don't take it; however, YOUR religious beliefs should NEVER affect the care you deliver to others.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I invite/ encourage any of you who really want answers to why we do or do not do certain things, to talk to JWs if they ever come to your doorstep, that's one of the reasons we go door to door.

I tried doing that with a JW classmate, and the conversations kept feeling really convert-y, and she wouldn't give me straight answers to questions I was seriously interested in knowing their perspective on (I've always loved comparative religion). So I used wikipedia instead.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i invite/ encourage any of you who really want answers to why we do or do not do certain things, to talk to jws if they ever come to your doorstep, that's one of the reasons we go door to door. get info "right out of the horses mouth". we honestly don't go around to your door to try and convert you, where there to answer questions you may have.

if you're not there to convert us, why is it that we get the whole "come to church" speech whenever a witness comes to my door? i'm sorry -- maybe you don't realize how very annoying it is to have someone lying on the doorbell over and over when i'm trying to sleep. and it's especially annoying as i've never expressed any interest in the jw religion, so there's no reason for anyone to come to my door.

[OCNRN63, RN]

This conversation should be about whether it can/cannot be workable for a Witness who does not feel comfortable giving blood to work in a critical care setting, not rants against Witnesses in general. Could we please get back on topic?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

this conversation should be about whether it can/cannot be workable for a witness who does not feel comfortable giving blood to work in a critical care setting, not rants against witnesses in general. could we please get back on topic?

totally agree. but this post:

"as i was not always a witness, i know that some of our beliefs can seem weird to others, but they are really not that difficult. i invite/ encourage any of you who really want answers to why we do or do not do certain things, to talk to jws if they ever come to your doorstep, that's one of the reasons we go door to door. get info "right out of the horses mouth". we honestly don't go around to your door to try and convert you, where there to answer questions you may have.

jehovah's witnesses have a strong belief system, not saying other religions don't. we don't just simply drop or disregard our beliefs at various times or moments in life. our religion effects our whole life, and the decisions we make there in. that's why a jw nurse may hesitate and try to find an alternative when it comes to administering blood, it' not that our religion trying to get in the way. "

kind of got everyone off-track with some questionable assertions that some felt a need to challenge.

i challenge all to ignore the sidelines and get back to the op's original issue.

report

[OCNRN63, RN]

totally agree. but this post:

"as i was not always a witness, i know that some of our beliefs can seem weird to others, but they are really not that difficult. i invite/ encourage any of you who really want answers to why we do or do not do certain things, to talk to jws if they ever come to your doorstep, that's one of the reasons we go door to door. get info "right out of the horses mouth". we honestly don't go around to your door to try and convert you, where there to answer questions you may have.

jehovah's witnesses have a strong belief system, not saying other religions don't. we don't just simply drop or disregard our beliefs at various times or moments in life. our religion effects our whole life, and the decisions we make there in. that's why a jw nurse may hesitate and try to find an alternative when it comes to administering blood, it' not that our religion trying to get in the way. "

kind of got everyone off-track with some questionable assertions that some felt a need to challenge.

i challenge all to ignore the sidelines and get back to the op's original issue.

report

exactly.