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.
I don't the any nurse's PERSONAL religious beliefs belong anywhere near her pt care. I find it very inappropriate to transfer one's own religious belief unto her patient. HE/SHE is the one assigned to a patient, and if that pt needs blood, HE/SHE should be able to give it! Other nurses shouldn't have to take on extra work and responsibility because of someone else's personal/religious issues. Honestly, her patient's welfare depends on that blood! How can anyone feel they are not permitted to give it? We aren't in this business for our own health.. we're here for our patients'. What if everyone on the unit that shift was a JW? What everyone had a 'religious issue' with providing integral parts of pt care? What then, we just let people die because it suits our 'beliefs'? Come on..
If I seem slightly angered by this, it's because I am. Just because I don't always agree with what I do at my job, doesn't mean I'm permitted to make that decision not to. Do I really think this poor old 80lb FTT pt shoud be a full code? NO, but I still have to perform CPR on them should they arrest. Do I think this lady really has 10/10 knee pain from a surg 3 mos ago and NEEDS 20 mg's of oxycodone RIGHT THIS SECOND? No, but I can't make that diagnosis of addict either. I'm also not religious nor do I believe in god, but do I let that affect my pt care? If a patient's family asks me to pray with them do I refuse (course not), or if a patient needs spiritual reassurance when they tell me they are afraid to die, do I deny it? No, of course not. (I have many Ca. pt's and hospice cases).
All in all, I do not believe personal religion has any place in altering pt care. If it does, especially one such as this, I think the individual needs to re-route their career path, not necessarily out of nursing, but definitely not working the ICU when you are not able to do a routine task such as hanging blood/blood products.
In an effort not to explode into a rant too much here, I'm going to make one more point. I have to do it.
I'm so sick of how PC everything has gotten, how sensitive everybody tries to be nowadays, how you can't blow your nose without offending someone.. You have to tip-toe around everybody or you'll get sued, everybody cries when you give them a sidewayslook, society has gotten so soft! Just think of how absurd it's gotten! Give me a break. This is not a case of religious discrimination. Nobody's being insensitive or non-understanding. Nobody cares that the OP is a JW, people care because she will be unable to perform her job completely in an ICU because she's letting a factor of the JW belief system interfere with her duty as a nurse. It's that simple.
I completely agree with you, Cat_LPN. Picture a few different scenarios:
Could a Muslim nurse refuse to serve her patient a dinner tray that had a pork chop or Jell-O on it?
Could a Jewish nurse refuse to serve her patient a ham and cheese sandwich?
Could a Protestant nurse refuse to call the priest to administer a Catholic patient's Last Rites?
Could a Catholic nurse refuse to honor a patient's DNR?
Could an atheist nurse refuse to put a patient's rosary in her hand?
On the other hand, I can see how a JW nurse has an especially hard time of it. The JW elders are brutal, and any transgression could lead to disfellowship and shunning, a terrible fate indeed. If you doubt me, check out ex-jehovah'switnesses.net. The extent of coersion and (yes, I'll say it) emotional abuse is appalling. These people MUST obey the elders, no matter what. They risk losing everything. They are ruled by terror, and this nurse does NOT have the choice to spike the bag or push start.
THEY WILL FIND OUT AND SHE WILL LOSE EVERYTHING.
I studied with the JWs for a couple of years. I've read tons of their literature. I'm not just pulling this out of my butt.
There is a reason why we don't see too many JW nurses: their church has strenuously discouraged higher education amongst their flock. (Why go to college when the world is going to end any day anyway? It's a waste of time that could be better spent witnessing.) Very few JWs ever go to college. It's not prohibited, but it has always been strongly discouraged.
Furthermore, JWs are actively taught that anyone who is not a good JW is doomed. (Not to Hell- they don't believe in that- but to destruction.) At the same time, they are NOT ALLOWED to understand other religions and they are NOT ALLOWED to read anything that conflicts with their faith. This is the real reason they discourage education: because educated people do learn about other people's beliefs, and learning such "worldly" things is disastrous to the JW. Their way is the only right way.
I'm perplexed by the person who said that JWs are taught to "respect" other religions. In fact, they are taught the opposite. If you believe every person in the world who does not believe exactly as you do is WRONG WRONG WRONG, where is the respect in that?
I also need to say that when I have (adult) JW patients who need blood, I do not argue with them. I do not in any way try to convince them to accept a transfusion they don't want, even when the result is my patient's death. That is their right, and I respect that. I obviously don't agree with their reasoning, but I respect their autonomy and their right to make such decisions.
I also have patients who fervently believe that if they sign an organ donor card, we will murder them and steal their organs. (Really.) I don't argue with them, either.
There is always an elder standing in the corner, making sure I don't sneak in an unauthorized blood transfusion. (Or, more likely, to ensure that the patient doesn't weaken and accept a life-saving transfusion.) That man watches me like a hawk, because I am a "worldly" person and therefore I am influenced by Satan. (Really: they believe that.) He usually asks me, "isn't she getting her Epogen?!?" and is outraged when I say yes, but Epogen is not going to prevent death when the patient is actively bleeding out.
If you refuse blood, and you are an adult, I will not ever, ever try to give you blood. Not to save your life or for any other reason. Nor will I tell you your beliefs are stupid or wrong. I really do understand why you believe what you do because I have studied it, I've actively learned about it, so I know why you refuse blood even though I think your logic is faulty. I will never tell a patient what I think of his/her beliefs because it is not about ME.
I am a nurse and my job is to take care of my patients, not to force anything I believe or don't believe onto them. If I cannot do my job, for any reason, then I should not be there.
Specializes in PICU now, Peds and med-surg in the past.
Congrats to the OP on passing the NCLEX! I wish you luck in finding a job that makes you happy!
I have worked medsurg units, general peds units and now in PICU and I have given blood routinely on ALL of the units I have worked on for reasons from cancer to trauma to post surgical to anemia of varying types etc. If I have a moment I would be glad to press start for a Jehovah's Witness coworker, even prime the blood like I said if I have time. If the situation isn't critical and the patient can wait the few minutes until I get there of course. We all know there are shifts where you are just SO busy with with your own assignment that you barely see your coworkers out of their patient's rooms (especially now since I work in PICU) unless a code is happening and everyone runs to help. I guess here is where the dilemma is (at least partly) - if your coworkers are going crazy with their own assignment and all of a sudden your patient is ordered for a blood transfusion do you make the patient wait until things calm down (possibly even to the next shift) or do you ensure that the order is carried out on your own. I have worked with a couple JW nurses, neither of whom had any problem transfusing their patient with no more assistance from me then checking the information. I wasn't even aware that it was a controversy for these nurses to transfuse a non-JW patient because the ladies I knew never said I word about it. As I said previously, under the right circumstances I would gladly help you out but I guess what you need to think about before taking a job on a unit which frequently transfuses their patients is that in the not ideal situation where there isn't another nurse who can do it for you are you willing to do it for the patient or not? Definately not saying this in an accusatory manner at all because I think it's great to be so dedicated to your beliefs - you just may be faced with such a dilemma, especially on a crazy day/night in an ICU. Best of luck to you!
I wouldn't want to work with a nurse who puts their own religious interests first. I'm not religious but I don't believe in slaughtering animals for food. So should I refuse to feed a patient meat because I don't like it? Absolutely not!
What you do with your body is your choice. But as a nurse you have a responsibility to provide care to your patient and if that involves giving blood and pressing a button then you must do it. No ifs of buts.
If you cannot put aside your own values then you shouldn't be in an area where a patient may be compromised. Critical Care patients often require blood transfusions and it's probably best you look elsewhere. I'm not saying don't do nursing at all because there are other areas where you may be able to provide patient care where your religious beliefs will not hinder patient care.
Specializes in Cardiac care/Ortho/LTC/Education/Psych.
My brother is an elder with the JWs and though I have studied with them, I am not one of them. I strongly disagree with some of their beliefs, though I understand the reasoning behind them. I am a Registered Nurse down under BTW.
You should have really thought of this long & hard b4 going into nursing. I have known JW girls who decided not to do nursing because it clashes with their beliefs. Giving blood is an inherent part of the job, and though I do know re the reasoning why, did you not think this would be a problem? This is especially so in CCU/ICU/HDU and general wards. Also what about if you go to a gynaecology ward and have to care for someone who is wants/has had an abortion? Does this mean because the woman wants to or has had an abortion, they are not worthy of nursing care? You really need to think of all these situations in regards to nursing as the career for you. Perhaps you could do mental health where they don't do blood transfusions, or another area in nursing? There is a hospital here in Fremantle for JWs where they don't use blood at all, do u have any of those in the US where you could work? This is a real dilemma that you have to think carefully about - maybe speak to ur local elder for some advice.
Same thinking here. I personally do not support abortion but one day our manager came to meeting and announced that we will be getting patients who must have abortion for this or that reason. Some nurses left, I have a small "talk" with my own view and religion and decided that it does not bother me so much because it is not elected because of inconvenience and if it was I would probably leave the floor. Thanks God , there are so many other places you can work. Sorry , but you need to have small talk with yourself also what you like and prefer. Good luck with searching.
There is always an elder standing in the corner, making sure I don't sneak in an unauthorized blood transfusion. (Or, more likely, to ensure that the patient doesn't weaken and accept a life-saving transfusion.) That man watches me like a hawk, because I am a "worldly" person and therefore I am influenced by Satan. (Really: they believe that.) He usually asks me, "isn't she getting her Epogen?!?" and is outraged when I say yes, but Epogen is not going to prevent death when the patient is actively bleeding out.
All the JW's I've cared for always seem shocked when we tell them that they will die without blood. One told me that they knew of someone with a hgb of 2 who lived. Another told me their church told them that there's a machine we can use that will just circulate their own blood. Uhm, we can circulate til the cows come home, if you don't have enough, you don't have enough. Another one came from far away thinking would would be able to give him chemo for his leukemia that will "not lower his counts."
If there is a person present at the code, regardless of where they are standing, that cannot connect an IV, then they probaby don't need to be working the code-at all. They need to stay out of the room.
The only person that would apply to, is the respiratory therapist.
That is nice in theory. And I agree with you.
I, however, work in a major teaching facility. And it would be frowned on to kick out the excess staff from "a learning experience", though it would make life and working a code much easier.
Well sister, congrats on NCLEX first of all. You know certain floors will pass out blood like candy - so you should know that BEFOREHAND. other floors will be more lenient on allowing other nurses to hang blood for you (but it probably won't be CCU). The Society also has a few articles on that topic that you can research
I think that people that don't work in an ICU can not understand just how fast blood is transfused here.
In an non-emergent situation, such as a pt that is going back to surgery in the morning with low counts. I could be giving 2-3 units of PRBC's, a 6 pack of platelets and 2 units of FFP. They will all come up together in a cooler, and get checked off with another nurse on arrival with the pt's armband. That other nurse will then go back to his/her own pt's and I will hang/start the blood. In the non-emergent situation a unit of blood will be finished in about 10 minutes, with the next unit started immediately after it. You can not ask another nurse into your room every 10 minutes to start your blood.
Now in an emergent situation a unit of blood/FFP/platelets will be pushed into the pt every 3 minutes and this can go on for what seems like forever. To give you some idea of the amount of blood products that can go into a pt in the ICU, when I totaled up the volume it was over 15 liters within 2 hours the last time I did a rapid transfusion.
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. 
Cat_RN, ASN, BSN, RN
298 Posts
I don't the any nurse's PERSONAL religious beliefs belong anywhere near her pt care. I find it very inappropriate to transfer one's own religious belief unto her patient. HE/SHE is the one assigned to a patient, and if that pt needs blood, HE/SHE should be able to give it! Other nurses shouldn't have to take on extra work and responsibility because of someone else's personal/religious issues. Honestly, her patient's welfare depends on that blood! How can anyone feel they are not permitted to give it? We aren't in this business for our own health.. we're here for our patients'. What if everyone on the unit that shift was a JW? What everyone had a 'religious issue' with providing integral parts of pt care? What then, we just let people die because it suits our 'beliefs'? Come on..
If I seem slightly angered by this, it's because I am. Just because I don't always agree with what I do at my job, doesn't mean I'm permitted to make that decision not to. Do I really think this poor old 80lb FTT pt shoud be a full code? NO, but I still have to perform CPR on them should they arrest. Do I think this lady really has 10/10 knee pain from a surg 3 mos ago and NEEDS 20 mg's of oxycodone RIGHT THIS SECOND? No, but I can't make that diagnosis of addict either. I'm also not religious nor do I believe in god, but do I let that affect my pt care? If a patient's family asks me to pray with them do I refuse (course not), or if a patient needs spiritual reassurance when they tell me they are afraid to die, do I deny it? No, of course not. (I have many Ca. pt's and hospice cases).
All in all, I do not believe personal religion has any place in altering pt care. If it does, especially one such as this, I think the individual needs to re-route their career path, not necessarily out of nursing, but definitely not working the ICU when you are not able to do a routine task such as hanging blood/blood products.