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.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
do i work at the only hospital that doesn't put blood on pumps? i wonder if a jw nurse can titrate blood?
thank you hoozdo for responding some ppl have acted like i'm blowing smoke up their rears when i hinted the above circumstances and previous scenarios. i could see in a code where sometimes it could all fly out the window to save a life. you do what you have to.
you don't work at the only hospital that doesn't put blood on pumps. we just slam ours in -- sometimes a whole cooler full is checked all at once and one person will just stand there and squeeze blood in two lines while another keeps taking down the empties and spiking new ones. if you were in a situation where the patient was exanguinating and refused to hang blood products, there would be a problem. sometimes you're the only nurse on the side of the bed where the blood line is, and quarters are too tight and the situation to urgent to waste time trying to switch places for someone who would hang the blood.
i understand the op's desire to work in critical care, i really do. but i would recommend against starting a job where you already know there are things you're going to refuse to do. as you learn the job there will be other things that will bother your conscience as well -- will you refuse to do them as well? i do things every day that i think are hideous and wrong. but i do them because it isn't up to me to decide that a 92 year old with multi-system organ failure and dementia should or should not be a full code. it's not up to me to decide that a 40 year old who is dying by inches and in incredible pain should not get pain medication when his mother visits because it makes him too sleepy to interact with her. the mother and the surgeon made the decision, the surgeon wrote the order for no pain meds between 9am and 6pm. the ethics committee upheld the decisions. it's out of my hands. it's only up to me when it's my parent or spouse.
if the op really wants to work in icu, perhaps she could examine her conscience and see if she can find a way to initiate blood transfusions. because if she cannot, then she should not work in icu. it puts too big a burden on the rest of the staff to find a way to work around her conscience and on the patients who might be in harm's way if someone else cannot get free of their own assignment in time to start her blood for her.
I am curious about this: The OP says she can't hang or start but can monitor. Can she stop the infusion and take it down? For example- if the pt develops a reaction and the blood must be stopped? Or even just whent the transfusion is completed?
I'm a Jehovah's Witness and Registered Nurse. I wish I had seen your thread sooner before you had to endure these misguided posts*because I'm scared this may be your last. :-/ Some ignorant and hateful posts here. Btw, to fellow posters she asked for fellow Witnesses to respond so unless you are one nobody cares about your 'opinion.' it's irrelevant and not to mention off topic.*
I have worked CCU, ER, and Hospice. The latter two I still work in a prn and full time capacity. I will tell you handling blood was a very real concern for me as well. Fortunately, I knew fellow witness nurses in local congregations and I got their input/advice.*
As mentioned, blood is a very frequent fix in the hospital and critical units. Some medical personnel Jehovah's witnesses are opposed to handling it. Those that are may chose to work in areas were the issue will not come up. i.e. (Doctor's offices,clinics) *But if you want to work in a hospital esp. Critcal care its good that you are making sure this is something you are willing to handle. :) *
This is a personal conscience matter. My view is I personally would not take blood as we know it's sacred Acts 15:28,29; however, if the doctor has explained the risks/benefits and the patient/family has given his consent. That is his/her choice and free will to decide. *Similar to being a cashier and working for a store that sells cigarettes. I wouldn't stop a customer from purchasing the cigarettes and lecture him on the dangers of tabacco even though I believe it to be harmful. That person has the right to smoke and I cannot stop him but for myself I chose not to do so.*
Does that make sense? *I hope so. Again, it's a personal conscience matter. *My first hospital they asked AFTER hiring During the HRs. paperwork. There was a form asking if you are comfortable handling blood products check yes or no. So I had the option to check no. And if my decision had been no it would have been ok because by law they have to respect your religious beliefs contrary to what some on here have told you!*
But, ultimately I decided I'd be ok with it. Because I am not taking it the patient is and that is his right. The same way I would decide not to which is my right. Make sense? :)
However, *I always make sure the doctor has spoken to the patient/family and answered all their questions. And the dr has to be the one to get the consent signed. This is a rule in every hospital or facility regardless of the procedure. If a dr ever tries to tell you to get the consent say 'no' and run to your nurse manager that is their job!
*Before beginning, I ask if they got all their questions answered by the dr. I wear the proper gloves and and verify everything with my second nurse. And follow the protocols of the hospital. *
*I will tell you that as fast paced as the hospital is it's easier to spike it and hang it with a second nurse present to verify. Then to ask someone else to give the blood because as you can see from these posts some people will feel like you are trying to shirk your duties as nurse. Some may not understand that actually it is *because we view blood as sacred and not to be handled lightly. But, if you find you are not comfortable by all means ask a nice and understanding fellow nurse (there are some as you can see by some of these posts :). Again, This will likely be your second nurse who is going to be verifying anyway. If they would at least spike it and initiate it. Then you will do the rest. Vital signs and monitoring. It really is not as troublesome as some are making it out to be.*
Lastly, I never ever tell my personal background on the initial interview. An employer cannot ask you if you are married,single, have kids or what religion you are. It has no bearing and quite frankly, as you have sadly found out can inadvertently lead to discrimination if miscontrued or biased opinions are made. Please contact me in the future if you have any questions. **I hope this helps and welcome to the world of nursing :)
I DO know re JW procedures and what they believe. My brother is an elder with the JWs, and I studied with them for a long time. And not being able to start a pump - I have never heard another JW nurse say this actually, and I knew JW nurses. She would have to talk to the elders re that.
Also here in the Australian bush u may be the only person within HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of kilometres (no I'm not exaggerating that last figure! we live in a VERY isolated country) who is the only medical/nursing person and if you can't give blood, you would not be employed I can tell you that right now.
We are only trying to tell the poster the real life situation. If you object to AN so much, why can't you tell the poster to go work in a hospital who do not use blood products? They have one here in Fremantle, why can't she apply to them?
The world will not evolve around your religion unfortunately. We are just giving different viewpoints for her to mull over, and trying to possibly save her from a harsh reality. We don't want to put her off nursing altogether but u have to take the good and the bad in a job; you can't manipulate things around what you believe all the time. The world just does not work that way - also she may be a bit young and naive perhaps? Also you may work in a big hospital/facility with many people to help out. In small hospitals (especially on nightshift) YOU ARE IT. A scary reality.....
I hope she still goes into nursing and what she believes is entirely up to her. But you just can't manipuate all work (or any) situations to suit YOU, especially in hospital situations - emergencies WILL happen when u least expect it and you will have to deal with it, no matter what.
I thought everyone was just trying to help her - and we get attacked!
" Btw, to fellow posters she asked for fellow Witnesses to respond so unless you are one nobody cares about your 'opinion.' it's irrelevant and not to mention off topic.*"
Just for the record, the above quote is the rudest that I've seen on this thread so far (and I saw all of the previous posts that were deleted). Answering honestly to a sincere question in a manner that does not please the reader does not = hostility or rudeness.
And also for the record, the OP asked for a JW RN "or anyone who knows a JW nurse" to respond.
Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
My first hospital they asked AFTER hiring During the HRs. paperwork. There was a form asking if you are comfortable handling blood products check yes or no. So I had the option to check no. And if my decision had been no it would have been ok because by law they have to respect your religious beliefs contrary to what some on here have told you!*
They may not be able to discriminate based on religious beliefs but they most definitely can and will discriminate based on qualifications. Like most jobs, nursing is very competitive so if they find another nurse who is better suited for the job, then you will be poop out of luck. If you checked "yes", that means you've met that requirement are are prepared to give blood, but if you checked "no", they have every right to question your competencies and if you don't have any, they will choose someone who does. It's simple economics. Hopefully, you wouldn't lie about it and not fully disclose the truth because that would be unprofessional and unethical and, as you well know, we nurses are nothing if not professional and ethical.
This will likely be your second nurse who is going to be verifying anyway. If they would at least spike it and initiate it. Then you will do the rest. Vital signs and monitoring. It really is not as troublesome as some are making it out to be.
Not as troublesome? So you believe that in an emergency life or death situation religious preferences should trump attempting to save a human life? That's an absolute scary thought and sure as heck wouldn't hold up in a court of law.
Your post was very biased which is not surprising, but luckily several others have chimed in on the other side of the equation, certainly the OP will benefit from hearing about all angles of this dilemma and not just the fluffy perfect world interpretation.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
the only hateful post i saw was from "n51308". the rest were just telling her how her future co-workers will see things -- which is something she needs to know.
OP: Pretty much everything that I could have wanted to say has been said already by others. The only thing I will add is that if you are not willing to do something required in your job because of your religious beliefs, such as hanging blood--and your patient is adversely affected as a result of this, your religion may not protect you from repercussions from either legal action or your BON. Something for you to consider.
I'm not saying you're right or wrong in your beliefs as they pertain to nursing because it is not my place to judge that. Essentially only YOU can decide what you are willing--and not willing--to do. But you must accept responsibility for whatever outcomes good or bad may occur as a result of that.
Congrats on passing the NCLEX and good luck with the job hunt!
4got to say the hospital will also have to look at legal ramifications b4 employing the poster.
And in the outback, when there are floods and no electricity, and the mobile towers won't give u a signal, you really are the only one in an isolated area. It has happened to me in an emergency situation, and I was **** scared, I can tell u.
Just a reminder--if you find a post problematic, please, use the report feature in the lower left corner instead of scolding other posters. And kindly refrain from telling others not to post.
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.
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. 
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
you don't work at the only hospital that doesn't put blood on pumps. we just slam ours in -- sometimes a whole cooler full is checked all at once and one person will just stand there and squeeze blood in two lines while another keeps taking down the empties and spiking new ones. if you were in a situation where the patient was exanguinating and refused to hang blood products, there would be a problem. sometimes you're the only nurse on the side of the bed where the blood line is, and quarters are too tight and the situation to urgent to waste time trying to switch places for someone who would hang the blood.
i understand the op's desire to work in critical care, i really do. but i would recommend against starting a job where you already know there are things you're going to refuse to do. as you learn the job there will be other things that will bother your conscience as well -- will you refuse to do them as well? i do things every day that i think are hideous and wrong. but i do them because it isn't up to me to decide that a 92 year old with multi-system organ failure and dementia should or should not be a full code. it's not up to me to decide that a 40 year old who is dying by inches and in incredible pain should not get pain medication when his mother visits because it makes him too sleepy to interact with her. the mother and the surgeon made the decision, the surgeon wrote the order for no pain meds between 9am and 6pm. the ethics committee upheld the decisions. it's out of my hands. it's only up to me when it's my parent or spouse.
if the op really wants to work in icu, perhaps she could examine her conscience and see if she can find a way to initiate blood transfusions. because if she cannot, then she should not work in icu. it puts too big a burden on the rest of the staff to find a way to work around her conscience and on the patients who might be in harm's way if someone else cannot get free of their own assignment in time to start her blood for her.