Muslim Nurses Administering Haram Medications

[CaribMuslimah, RN]

*crash and burn* you have missed the point. i explained the point over and over. go back and read.

i will make sure my patients are treated. and they can get their ham sandwich,too. obviously. i'm not giving ppl more work to do...it's called a trafe-off if i ask someone to do something (i will do for them in return..not add more work).

....you didn't think enough to read the question. you just took your own prejudices and answered from there.

i don't care if your muslim, jehovah's witness or pregnant. you've got to do your job or find an alternative. my point is, you have to treat your non-muslim patient with the same respect that you'd expect if you were the patient of a non-muslim nurse. if that makes me "ignorant" then fine. but i think you only want to hear, "yeah, fine, you don't have to give it if it goes against your beliefs." sorry, but the patient gets the meds (and their ham sandwich too), whether you believe in it or not. and if you expect others to give all the meds and hand out all the food you don't believe in, people are going to be resentful. not because you're muslim, but because you're giving them more work to do.

[RN1982]

I have to agree with Wooh. I don't find her comments to ignorant, just another perspective. I'm only saying this because you seem to be taking offense to what Wooh is saying when its not offensive at all.

You are not going to get away from haraam meds like heparin and insulin because they are everywhere, especially in ICUs, stepdowns, regular medical units...they are meds that are needed, haraam or not. To be honest, there isn't going to be a lot of people out there who are going to be willing to bend over backwards because another coworker doesn't believe in giving such and such med for such and such reason unless you are going to be trading off tasks with them then I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

I work with a lot of Muslim nurses and doctors, the issue of haraam meds does not ever come up. I've never heard any one of those doctors and nurses say "I can't give it because it's haraam"...It's always "Did you start the heparin or insulin drip because the patient with the AMI or elevated glucose needs it?", "did you give the subq insulin or heparin"...At some point you are going to have to compromise with your beliefs, we all do. Like Wooh, who is vegetarian but will help feed meat products to a patient who is unable to feed themselves.I'm not saying leave them at the door when you walk into work, just compromise. I'm sure my muslim co-workers do because so far I've not been asked by one to administer a medication because they considered it haraam. I would if they did.

I have a doctor friend who is Muslim and I think I'm going to email him and ask him his perspective on haraam medications and how he feels when he orders them or has to administer them. I'm just curious.

[CaribMuslimah, RN]

you posted, but it doesn't make sense. not here. it has nothing to do with my question. but, thank you for your commentary.

i have to agree with wooh. i don't find her comments to ignorant, just another perspective. i'm only saying this because you seem to be taking offense to what wooh is saying when its not offensive at all. i'm taking offense because people are being disrespectful. this isn't the forum to display unfounded ill feelings toward a particular person or group of people.

you are not going to get away from haraam meds like heparin and insulin because they are everywhere, especially in icus, stepdowns, regular medical units...they are meds that are needed, haraam or not. to be honest, there isn't going to be a lot of people out there who are going to be willing to bend over backwards because another coworker doesn't believe in giving such and such med for such and such reason unless you are going to be trading off tasks with them then i'm sure they wouldn't mind. in fact, i can get away with not passing haraam medications. i don't work in a regular medical unit. i am not asking one sould to bend over backwards, i wasn't even asking someone to do my job. the question i asked was plainly stated: what do you muslim nurses do in this situation? simple...apparently not. and i agree, medications should be given. i never disagreed on this point. i am not compromising patient needs or safety. how many times, how many times, oh how many times do i need to express this point?!

i work with a lot of muslim nurses and doctors, the issue of haraam meds does not ever come up. i've never heard any one of those doctors and nurses say "i can't give it because it's haraam" have you met every muslim? no. did you know that a great many muslims wont enter into nursing (especially here in the west) because of many issues, and because of attitudes similar to yours?...it's always "did you start the heparin or insulin drip because the patient with the ami or elevated glucose needs it?", "did you give the subq insulin or heparin"i don't know them, and i cannot answer about the actions of another soul, muslim or not. allah knows best..at some point you are going to have to compromise with your beliefs, we all do. please don't place me in your category as "we" because not everyone compromises. i won't. that was made obvious in the question. it wasn't the point of the question, either. like wooh, who is vegetarian but will help feed meat products to a patient who is unable to feed themselves. i used to be vegan and cooked meat for my family. so? if it were her religion instead of a lifestyle choice, she shouldn't have to compromise.i'm not saying leave them at the door when you walk into work, just compromisetrust me, i seek moderation. i have to hang up a lot of things at the door when i enter work. for instance, i'm not able to wear niqaab. but, that's not the point of this discussion either. i'm sure my muslim co-workers do because so far i've not been asked by one to administer a medication because they considered it haraam. i would if they did.that's very kind of you to do so, but again...muslims are people, islam has rules; we all don't follow exactly the same. allah knows best.

[CaribMuslimah, RN]

you updated. wonderful for you, please post his reply if it has anything to do with the original question. if it's about whether or not muslims are allowed to do such a thing, he has no authority to say yea or nay, because the answer has been given for that long before i even asked the question (i.e, in the qur'an and hadith).

i have a doctor friend who is muslim and i think i'm going to email him and ask him his perspective on haraam medications and how he feels when he orders them or has to administer them. i'm just curious.

[RN1982]

I don't care if my post makes sense. I'm typing whatever thought comes to my mind. You are posting on a public forum and everyone, Muslim or not, has the RIGHT to reply to any post regardless of who the thread is aimed at. I find a lot of your replies condescending. I work with many Muslims and I'm friends with many Muslims so I take great offense when you say that I am being prejudiced or ignorant. I am not. I don't know what attitude you think I have but I know I'm not the one with an attitude.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Could I ask all members to please post respectfully, we don't all have to agree with each other but please don't let this thread deteriorate into personal attacks

[CaribMuslimah, RN]

the post was absolutely directed at muslims,and i am well aware that this is a public board. i didn't think i had to say that non muslims are free to answer, as this is a public forum. we don't disagree on this.

whatever reason you are offended, i apologize. you posted your nevertheless, when it had nothing to do with the question at hand. if you have something helpful (like the answer you get from that dr..) those are the types of replies that make sense, because in the end, a very simple question was asked.

many people are ignorant about islam. "ignorant" is not meant in a demeaning way...it is what it is. you don't know what you don't know. learn to separate the "muslims" from islam. this is important because you are basing your viewpoint on the basis of some people's behaviour instead of the religion of islam.

i don't care if my post makes sense. i'm typing whatever thought comes to my mind. you are posting on a public forum and everyone, muslim or not, has the right to reply to any post regardless of who the thread is aimed at. i find a lot of your replies condescending. i work with many muslims and i'm friends with many muslims so i take great offense when you say that i am being prejudiced or ignorant. i am not. i don't know what attitude you think i have but i know i'm not the one with an attitude.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

This thread is turning into a discussion about religion rather than the original question about Muslim nurses administering Haram Medications.

There are quite a few replies already about the subject so I am closing this thread