New Grad RN - Planned Parenthood

ilovecatsRN · Sep 5, 2009

When the words Planned Parenthood are said I think it is synonymous with abortion, whether other services are provided or not. I personally would NEVER need work so bad to work there. Anyway, just think about whether you want this on your resume' or not, remember you have to make the final decision and live with it. Good luck.

I agree with Corky

You may not want to red flagged as a new grad, I don't know the concensus in your demographics and whether it would be viewed as "ok"

Rook · Sep 5, 2009

Maybe I'm wrong but I've personally never known a Planned Parenthood clinic that provides abortion on site. It may not hurt you in future job prospects as much as people think given that most of what's done at a PP is done at a county health department as well.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2009

what type of job did you take if i may ask?

assisted living.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2009

Honestly, the OP was NOT asking for opinions on abortion or trying to start another abortion thread. Some of the comments I've read are hurtful and extreme. If you don't support abortion rights, that's your choice, but it has nothing to do with whether the OP takes a job with PP. I'm glad that there are people willing to work at PP. Here in OK they provide a much needed service (which doesn't include abortion BTW). The OP is asking for nurses to share their experience. I wish her luck in whatever she chooses.

I agree, this thread is getting away from it's original purpose. I also support the op for whatever she or he chooses. I honestly believe this will not hinder her career at all.any nursing experience is better than none at all.

corky1272RN · Sep 5, 2009

actually we are not getting off the main theme of the post this is what she said:

what are your thoughts about working as a new grad at planned parenthood in the surgical setting? there are few jobs out there for us new grads, and if this type of job came up, would you take it? do you think taking this type of job would hinder chances of working elsewhere due to the controversy this may have?

miss_jme was inquiring our thoughts on taking a job in the surgical setting, now correct me if i am wrong but last time i checked contraceptives and pap smears are not surgical. she also asked if taking this type of job would hinder her chances of working somewhere else due to the controversy. so for posters to give her their opinion on how this may affect future employment was not off the mark. i did not see any offensive opinions.

:thnkg:

Junebugfairy · Sep 5, 2009

i say go for it!

i worked for a pp for a few years, and right now i work for a private "women's clinic" which does provide all of the services that a pp provides. i love the fact that i get to be a supportive part of women choosing something so stigmatized. women need support, and i am more than happy to be there.

i am also biased though. i had an awesome nurse support me through my abortion, anesthesia recovery, and post op visit. i was so happy to see a smiling face, and not a condescending pointing finger!

i have not had so much as an eyebrow arch from working at pp, and i live in the bible belt!

a lot of people know that pp provides low cost/free bc, paps, etc... even women who would never personally choose abortion have received services at pp.

TessaMae · Sep 5, 2009

When I was 16 and needed oral contraceptives, I went to a planned parenthood. I continued to go there until my early 20's for BC, yearly exams, pap smears etc. The people who worked there were some of the nicest peopel I've come in contact with.

To the OP, when you go on that interview I would think it wouldn't hurt to ask if you would be required to assist in abortions as an employee. I would think that you could work for PP and not be involved in the abortion aspect, thereby upholding your own values and not affecting possible future employment opportunities.

LinzyRN · Sep 5, 2009

In my neck of the woods the PP doesn't even offer abortions. They offer pap smears, STD testing, and birthcontrol. They do offer referals for abortion and also papers to help you get the state insurance to help pay for child birth. These women need good nurses to be by them in hard times. I think the one in my area uses NP's and MA's. At least when I went in my teens that's how it was.

Sprocket36 · Sep 5, 2009

I started out as a new grad in a sexual health/abortion clinic affiliated with a major teaching hospital. It was a great experience and I learned a lot. Although I knew my focus would always be community health vs acute care, I've never had a problem finding employment since. In fact, I was just hired as an RN at a community health centre run by a catholic hospital. However, I do live in Canada so we're a bit more laid back about this sort of thing...

All the best to you- good luck in whatever you decide!

star77, MSN, RN · Nov 27, 2009

Before I became an RN I worked for PP as an MA/back office person.

My clinic didn't do abortions.

What we did: education, testing, pre-natal care, post-partum checkups, STI testing, HIV counseling, referrals and work with the county Department of Public Health, basic lab work/tests, pap smears, colposcopy, treatments (STI), Rape referrals, Domestic Violence referrals.

I applied to multiple hospitals when I was first looking for jobs, including Catholic ones. I directly asked a nurse recruiter if my experience at PP would be detrimental. She assured me that it was not, and that they were not "living in the dark ages," and that it was considered excellent to have direct patient care experience. Did I get hired there? If they had a new grad program, I would have been, but unfortunately NOBODY was hired there (and I was just called back for an interview, 6 months later, now that I'm no longer a "new grad"!).

And my PP experience was directly helpful in obtaining my current ER job.

It's not my place to judge ANYONE's decisions; it's my job to treat a patient and to give them the most accurate, up-to-date health information and education available based on evidence-based practice, OR, if I disagree with their point of view it's my job to find someone who can/will inform them.

So, as far as your question about your patient care experience being detrimental, honestly, I think it depends on the personal feelings of the recruiter and how you present yourself - even though discrimination due to personal opinion regarding abortion is most likely illegal.

I think the more pertinent question is where do you want to work eventually? If you work in women's health and enjoy it, then PP is a great place. If you work at a surgical services center, you can translate a lot of those skills to a PACU, any floor that requires telemetry (conscious sedation is usually done with cardiac monitors on), you will do IV starts, you'll be assessing patients often, and you will have to be on top of your ABCs (again, conscious sedation or hypovolemic shock- think also about the surgeries such as tubal ligations, vasectomies).

And I think it's wise to consider your personal view on abortion in this job prospect.

Good luck, hope that helps.

elkpark · Nov 27, 2009

I've been to a number of PP offices in a few different areas over the years (when I was a young, struggling student, I went to them for my GYN check-ups and BCPs because it was so much cheaper than a private physician's office -- later, when their sliding scale for fees meant that, with my income, I would pay the same as I would at a physician's office, I continued to go to PP in order to support the organization). I was always v. impressed with the skills and caring of the nurses I encountered. Outside of right-wing-crackpot circles, PP is a well-regarded organization that provides a wide range of women's health services. I would not hesitate to take a job with them, and would not be the least bit ashamed to tell anyone else that was where I worked. I doubt v. much whether future employers would hold it against you (again, other than the occasional rabid anti-choice individual) -- even if a religious hospital doesn't offer termination services, what are they going to be afraid of, that you're going to sneak around and do TAbs in the hospital when they're not looking??? Do they subject every employee to a "I swear I'm really anti-abortion" pledge before they hire them?? I used to work for a religious hospital that had a v. strong anti-abortion corporate policy, but nobody asked me about my views on this when I was being hired to work there. I'm sure that most religious, anti-choice hospitals are aware that lots of their employees are pro-choice -- so what?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2009

You know, it would never occur to me that working at someplace like PP would mean career issues down the line. I know it's not an organization that everyone supports, but if you have experience in direct patient care, I would hope that that would speak more loudly than an interviewer's personal beliefs.

Make the decision based on how you feel about it. Do you feel comfortable doing the work? Will you get experience out of it that will help you meet your longer term goals?

One of the reasons I decided to go in to nursing was because I'd heard that it can be hard to find nurses willing to work at places like PP. My interests are shifting away from community and public health, but I'd still be happy to get a job there as a new grad.