nurse doesn't believe in life-sustaining measures for herself

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I was in the strangest conversation today with a new nurse. She explained to us that she feels like any type of life-saving treatment such as the Heimlich would be interfering in Gods plan for her. If she starts choking at lunch, she feels this is "her time to go" and wants no one to prevent it! If she is in a car accident and is seriously wounded, but could have life-saving treatment, she does not want it. If she is diagnosed with any type of illness where life sustaining meds could be taken, she is against this.

Everyone who was listening to her eventually just took the conversation elsewhere because no one knew how to respond. One of our doctors was listening to her also. As he walked away he said, "nursing seems like a strange career for you". I have to agree. I was speechless...and that is rare for me!

How can this person be effective as a nurse? How can they educate their patients on their illnesses? And on and on.... I have been pondering this for hours; every aspect of it. What do you guys think?:clown:

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

Kind of makes me think of the story of the guy in the flood.

This guy was trapped on his rooftop after a horrible flood. First, a man goes by in a rowboat and says "hey, you need some help?" The guy goes "No, God will save me"

The waters get higher, another boat goes by, a woman says "You need some help there sir?"

"Nope, God will save me."

The waters are almot covering the rooftop and the man is hanging on for dear life. One last boat goes by and someone says "Hey, jump in the boat!"

"Nope, God will save me."

Well the guy dies and goes to heaven. He asks God why he didnt save him and he says "Well I sent you 3 boats and you didnt take any of them!"

Sometimes God works through the intelligence of well trained professionals with life sustaining measures. I guess my only advice is not to do ICU if they dont want to see life sustaining measures used at their worst lol.

Seems kind of silly to me lol.

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Specializes in Psych.

That's an intriguing career choice, given those beliefs. I guess (I certainly hope) she's all right with interfering with 'God's plan' for OTHER people when it's 'time for them to go' when she has the skills and training to do so.

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That's an intriguing career choice, given those beliefs. I guess (I certainly hope) she's all right with interfering with 'God's plan' for OTHER people when it's 'time for them to go' when she has the skills and training to do so.

LOL! I thought the same thing!!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I really dont want her being me or my childrens nurse. Letting her self die on a chicken bone because she refused the heimlich? Good lord.

So I am assuming she doesnt take Tylenol cause God wants her to have the headache? Or doesnt wear sun screen as God wants her to exp the sun burn? Give me a break.

I have to throw this in---Please tell me she wears deoderant--even though God wants her to have BO??

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.

Yeah, going along the same lines as las2009's post, I gotta say, I don't think I'd want this gal for my nurse...

Wonder how she feels about med errors & the like...

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I really dont want her being me or my childrens nurse. Letting her self die on a chicken bone because she refused the heimlich? Good lord.

So I am assuming she doesnt take Tylenol cause God wants her to have the headache? Or doesnt wear sun screen as God wants her to exp the sun burn? Give me a break.

I have to throw this in---Please tell me she wears deoderant--even though God wants her to have BO??

I have been running every one of these in my head too! I wouldn't want her as my nurse. I will say she is a "strange bird" in her own right.

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This is my last two weeks at my hospital. I am training her to take my position. I have been there for 5 years and just dearly love some of my long-term patients. I feel like I am throwing them to the wolves! My heart is in knots! UGH!

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can't say i would feel comfortable w/her and our pts.

interesting outlook, for sure.

leslie

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
This is my last two weeks at my hospital. I am training her to take my position. I have been there for 5 years and just dearly love some of my long-term patients. I feel like I am throwing them to the wolves! My heart is in knots! UGH!

You cant leave!!! LOL...no I am kidding, they will be fine.

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Specializes in Transgender Medicine.

I agree that it's strange, but whatever, if it's what she wants. I think it's the same with ANY belief system. I, personally, don't like the idea of a Jehova's Witness refusing blood. However, I respect it as their choice. I'm not going to force my belief on them. I guess it's the same with her. As long as she honors other's wishes and beliefs, there should be no problem where her beliefs are concerned.

---Also, I work with many Jehova's Witness nurses, and they don't force their belief on their patients. Usually, they will go pick up the blood, but they won't initiate the transfusion. They'll monitor after someone else initiates it for them. It's never really been an issue at my hospital. As long as we all keep our beliefs to ourselves, we should be fine.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

While I really do believe that I have an appointed time to die, I sure don't want to leave early by doing something stupid.

If I choke on a chunk of meat at lunch and someone nearby uses the Heimlich maneuver and saves my life, I'm going to take that as God's opinion that today's not my day to go.

I think her theology is a bit odd, to say the least, and I'm not sure how you'd function as a nurse when you feel that way. I know how difficult it can be when you are caught in a situation where what is going on is pushing against your beliefs; this must happen to her on a several-times-daily basis!

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