Nurse fired for refusing flu shot

Nurses COVID

Published

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/29/pregnant-nurse-fired-after-refusing-flu-shot-due-to-miscarriage-fears/Just Just curious. What are your thoughts on this? Should an employer be able to force an employee to accept a medical intervention?
Specializes in Anesthesia.
I sincerely hope that this is the last flu vaccine thread.....

There really is nothing new under the sun. This is life, people. You either abide by your employer's many requirements for employment or you look elsewhere.

It truly IS that simple.

Nope, I just started another one just to stir the pot…lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
Unfortunatey, the hospital can fire anyone for pretty much anything. Do I think it is right? Not at all.

If people would use better hand hygeine and use common sense when sick (i.e. not coughing into hands then touching EVERYTHING like I see most nurses do) as well as STAY HOME from work when sick transmission of the flu would greatly decrease.

Also, did the hospital not have a protocol where individuals who refuse the flu shot can just wear a mask during flu season?

Yes, her hospital had policy for people that were medical exempt that they could wear a mask.

Hand washing isn't as effective because the flu is mostly transmitted through respiratory droplets. Staying home equally doesn't work because you can be a carrier before symptoms develop. And the masks are not generally used correctly by people and they haven't been shown to be as effective as the flu vaccine.

All of these things can help, but they need to be added to influenza vaccine not used instead of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
Like I stated I already posted a response to the Cochrane study. I also base my recommendations from the CDC, WHO, AMA, ANA and several others. Yours is based on misinformed opinion based on false beliefs. You would rather risk killing your patients than get the flu shot. I do not regard that as a positive belief structure or acceptable. You put personal liberties ahead of common sense, public safety, and/or patient safety. We know that vaccines work and that using them save lives everything else is arguing about why there isn't enough statistics to have a perfect study. You and a few others would argue we need to kill some people first before you advocate get the flu vaccine which you would still refuse based on some reaction that you haven't shared so no loss to you.[/quote']

I'm not interested in going back and forth. I will share my reaction. I don't keep it a secret and didn't post the details because I didn't think my personal reaction was that important for others to know. Anyway...after receiving the vaccine my entire arm...shoulder to fingers...became "numb". I had had great difficultly moving my arm, there was a numb sensation mixed with pain throughout the arm. I also became dizzy and overall ill feeling with heart palpitations and racing pulse.

And then got the flu later that year and took tamiflu which nearly killed me. It was a great winter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
I'm not interested in going back and forth. I will share my reaction. I don't keep it a secret and didn't post the details because I didn't think my personal reaction was that important for others to know. Anyway...after receiving the vaccine my entire arm...shoulder to fingers...became "numb". I had had great difficultly moving my arm, there was a numb sensation mixed with pain throughout the arm. I also became dizzy and overall ill feeling with heart palpitations and racing pulse.

And then got the flu later that year and took tamiflu which nearly killed me. It was a great winter.

You know that doesn't have to be from the flu vaccine though. It could have hit a nerve. It could have been vagal reaction etc.

I have gotten a knot that lasted for over 6 months and sore arm from the anthrax shot, got dizzy once or twice from vaccines, and I am not even sure how to describe how my arm looked after the small pox vaccine but it was disgusting.

I had a friend get cardiomyopathy after small pox shot and my sister almost died as an infant from the small pox vaccine. I also just had a family friend that died after contracting influenza. I am still adamantly pro-vaccine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
You know that doesn't have to be from the flu vaccine though. It could have hit a nerve. It could have been vagal reaction etc. I have gotten a knot that lasted for over 6 months and sore arm from the anthrax shot got dizzy once or twice from vaccines, and I am not even sure how to describe how my arm looked after the small pox vaccine but it was disgusting. I had a friend get cardiomyopathy after small pox shot and my sister almost died as an infant from the small pox vaccine. I also just had a family friend that died after contracting influenza. I am still adamantly pro-vaccine.[/quote']

Well it was decided it was the vaccine. So not worth the risk to get the vaccine again. You can be adamantly pro vaccine. I'm adamantly pro choice on vaccines and think everyone has the right to decline.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
Well it was decided it was the vaccine. So not worth the risk to get the vaccine again. You can be adamantly pro vaccine. I'm adamantly pro choice on vaccines and think everyone has the right to decline.
You can be prochoice but you should also have to tell your patients and wear a badge stating that you chose not to be vaccinated and that their health isn't as important to you as your beliefs in not being vaccinated.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Well it was decided it was the vaccine. So not worth the risk to get the vaccine again. You can be adamantly pro vaccine. I'm adamantly pro choice on vaccines and think everyone has the right to decline.

Absolutely everyone has the right to decline. They just don't have the right to dictate their employer's employment policies/requirements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
You can be prochoice but you should also have to tell your patients and wear a badge stating that you chose not to be vaccinated and that their health isn't as important to you as your beliefs in not being vaccinated.

No I don't have to wear a badge saying that their health isn't as important as my beliefs. Fact...their health isn't as important as mine. Fact...my beliefs do carry a lot of weight in my life.

Sorry you can't seem to understand this theory that not everyone is okay with vaccinations. The studies aren't conclusive. If they are flawed....we don't just use them anyway. If they are flawed...I don't see why I should jump on the bandwagon. I'm an RN not a martyr.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
No I don't have to wear a badge saying that their health isn't as important as my beliefs. Fact...their health isn't as important as mine. Fact...my beliefs do carry a lot of weight in my life.

Sorry you can't seem to understand this theory that not everyone is okay with vaccinations. The studies aren't conclusive. If they are flawed....we don't just use them anyway. If they are flawed...I don't see why I should jump on the bandwagon. I'm an RN not a martyr.

The only thing being martyred here is common sense from not protecting patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Both...I wouldn't believe the issue about ongoing problems from the flu shot without a lot of medical records and proof.
But flu shots CAUSE the flu... everybody knows that.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
But flu shots CAUSE the flu... everybody knows that.

:laugh:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
But flu shots CAUSE the flu... everybody knows that.

What are you talking about? Nobody said the flu shot causes the flu. Nobody.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment