Today, there is an article posted on how 22,000 nurses are taking a stand against mandatory vaccination. These nurses are willing to lose their jobs to stand up for their Pro-choice rights. I have included the link below so you can read the article for yourself. Learn more about NAMV (Nurses Against Mandatory Vaccines)
NAMV was founded when mandatory vaccines were introduced in the workplace, and though it is not pro-vaccine OR anti-vaccine, it is certainly pro-CHOICE. NAMV members believe that all people should have the right to choose and refuse medical treatment, including nurses and healthcare workers.
That was a nice anti-government rant. However, the issue being discussed is related to the nurse's employer requiring them to get vaccinated.
Any person with a couple of working neurons would realize that a hospital, with people in delicate health, would want their staff to not compromise the health of those whom they intend to care for. Then again, maybe some people would want the freedom of dying from a preventable disease bue to the healthcare worker's choice to not let the government infringe upon their freedoms...
In case I haven't been clear, those nurses have every right in the world to find an employer that sees the transmission of respiratory diseases as a plus to their patients. The government does not make staffing decisions for hospitals. In conclusion, the nurses have every right to find another job and to infect and kill as many immunocompromised patients as their licensing board would allow.
My workplace offers the vaccine for free. We do roving clinics and have staff available in occ health.
We cannot mandate current employees to receive the vaccine. However, if there is an outbreak, they cannot work until the outbreak status has been cleared, and they will not be compensated for lost time.
My employer was tired of tracking who had the vaccine, who hadn't, etc. As a result, it is now mandatory for all new hires to accept the vaccine.
It is perfectly within your right to refuse. However, the policy is at the discretion of the employer.
I have had the flu each of the last 4 years (diagnosed by testing) despite having the flu shot. In fact I'm only a couple of weeks out from this year's bout with it. I think it probably gave me a milder case than I would have had without the shot but the vaccine hasn't been particularly effective recently. Last year it was particularly ineffective.
Comparing discrimination against a non-vaxxed nurse to that of one who is black or gay, for example, is obscene. And ludicrous.
Not to mention the list of comparisons are not choices, it is who a person is.
I am all about choice. People do have a right to wear a mask (or whatever) and not receive vaccines. With that being said, employers have the right to require vaccinations. Much like schools. Or if a nurse is going to travel to underdeveloped countries to practice.
Nurses can make as much of a political bru-ha-ha as they would like, but I wonder if an unvaccinated nurse cares for a patient who in turn obtains influenza, if the nurse could be held liable? We live in a sue happy society, so it is not as far fetched as one could think.
Why should a job mandate that I receive a flu vaccine or Dtap? Why should the opinion of others impact my ability to work? It is a disgrace that we as nurses allow legislation to bully us into what they feel is the correct course for vaccine, behavior, appearance. I do not and will never get the flu vaccine I take care of many sick patients who have the flu and yet to get this virus. Me not getting the flu vaccine doesn't impact my ability to provide care. I work on neonatal intensive care units and the emergency room. I have fought and won the right to decide what is put into my body. I have been in nursing 16 years with three sick days. Just because the government says jump doesn't mean we should jump. Interestingly all these hospital jump on the band wagon but at federal or dept of defense jobs flu Dtap vaccines are an individual choice. Wonder why that is? All should be allowed their own opinion but don't force me to follow the crowd just because you chose that course.
So you work in an ED, where just about anything could walk through the door including immediate undiagnosed flu, which you could unknowingly harbor, then work with compromised infants who are too young to get the vaccine?
Had a 3 day old infant on a vent once due to someone's idea that the HIB vaccine was dangerous.
Politically, I agree that I resent being TOLD I have to receive any injection. But I also don't want to lose my job or most importantly, put fragile infants at risk either.
And pay to vaccinate all those nurses? Doubtful.They only care about their paperwork being in order in case of a lawsuit. They don't actually care about nurses or patient safety.
Every healthcare employer I've ever had has provided the shots (along with all the other vaccinations they require or encourage) free of charge to employees. My current employer not only provides ample opportunity to get a flu shot for free at work, at your convenience, they also reimburse you for paying to get the shot somewhere else at your own expense if you choose to do that -- you just submit the receipt for whatever you paid. Clearly, paying for the vaccinations is not a concern.
I was educated in the US, and didn't have to make that particular pledge, lol.
haha ok! i wonder where the PP went to school that they required a purity pledge at graduation! that's so weird and reminds me of those religious dances where girls pledge their virginity to their fathers and get purity rings, lol.
Here is the bottom line IMO - Everyone has a choice whether they want to take a flu shot or not. And we all need to be willing to accept the consequences of our decision. Don't whine about the consequences that you knew were going to happen. Period. (Hey - That statement applies to just about EVERYTHING, doesn't it???)
i wonder where the PP went to school that they required a purity pledge at graduation! that's so weird and reminds me of those religious dances where girls pledge their virginity to their fathers and get purity rings, lol.
EJN, RN, BSN
35 Posts
That was a nice anti-government rant. However, the issue being discussed is related to the nurse's employer requiring them to get vaccinated.
Any person with a couple of working neurons would realize that a hospital, with people in delicate health, would want their staff to not compromise the health of those whom they intend to care for. Then again, maybe some people would want the freedom of dying from a preventable disease bue to the healthcare worker's choice to not let the government infringe upon their freedoms...
In case I haven't been clear, those nurses have every right in the world to find an employer that sees the transmission of respiratory diseases as a plus to their patients. The government does not make staffing decisions for hospitals. In conclusion, the nurses have every right to find another job and to infect and kill as many immunocompromised patients as their licensing board would allow.