nursing students for choice

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 21, 2006

I think Karen was very helpful. Check out that site she refers you to, and much luck with whatever endeavors you do tackle!

HairCanada · Apr 21, 2006

Nursing school is hard and political enough without driving more wedges between members in the program. Stick with your studies, get your license. Leave the fence trenching to the supreme court.

If you feel strongly enough about your abortion stance, there are already a number of groups who could use your support.

allnurses Guide · Apr 21, 2006

I agree with the concensus here - don't do it.

And I also thank Karen for supplying exactly the information the op needed.

steph

imenid37 · Apr 21, 2006

Good luck with your studies. make them your focus. If you feel called to participate in such a group, then go with an established one. You probably won't have time to be running a group of any sort. Remember please, not everyone feels as you do. If you are strong and vocal in your opinions, that, in America, is your perogative. Others do not necessarily share your views. Be tolerant, as I hope others will be of you. There are a lot of good nurses out here with a wide range of views.

judyblueeyes · Apr 22, 2006

I disagree with those who say "Don't do it!".

I did it (started a Women's group) while in school , and many other people start clubs and groups while in school. (Hoping not many details are requested as it was a very, very long time ago as the date of the first edition of "Our bodies, Ourselves" will attest)

If that's where your passion lies, go for it. Nursing school isn't particularly harder, more difficult, or more time consuming than many other branches of study, so if you have the time, inclination, and energy to do something extra, then do it.

I have dedicated my nursing career exclusively to the field of women's health and in a variety of settings. The need for special education and care for women will never go away and I only see it increasing with the rise of abstinance only education. Many women, young and old, don't know the difference between a privy parts and their urethra and find the function of their bodies mysterious and shameful. Knowledge is power.

In the past few weeks I've taken care of a 20 year old diagnosed with 4 (!) STD's upon admission (term pregnancy, no Doc, no PNC, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlymidia and HSV) and assisted with the delivery of a baby with massive cystic hygroma, no brain, and Turner's Syndrome (45x) at 23 weeks. That poor baby had to be relieved of over 4000 cc of lymphatic fluid to fit thought the cervix. I also spent some time with a young lady who wondered why, if her SO had a vasectomy as he claimed, "stuff" still came out of his member. This conversation meandered all over the place- she had a ton of questions and clearly she had never run across anyone she felt comfortable asking these frank questions of. These women represent the extreme need for early and frequent education and health care.

I consider it an honor and a priveledge to provide care during the best and what is sometimes the worst time in a woman's life. Aside from my family, it my second life-long love!

If you feel that way, too- I'll see ya in the trenches!

Boltthrower · May 10, 2006

I disagree with those who say "Don't do it!".
I did it (started a Women's group) while in school , and many other people start clubs and groups while in school. (Hoping not many details are requested as it was a very, very long time ago as the date of the first edition of "Our bodies, Ourselves" will attest)
If that's where your passion lies, go for it. Nursing school isn't particularly harder, more difficult, or more time consuming than many other branches of study, so if you have the time, inclination, and energy to do something extra, then do it.
I have dedicated my nursing career exclusively to the field of women's health and in a variety of settings. The need for special education and care for women will never go away and I only see it increasing with the rise of abstinance only education. Many women, young and old, don't know the difference between a privy parts and their urethra and find the function of their bodies mysterious and shameful. Knowledge is power.
In the past few weeks I've taken care of a 20 year old diagnosed with 4 (!) STD's upon admission (term pregnancy, no Doc, no PNC, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlymidia and HSV) and assisted with the delivery of a baby with massive cystic hygroma, no brain, and Turner's Syndrome (45x) at 23 weeks. That poor baby had to be relieved of over 4000 cc of lymphatic fluid to fit thought the cervix. I also spent some time with a young lady who wondered why, if her SO had a vasectomy as he claimed, "stuff" still came out of his member. This conversation meandered all over the place- she had a ton of questions and clearly she had never run across anyone she felt comfortable asking these frank questions of. These women represent the extreme need for early and frequent education and health care.
I consider it an honor and a priveledge to provide care during the best and what is sometimes the worst time in a woman's life. Aside from my family, it my second life-long love!
If you feel that way, too- I'll see ya in the trenches!

So when I go to nursing school in the fall, as a male and as a man who's girlfriend had an abortion against my requests (whole hearted pleading really), since I believe in the preservation of life AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS, I should start a "men's group" (since we are dealing with gender specific issues apparently{can you smell the sarcasm?}) that takes the opposite stance as some of the ladies here and you dont think that would be a divisive issue in nursing school? Would YOU want to be my lab partner? If I am politically active and "in your face" about it would that be condusive (*sp) to a quality learning environment or would it cause hate and discontent? I am asking because I know when I get to nursing school if I run into someone who has the same attitude that you seem to display I am not going to want to associate or work with them. I dont go around throwing my Christian beliefs and values in other peoples' faces and I expect the same professionalism and respect from other people, be they men or women. I know that abortion is one of the most controversial topics of all time and to say, "I am going to start a group, while my peers and I are giving up every ounce of our being to learn this profession that we have a passion for, that could possibly divide the class irrepairably because I feel like it is important to be able to slaughter the young." seems awfully selfish.

I realize that I kind of rant and rave a bit because I feel as strongly as you about my position on the topic at hand, and dont expect me to say, "oh, but I respect your position on the matter", because I dont, I do, however respect your drive to stand up for what you believe in, be it ever so wrong. :nuke: So I disagree with you about the topic and about the original thread starter trying to start an organization who's sole purpose is to start controversy in an environment that doesnt need any more stress than it already has.

P.S. Its great that you have dedicated you life to womens' health, but how about health in general? Most nurses here seem to have a "gender unrelated" attitude on healthcare because they were unselfish enough to get into nursing in the first place and they dont have some hidden agenda regarding the care of their fellow individual. I wish it were true for every nurse.

gr8rnpjt, RN · May 10, 2006

Not only is nursing school stressful and time consuming in and of itself, it is also very stressful because of the cliques and 'tudes.
Abortion is about the most controversial issue you could pick to start a club about.
I wouldn't do it, not only because of the time involved away from studies, but to avoid the negatives that might occur. You never know who might get upset, fellow student or faculty - and which of those might be a vital lifeline to you in school.
And you know the emotions that this issue can invoke.
It's easy to ignore the opinions and emotions of those that disagree with you on contentious issues. Especially when you feel strongly that you are correct. But. Nursing school, because of its stress, is such a turmoil of pressures, opinions, and sometimes, outright backstabbing, that it does you no benefit to stir ANY pot. This isn't about abortion - although, as I said, that is a big spoon, but about just about anything.
My quite successful attitude about school was to keep my nose down and play the game. You want to pass? Play their game and save the things important to you, like this issue, for when you have RN after your name.
I understand wanting to stand up for your beliefs. But nursing school doesn't seem to me to be the perfect place to make those waves. Although I think college is generally the place to test your politics and beliefs: nursing school is an overt exception. People can and are dropped from nursing programs everyday over what amounts to 'personality conflicts'. I wouldn't do ANYTHING to foster such conflict.
~faith,
Timothy.

This is really good advise. One of the most important lessons to learn in nursing school is temperence, and acceptance. You will no doubt find yourself caring for people who you may find despicable, but you have to give everyone the best nursing care you are able to give. You will learn to keep your personal beliefs to yourself and show no preference or partiality. Don't use this time to spout your personal beliefs, instead, find a way to make peace with others whom you don't personally agree with.

burn out · May 10, 2006

If this were the 70'S I could maybe see a place and a need for a choice organization on a school campus . Today, choice is legal even though it is controversial it is still legal. Isn't there another cause out there worth fighting for that you could put your interest and energy into ..I just mean what is the goal of a choice organization?

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 10, 2006

If this were the 70'S I could maybe see a place and a need for a choice organization on a school campus . Today, choice is legal even though it is controversial it is still legal. Isn't there another cause out there worth fighting for that you could put your interest and energy into ..I just mean what is the goal of a choice organization?

I don't know that it's our place to tell the OP that her cause is more/less important than others. Also, with Bush's picks on the supreme court and recent laws (North Dakota comes to mind) choice is absolutely under attack in ways I would have never imagined. So to many, her cause is quite worthy and important. The issue is an activist group of nursing students or not.

ljds · May 10, 2006

P.S. Its great that you have dedicated you life to womens' health, but how about health in general? Most nurses here seem to have a "gender unrelated" attitude on healthcare because they were unselfish enough to get into nursing in the first place and they dont have some hidden agenda regarding the care of their fellow individual. I wish it were true for every nurse.
Yeah, that was a rant.
What about health in general? Lots of people dedicate themselves to specialties. What's wrong with women's health? Or Pediatrics? Mother/Baby? Public Health? Oncology? Surgery? Ad nauseum? Why NOT dedicate onesself where one feels passionate and called?
You are going to meet alot of people with views dramatically different than your own, and you are still going to have to work cordially and productively with them. You can think what you like, sure.
I guess I wouldn't see what is wrong with a men's group, either. I assume there are issues that face men that are unique to their gender (especially in nursing, and other female dominated fields).
Sorry, I was just surprised by the anger of your post. I realize, of course, this being the internet, one doesn't always come across as one would in reality. I just hope that when you do get into nursing school, you don't run from everyone who expresses different opinions from you; it might get really boring--or you might get into really good shape. Either way, you won't meet many people. And you won't grow very much. Your patients are going to be like everyone here--they deserve a nurse who can withhold judgement and work with them despite their words, actions, and opinions.
Good luck! Have fun!

NHavenRN · May 10, 2006

Hi vegetarian_goddess,

Great idea! As a member of a new-and-evolving NS4C group on our campus, I definitely think it's both relevant and do-able to start such a group while in nursing school, especially considering how many people I think would come out of the woodwork to be involved once word spread of what you wanted to do. Anon_nurse's suggestion of contacting AAP is great - they have been a very helpful resource for us as we've gotten started. I also attended a reproductive rights conference a few weeks back, and met several nursing students from other schools who were all thinking of starting groups of their own, so just so you know - you're not alone!

Also, I'll deliberately not respond to the overtly anti-choice posts to your question here, except to point out how they - along with the countless recent legislative inroads against abortion and reproductive health rights - simply prove how relevant and necessary such a group would be.

If you'd like any advice or just to talk more about how to start a NSC4C group on your campus, feel free to PM me! And GOOD LUCK!

Boltthrower · May 11, 2006

First of all let me apologize if I offended anyone, that was not what I was trying to do. I am also not trying to force anyone to my point of view on the issue because as we both know many people are extremly passionate about this issue on both sides of the fence. Trying to change someones opinion about it is kind of like telling the sun to not rise. That being said let me clarify what my points were in the original post.

1. Abortion affects both men and women because it takes 2 to tango and any guy who can see past the end of his own nose realizes this and should educate himself on the issue, be it on whichever side he feels drawn to.

2. The controversy surrounding this is well known and extremely inflamatory and sore for both sides.

3. This issue does not belong in a learning enviornment, you are there to learn, not to promote polarizing causes no matter how strongly you feel about them because as you mentioned you have to be able to work with people of all different mindsets and you had better be able to get along at least at work.

So what I was trying to do, effectively apparently :) , was to come at you with my views in a very aggressive and in your face type of way to show how arrogant/over the top/ and out of place it was, and I am sure I made a few of you mad in the process. What I was doing (polarizing many of you from myself or other pro-lifers) has no business in a learning environment. I would not start a mens group in nursing school because it would not build cohesion within the group, but only further seperate the sexes and add an element of discomfort in a stressful time.

So I was merely trying to show you ladies that the door swings both ways, and that while you may have many people who agree with you in school on the subject it is not professional/ respectful to bring your personal views into the learning environment.

Once you are out of school, the sky's the limit. I know how strongly i feel about the subject and I know many of you feel equally or even more strongly and do not hold my views. So when you get that nursing job and are out in the world I think it would be a great idea to educate young women on abortion and to have support groups for those who are undecided or have already had the proceedure.

And the statement I made about women's health: You are right ljds, I apologize to judyblueyes for being rude and unkind. I have no excuse for my statement and I am sorry I went on that little rant for no reason and I hope I did not hurt your feelings.

Have a good morning everyone.

>M :beer: