ob interview-but here's my problem

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I'm a new grad, six months out of nursing school. i'm currently working on a 40 bed med/surg unit, and I'm miserable. I just received an email to schedule an interview for a neighboring hospital's ob dept. I'm absolutely on cloud nine, as I have plans to become either a CNM or NP in women's health at some point. I'm psyched for the interview, and I really hope it goes well. Here's is my problem, and I need to know how upfront I should be. I am 100% opposed to circumcision. And I mean 100% with very strong convictions. I know the topic can be a heated one, so I wont get a debate started, but that is how I feel. Do I let the NM know this up front, or wait and see if I get offered a job? I would much, much rather be honest than say I'd be ok with it and then get into issues at a new job. I know that I would never be able to watch babies getting circed without getting ill or just leaving the room. Its just not something I agree with, and I would have a very hard time with it. If the parents chose to do it, then that is there choice. But I would really rather not have any part in the matter. SOme advice please, as this interview will most likely take place next week. thanks!

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It depends on the OB floor. If you are interviewing for an L&D unit that is separate from postpartum, then there should be no issue as consents and treatments are managed in pp. If, however, it is a combined LDRP unit, then you should be up front with the manager. IMHO.

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Specializes in OB.

I agree with the above. In general, if there is any procedure performed on a unit to which you are strongly ethically opposed (unable to participate), I feel you are obligated to inform the interviewer up front so that they can decide whether your qualifications and the needs of the unit make it worth it to them to "work around" this, or whether they would be unable to accomodate it. To spring it on them at any later point is really unfair.

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Specializes in L&D.

All the hospitals in my area stopped doing circumcisions; they're now only done in the physician's office. Hopefully this may be the case for this hospital...if not, I'd bring it up after you're offered a position.

Best of luck!

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I agree you should be very up front if the position is in LDRP or if there is a chance you may ever be floated to PP or NBN. If you are opposed to providing circ care teaching to parents and/or performing circ care yourself, then your prospective manager needs to be aware of this too.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I agree; be upfront. You can refuse to participate in circs. Many places are not doing them much, if at all, as mentioned above. Our peds prefer to do these in the office at the first well-baby checkup. I am very glad about that.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

PS: good luck on that interview. Let us know how it goes!!!

And welcome to allnurses.com!

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Well if you have a parent that wants their baby circumcised how would you handle that? I know you said it is allright with you if the parents want it, but you sound sort of fanatical and that makes me nervous. You have a right to refuse to participate in a proceedure to which you have an ethical objection. But you do not have a right to make people who chose to do it uncomfortable. I have actually witnessed nurses who felt it was their obligation to convert people with different beliefs then they held to their way of thinking or believing. The only thing you can ethically do is provide education.

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Specializes in LDRP.

you'd have to define "OB". is it just a labor and delivery unit? or is it labor/delivery/and postpartum/nursery all in one? if its just l&d, you'd never have anything to do with circ's.

im in a solely l&d unit, and the most i have to do with circ's is overhearing an OB saying he's going to go do one in the nursery. (they do it instead of peds b/c they are surgeons and peds are not).

though, if you are that strongly convicted about that, what about other things? what if the patient asked you about the circ, like when would it be done? will you be able to answer this without displaying your opposition?

if your unit doesn't even do them, no need to mention it. if you do, then i'd say so at the interview.

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I will be starting nursing school in September with the long-term plan of finding my place in L&D, but I face this dilemma as well. Like you, I am vehemently opposed to having this procedure done as a matter of course and don't think that I will be comfortable being involved in it. The idea of it quite literally makes me sick to my stomach at times. That said, I know there are also other nurses out there who share the same convictions, but who do participate in the procedure with the idea that they are there to be the baby's advocate and will insist on proper pain meds, making sure the doctor allows ample time for said meds to take effect, etc. So I am kind of wavering on that a bit.

Yes, I do feel very strongly that it shouldn't be done, but the parents do (unfortunately, IMO) have the right to choose this for their sons and if they want it done, it's going to be done whether or not I like it or agree with it, however unfortunate I feel that may be. And I would at the very least like to know that the child is not being made to undergo painful surgery with insufficient (or none at all!) anesthesia. So we'll have to see once I get to that point how I feel about it and what will be acceptable for me.

Thank God I live in good ol' Canada where they are becoming far less common. :w00t:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It is not "fanatical" to refuse to participate in practices that violate one's ethics and/or moral codes.

It's not much different than another RN refusing to assist in abortion. Yes, we are there to provide care for patients making such choices, but we do not have to actually ASSIST with the procedures themselves.

I do agree with the others; I think the manager needs to know when a person has religious/moral/ethical problems with procedures such as circumcision, if the staff are expected to assist. And just because a given health care provider is opposed to such procedures does not mean he/she lets an "attitude" show. We can provide nursing care for these folks without judging their choices. After all, we meet many people who make choices with which we very much disagree, but rise to the occasion in order to give good care to them.

There are many doctors who refuse to perform circumcision----does that make them "fanatical"? No. We accept it. Same should go for nurses. OB nursing is a lot more than assisting with circumcision, as we all know.

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I have worked OB for 18 years. My feelings are well known on the unit with the nurses and physicians about circumcision. I mainly work L & D and sometimes postpartum. The nursery nurses obtain consents etc. for the circs. I am able to take care of my mother-baby unit and teach without my bias coming through. They obviously think it is their choice/right to alter their child's anatomy for no medical reason. Nothing I am going to say will change that. The peds do it where I work, one of whom does not believe in it either and none of his sons are circ'd. He often teases me, " Come and help me" knowing I could never do it. It has never become an issue on the unit thank heaven. Perhaps you should just ask if you would be required to assist with circs and would it be a problem if you didn't. We all have beliefs and values that we bring to work that differ from the clients we care for. That hardly makes anyone a "fanatic". I don't believe name calling belongs on this professional message board.

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