Participating in Protests?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a nurse and therefore believe in human rights, which naturally means that I do not support the actions of the current administration to dehumanize women, poor people, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and basically everyone who is not wealthy and white.

I have always been an activist, but now that I have a professional license I also understand the added responsibility of maintaining my professionalism in my person life. I want to participate in demonstrations, marches, and protests, but also know that my most valuable contribution is as a nurse caring for the aforementioned groups without bias.

My question is: is there any information on how to participate in demonstrations legally and to make sure I am not crossing any professional boundaries?

Thanks for understanding--I know you all are a good group of folks :)

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Yes, don't break the law and don't advertise you are a nurse.

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Perhaps an anonymous call to your state Board might shed some light. Or, if available online, a look at your state's disciplinary actions to see if anyone, or many, have had problems in this area. Although I doubt you will find anything besides the usual drug diversion, DUI, theft, etc. matters. I suspect that any problems would come about from the policies of an individual employer. People have been terminated for all kinds of 'reasons' and putting the employer in a bad light, or whatever they choose to call it, might be tempting as a reason to get rid of an individual.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Yes, don't break the law and don't advertise you are a nurse.

Also you can protest in a manner that allows for participation without going overboard - marching and carrying a banner stating what you support should be no problem - dressing up as a giant lady parts while carrying a sign stating f(*& the current POTUS not such a great idea. Don't advertise you are a nurse or where you work. Remember People take pictures and post them on Instagram and Facebook. All it takes is for a co-worker to recognize you for administration to call you in.

Also if you were to get arrested you might have to face the BON - which trust me is no fun at all.

Hppy

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Specializes in Hospice.

Bear in mind that peaceful protest and civil disobedience are two related but different things.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

My employer has a policy about that. Basically, don't mention where you work and don't protest wearing your work ID.

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Just because you can do something legally doesn't mean you hospital will tolerate you doing it. Protesting may endanger your job and your license and it will not add anything positive to your professional credentials. Proceed carefully, careers have been destroyed for less. You need to read your employers policies on this matter, no one on the internet can give you accurate information regarding your hospital's particular polices or stance.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
I am a nurse and therefore believe in human rights, which naturally means that I do not support the actions of the current administration to dehumanize women, poor people, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and basically everyone who is not wealthy and white.

I have always been an activist....

While I am for expressing your feelings/being an activist I would ask myself exactly what I am protesting. Many of those who were asked gave different reasons and had wrong information. What exactly is the president doing that you do not like. Be specific, how is he "dehumanizing women, poor people, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and basically everyone else who is not wealthy and white"... In other words think about it first. You may find that you don't have all the facts and therefore it might not be worth the risk.

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Here is an older thread with more responses that touches on the subject

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/jobs-in-nursing-1074777.html

I'll repeat a point I made there: though it is certainly possible to engage in protests as a nurse without seriously jeopardizing your license as long as you are careful, bear in mind that for many causes, volunteering your medical training and knowledge might be more valuable than your ability to stand and chant while holding a sign.

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I am a nurse and therefore believe in human rights, which naturally means that I do not support the actions of the current administration to dehumanize women, poor people, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and basically everyone who is not wealthy and white.

I have always been an activist....[/QUOTe]

While I am for expressing your feelings/being an activist I would ask myself exactly what I am protesting. Many of those who were asked gave different reasons and had wrong information. What exactly is the president doing that you do not like. Be specific, how is he "dehumanizing women, poor people, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and basically everyone else who is not wealthy and white"... In other words think about it first. You may find that you don't have all the facts and therefore it might not be worth the risk.

She isn't asking if she's correct in her viewpoint, she isn't asking for a debate on the validity of her beliefs. She's asking for input and information regarding how to protest legally and how it might affect her professionally. You don't need to ask for specifics from the OP or for her to list reasons to support her desire to protest. Don't try to make this into something it isn't.

OP, like the others have said, you need to know what policies, if any, are in place with your employer and that should guide your decision making. Be sure you understand what consequences are in place for what actions, and then you can go from there.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

Extra Pickles: Wow, why the attack?

It is relevant to know what you are protesting in the sense of being "professional" which is what she asked! She mentioned many different ideas/concerns. If she was to be at a protest and asked what/why she is protesting she should have a good answer. As others have stated you could end up on Facebook etc. and you want to appear informed and professional. And as I stated, if you really think about it you may decide its not worth the risk.

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Extra Pickles: Wow, why the attack?

It is relevant to know what you are protesting in the sense of being "professional" which is what she asked! She mentioned many different ideas/concerns. If she was to be at a protest and asked what/why she is protesting she should have a good answer. As others have stated you could end up on Facebook etc. and you want to appear informed and professional. And as I stated, if you really think about it you may decide its not worth the risk.

Not an attack at all. I think I'm just tired of people turning everything into a war when it isn't what the OP asked and it takes the thread in a direction the OP doesn't intend. Too often people are made to feel that they have to explain themselves or their political viewpoints when it is irrelevant to the topic or the issue.

In this case, I am pointing out that the OP doesn't have to be specific about her desires to take place in a protest, nor does she have to somehow prove to anyone that her reasons are good enough.

I absolutely do understand and appreciate the intent to make sure she chooses wisely, and that the participation is worth the potential repercussions. I just don't think that inferring that she hasn't thought this through well enough, that she might not have the correct information, that she might have the wrong information and therefore shouldn't participate, that is the part I take issue with.

If she said she wanted to participate in a pro-choice rally I would think it offensive to have someone post "have you thought this through, are you sure you understand the facts", like that. She has her viewpoint, to suggest she might have to re-think it is what's bothering me.

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