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 :)

Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

If one of my nursing staff asked me this, I would give the following advice:

1. Please do not wear your work ID or any clothing that identifies you as an employee of XYZ

2. If you are interviewed by the media, please do not identify yourself as an employee of XYZ

3. Try not to get hurt

4. Try not to get arrested.

5. Don't commit any criminal activity

6. Write down on a piece of paper the name and phone of your emergency contact/person who can make bail for you and keep the paper on your body. If I was a woman, I would tuck the paper into my bra. Your smartphone may be lost, stolen or confiscated and if you cannot remember the name and phone, you might be up the creek when you get your one free phone call at the jail.

7. If you do get hurt or arrested, please ask your emergency contact to call us; we will need to cover your shift(s). If we don't hear from or about you, we will be worried that something awful has happened to you.

8. Try not to get videotaped doing something stupid or embarrassing. You will not like being a Facebook meme.

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You are a US citizen and have the right to protest peacefully, just like anybody else. You can wear nursing clothing (scrubs, whites, lab coat...) and identify yourself as a registered nurse (especially if somebody asks you a healthcare-policy-related question) but your employer is being reasonable to specify that you don't wear your student school uniform, hospital ID, or your "Mercy General" fleece vest.

All the stuff about not becoming an internet meme is fair warning. But it's still up to you if you want to be a jerk.

So long as you don't do anything that would p.o. the BoN (shooting up in public, picking pockets, soliciting for $ for sex, DUI...) they can't touch you.

Me, I've made my pink pussyhat, but I'm not contemplating putting ears on my school cap (even if I could find it).

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Just make sure you don't block any roadways, yell obscenities, and if someone near you starts actin all crazy (like the guy who challenged Starbucks to a duel)-- distance yourself asap!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.

The Constitution and your right to free speech still exists even if Trump thinks it doesn't!

Do not wear hospital name tags.

I proudly wear my union scrubs to all protests! I want the public to know that a nurse cares.

Acting Atty. General tells Justice Dept not to defend Trump Order! Breaking news now.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
The Constitution and your right to free speech still exists even if Trump thinks it doesn't!

Yes, the right to free speech exists, but that doesn't mean your employer can't fire you for saying something that makes them look bad for being associated with you. Haven't you heard of all the people who have been fired or lost sponsorships (in the case of celebrities) for saying things that appeared inflammatory or discriminatory? Freedom of speech and freedom to assemble is a protection against legal prosecution. It does not equal freedom from all consequence.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
Yes, the right to free speech exists, but that doesn't mean your employer can't fire you for saying something that makes them look bad for being associated with you. Haven't you heard of all the people who have been fired or lost sponsorships (in the case of celebrities) for saying things that appeared inflammatory or discriminatory? Freedom of speech and freedom to assemble is a protection against legal prosecution. It does not equal freedom from all consequence.

I sincerely hope that any employer would not care what your political preferences are, as long as the employee follows the the guidelines, such as not appearing as if the person is representing the employer. (This is a no-brainer.) My gosh, if people are so scared of being fired for demonstrating for a cause that he/she believes in, this is a sorry state. I support those who march for issues even if they are completely different than mine. I'm a baby boomer and marched against the Vietnam War way back when. I doubt very much you would get into trouble as long as you do not align or identify yourself with any facility. But I'm in CA, where we value our rights with a passion. And stay off Facebook if you do demonstrate... no pictures But that's another post.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
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.

My response to the OP questions was not political. I find it a little amusing that you infer what you think I mean and assume that I am turning this into a "war" and am responsible for taking the thread "in a direction that the OP doesn't intend".

I would suggest that anyone regardless of postion/viewpoint (ie pro-life or pro-choice) think about it, do their homework, know the facts (ie critical thinking vs just repeating whatever you hear) prior to attending any protest/rally so that one appears informed (vs foolish) and professional.

I guess I just don't understand why this bothers you, but I guess we can just agree to disagree.

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My response to the OP questions was not political. I find it a little amusing that you infer what you think I mean and assume that I am turning this into a "war" and am responsible for taking the thread "in a direction that the OP doesn't intend".

I would suggest that anyone regardless of postion/viewpoint (ie pro-life or pro-choice) think about it, do their homework, know the facts (ie critical thinking vs just repeating whatever you hear) prior to attending any protest/rally so that one appears informed (vs foolish) and professional.

I guess I just don't understand why this bothers you, but I guess we can just agree to disagree.

I agree with Extra that your original comment, whether it was your intent or not, sounded condescending and patronizing, suggesting that many people protesting against Trump are "uninformed" and don't "know the facts," that protestors likely haven't "done their homework," and that people are just "repeating whatever you hear." It sounds like you must have a different point of view, which is fine -- but not agreeing with you is not the same as being "uninformed."

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I agree with Extra that your original comment, whether it was your intent or not, sounded condescending and patronizing, suggesting that many people protesting against Trump are "uninformed" and don't "know the facts," that protestors likely haven't "done their homework," and that people are just "repeating whatever you hear." It sounds like you must have a different point of view, which is fine -- but not agreeing with you is not the same as being "uninformed."

I also agree with this.

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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 agree with most (not all) of what has already been said, but I do take issue with the word "naturally" in the context of which it has been used here. Supporting our president does not have to mean that one does not also support human rights because I happen to support both.

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I agree with most (not all) of what has already been said, but I do take issue with the word "naturally" in the context of which it has been used here. Supporting our president does not have to mean that one does not also support human rights because I happen to support both.

Good to hear. Tell your friends. :)

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I boycotted M&Ms when they took the red ones out until they finally knuckled under and brought them back. Does that count?

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