Pro Life Beliefs and Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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After spending weeks at a hospital while my dad was there I decided I wanted to pursue nursing as my future career after the great care they provided and I wish to do the same to others. I have pro-life beliefs and would not be able to live with myself killing a child. I know abortion is not an easy topic to discuss and I find I am very ignorant on the subject.

I would never treat anyone who has had an abortion differently and would give the best care to anyone regardless of religion or life choices. If anyone was in a certain situation when they started nursing school I would love to hear advice on what you did. I see myself either specializing in nurse researching/informatics or even oncology. I'm still learning and everything seems new and overwhelming to me so any input is greatly appreciated.

This is in no way meant to push any of my beliefs on any individual or to start arguments. I thank each and every one of you who are in a nursing field or will be in the future. Your work is invaluable.

Absolutely. A few years ago Colorado received a large grant from Warren Buffett for our Title X program, in order to provide LARCs (IUDs and implantable contraceptives) to every teen and woman who wanted one, regardless of her ability to pay. Over a 5-year period, the abortion rate decreased by 40%.

Abortion rates have gone down significantly in the last ten years or so (though it remains incredibly common) and it has everything to do with increased use of LARCs. Probably the ACA has had some effect too.

Anti-abortion laws, on the other hand, and asinine efforts like abstinence-only "education" and eliminating birth control insurance coverage (Hobby Lobby et al) do nothing but increase abortion rates through increasing unintended pregnancies, and increasing the number of abortions that occur later in gestation due to hoops patients have to jump through and money they have to pull together before they can access the service.

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I'm pro life and have been a nurse for many years and have never gotten a hassle over it.

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Abortion rates have gone down significantly in the last ten years or so (though it remains incredibly common) and it has everything to do with increased use of LARCs. Probably the ACA has had some effect too.

Anti-abortion laws, on the other hand, and asinine efforts like abstinence-only "education" and eliminating birth control insurance coverage (Hobby Lobby et al) do nothing but increase abortion rates through increasing unintended pregnancies, and increasing the number of abortions that occur later in gestation due to hoops patients have to jump through and money they have to pull together before they can access the service.

The irony would be so laughable if it wasn't such a serious issue with so many repercussions.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I'm Catholic, and I'm pro-choice.

If you are anti-abortion, don't have an abortion. And don't take a job where participating in the termination of a pregnancy is an expectation.

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I'm an ER nurse (have been in the emergency department since January and a nurse since September 2017) and I've cared for many patients who have had abortions and come to the ER due to complications post abortion. I have also had women come to the ER asking for the "abortion pill" because they think they can get where I work- we just educate them on the subject and give them referrals to women's clinics.

I am pro-choice but I can honestly say it wouldn't matter to me either way. I have also had lot of patients who have done or said horrible things that go beyond political issues for me personally (such as taking care of an intoxicated driver who hit and killed an innocent pedestrian, someone who killed their own father, and someone who shot police officers) and I care for them as I do with anyone else. It is never my place to judge them for their decisions and life choices. Yes it's unfortunate, but it's my job to give everyone equal and quality care. So I am able to compartmentalize it. And that's what you need to do as a nurse. Sometimes I'll think about the situations I encounter at work when I'm home and reflect on how it was an upsetting situation, but i won't allow myself to dwell on it because there's nothing that will come from that except causing yourself more stress. What's done is done and you aren't able to change people. You learn to brush it off. If nursing is right for you, I think you'll be surprised at what you'll be capable of dealing with even when you strongly disagree with someone and their choices.

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I'm pro-abortion. Don't work in OB or women's health or public health. You'll probably be fine.

I agree. I prefer the term Pro-Choice, not Pro-Abortion. I feel it gives more empowerment to the female who actually makes such a difficult life-changing decision/choice. Both decisions are very brave. And they are typically always done in isolation and with very little moral support. It is a personal decision. It is not anybody's job to judge, whether you are actually directly involved in performing the abortion or whether you are just a passerby.

I am not an RN yet, I am just going back to school. My background is in Psychology (Behavioral Therapy) and then later Special Needs (ABA).

If that was something that even crossed my mind I would never consider it for a second or let it jeopardize my patient care. Nursing is a profession. Being pro/con anything, other than a professional and a patient advocate, is not any persons' place.

example: If you don't believe in euthanasia you probably shouldn't work in a critical care unit, in a state that it is legal. Stay away from that area of nursing and I'm sure you'll do fine.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I agree. I prefer the term Pro-Choice, not Pro-Abortion. I feel it gives more empowerment to the female who actually makes such a difficult life-changing decision/choice. .

Pro-Choice and Pro-abortion are not the same thing.

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.

I'll just add that this issue actually can come up in areas you might not expect it. Like ICU. I've only encountered it once, but I must admit it was a soul-rattling experience. Won't go into details other than to say what I witnessed from OB medicine providers frankly shocked me (not much does). I'm pro-life but I'm pretty sure my pro-choice friends would have been raising their eyebrows as well.

All that said, as the bedside ICU nurse I had two patients in the bed (most on the medical team acknowledged this also).

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.

example: If you don't believe in euthanasia you probably shouldn't work in a critical care unit, in a state that it is legal. Stay away from that area of nursing and I'm sure you'll do fine.

This actually made me laugh out loud. Not likely you'll see euthanasia in a critical care unit (no matter the state).

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
This actually made me laugh out loud. Not likely you'll see euthanasia in a critical care unit (no matter the state).

Right. It would be in hospice, and most likely in the home.

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Specializes in NICU.

Been around late term TOP, tough to deal with but caring for the patient overshadows any beliefs I might have,felt sorry for what they endure.I have many beliefs and I just check em at the door because I am there to do my best for the patient not myself.

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Pro-Choice and Pro-abortion are not the same thing.

Based on your other comments I would wager that I will agree with you but can you elaborate on what you mean exactly?

I strongly dislike the term pro-choice personally, though I will use it casually because people understand it; it's too consumerist and doesn't acknowledge the reality of the spectrum of reproductive health decisions people have to make throughout their life cycle. If a woman "chooses" abortion because she is too financially strapped to have a child though she would otherwise want to, is that really a free choice we should celebrate? I prefer the term "reproductive justice" which acknowledges the intersectionality of identity and places abortion rights within the realm of many countless reproductive rights we deserve and should work towards.

And I don't have a problem calling myself pro-abortion because I am absolutely 100% in favor of abortion as a necessary reproductive health reality but I do tend to stay away from saying that in casual conversation because I'm a wimp.

(For the record, again, I am an abortion care nurse and I love what I do.)

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