I had made a post about this earlier. I would like to go into nursing, but am against abortion completely at all times, I am Catholic, and I would never ever take part in an abortion procedure, nor would i want to care for someone immediately after they had the procedure becuase without me there to do that, the abortion couldnt have happened, so in a way i am still contributing to the abortion. I will make this clear from the start, If somebody had an abortion a year prior or a month prior or whatever else of course i would still care for them. As long as i am not being responsible for that abortion happening,, I could still care for them.
Alot of people said, that is fine just don't work in the ER, OR, OB/GYN areas.. but truthfully i would like to work in all of these areas more then others.... is this possible?
Note: I do not feel that it is any of my business if my patient had an abortion in the past and i would never treat anybody differently becuase they had one in the past. I just need to know that when i sleep at night I am doing the right thing and not going against my beliefs and I think that i deserve those rights..
Thanks for your input! i would love to hear from other pro life nurses most of all and any experiences you have had with this
Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
I'm sorry but I've just got to say this...This is not Christ-like at all. God said to hate the sin but love the sinner. You're a nurse whose taken an oath to be your patient's advocate...to take care of the patient. You can't pick and choose your patients like you're at a grocery store-- Oh, I'll take that one but this one???!!!!
Have you even considered maybe you could be the one person to show compassion and lead taht person down a better path in life!! Remember,
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!!! :icon_hug:
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.
The problem isn't one of moral conscience - it's one of doctrine. According to the Roman Catholic Church, any person who participates materially in an abortion is de facto an accomplice and therefore subject to excommunication latae sententiae; upon commission. However, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops clarify the RN's role thus:
"Cooperation in the sinful act of abortion would not ordinarily extend to preparing patients for the procedure or providing after-care. However, because in many instances abortion is promoted as an alternate method of birth control and thus a denial of the value of the child, the cooperation of the Catholic health care worker may be interpreted as agreement that the unborn child is of subordinate value and has no right to life. Christian witness may well require Catholic nurses to avoid even those actions that -- although not necessarily evil -- may be interpreted as a compromise of Christian values."
Consult with your pastoral leader and make your decision based on guidance and your own conscience.
Personally, I believe that we are called to care for souls in need, and that is an absolute imperative - which means that providing care pre- and post- procedure, and ensuring that informed consent is obtained, information on alternatives is provided if applicable, and post-abortion counseling is provided for is part of a moral duty as well as a nursing duty. It does not condone the procedure, but acknowledges the spiritual effect. Your mileage may vary.
If they had complications I would not havea problem helping them, becasue yes, the decision was already made and i was not a part of it and I agree that it is not okay to let them die! I realize that.. its funny how this kind of topic always gets twisted around to make pro life people sound uncaring
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.
JayMar23 said:
preventing a life from being created is different than ending one that has begun...
My apologies - I thought we had been discussing things from a Catholic viewpoint as well as a nursing one.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"Every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil" (CCC 2370). "Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means . . . for example, direct sterilization or contraception" (CCC 2399).
They differ only in degree, not in nature or acceptability. Both actions are "intrinsically evil." To repudiate one doctrine is to repudiate the doctrine entire.
Sorry if that opens a whole 'nother can of worms, or sidetracks the discussion - but one ought to be consistent with his/her application of doctrine. Just my opinion.
thats okay,, I don't agree with EVERYTHING in the Catholic church, I support gay rights. And i do support BC as long as it doesn't allow conception to happen and then cause an early abortion, and i know the church does not agre with birth control, but i do think that that is not even on the same page as abortion. I guess there are alot of options out there and I do not think it would be a problem for me to find work in the future if i decide on nursing becuase there are SOOO many options. I know alot of doctors nad nurses who are religious/pro life (not that you have to be religious to be against abortion) and have had long lasting careers, but then I hear certain things that makes me worry.
Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
JayMar23 said:
preventing a life from being created is different than ending one that has begun...
If you're being honest, both methods-BC and abortion are preventing what's divinely ordered by God. But I don't want to judge here. I truly suggest that you find employment in an environment where you are not as exposed to practices that would offend you beliefs.
I have been an L&D nurse for 8 years. I have NEVER been forced to participate in an abortion. I simply make it known to my employer what my stance is and that's it. Done deal. Let's deal with some other issues. If a patient presented to the ER 24 hours post abortion with severe abdominal pain and fever of 103.4 you would have NO LEGAL grounds on which to refuse that patient assignment. None. If a nurse who works at an abortion clinic gets shot walking to her car after work and is brought to your ER. You would have no legal grounds to refuse to be her nurse. If you refuse either of these scenarios you would like be fired and possibly turned into the board.
Next issue. You work in L&D and you happen to know that there is a patient on the unit who is terminating a pregnancy for trisomy 13. How do you treat your co-worker caring for that patient? Are you nice and friendly as always? What if that patient's spouse comes to the desk and asks for a blanket and pillow? Will you assist him in a friendly and professional manner? That same patient's husband comes to the desk an hour later and is frantic, "something's wrong with my wife, please help, we need some help!!" Do you go in the room and provide assistance. Same patient delivers and has a PPH....they need your help in the OR, they need you to draw labs or run and get blood from the blood bank. There are all very real scenarios that you need to think about.
My stance is this....I will not personally give a medication that induces an abortion. That's it. All other scenarios that I have previously mentioned I would absolutely assist.
You state that you are not against BC as long as it is not ab inducing. Does that mean you would not assist in an IUP placement immediately after delivery?
Also, since you state that there are no catholic hospitals in your area you will also have to reconcile within your self the concept that you will work for an employer that generates an income from providing abortion services. I know of no hospital that is not church affiliated that does not provide terminations within the scope of the law for infants with non-compatible with life diagnosis.
My point is you would really have to decide within yourself what your personal boundaries are.
Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
Are you suggesting that that is possible within nursing? or to forget about nursing altogether
No, I'm not...There are lots of areas in your nursing career to choose from that wouldn't expose you to abortion. It's just that working in the OR or OB just might put you in that position. A patient may be admitted with complications after having an abortion, another patient may come in for a scheduled abortion for many reasons, etc.
PurpleLVN
244 Posts
I'm sorry but I've just got to say this...This is not Christ-like at all. God said to hate the sin but love the sinner. You're a nurse whose taken an oath to be your patient's advocate...to take care of the patient. You can't pick and choose your patients like you're at a grocery store-- Oh, I'll take that one but this one???!!!!
Have you even considered maybe you could be the one person to show compassion and lead taht person down a better path in life!! Remember,
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!!! :icon_hug: