We have all dealt with chronic care patients who keep coming back to the hospital because they have COPD and refuse to stop smoking, have CHF but can't be bothered to be compliant with their medications, or they are ESRD but they won't change their lifestyle, yet expect to be rescued whenever they eat a bucket of chicken while drinking a case of soda but can't make their dialysis appointment.
A more experienced nurse told me in my first two years of nursing that she thought 20% of the population used 80% of hospital and healthcare resources. I admit my dentist has used every tactic to try to get me to floss daily... what can I say? Some habits are best learned when very young - I just can't get it done. That point being, that even intelligent people (me...LOL) can't always be made to follow a long term treatment plan if the risk of not following it, doesn't feel real.
Covid antivaxxers... I am sorry to say I am all dystopian fantasy about this. It is all those chronic illness frustrations rolled into risk of death in the fast lane scenario. I am nearly radicalized. I think that anyone who refuses to mask, get vaccinated, wash their hands while propagating myths about fake news should be required to get a special tattoo.
Then when they show up in the ED with Covid symptoms, and test positive... we ask to see the spot where the tattoo is mandated to be placed. When it proves they are fake news antivaxxers... they are escorted out of the hospital by a team in space suits to "the fairgrounds". The fairgrounds has a fence and armed guards and plenty of organic food, water, shelter, sleeping arrangements.... no phones, no computers, no Fox News, no radio.... make them be inside their own heads. Have them reassure each other it isn't real until those around them die. If they actually survive and can agree to be vaccinated before being released... then they can be released.
My county is full of fake news people. We have a vaccination rate of 49% county wide. Covid admissions are up in the region and at our hospital. We don't have that big of a hospital. Having 8-11 Covid cases is a lot for us. 2 of the 12 ICU beds and the nurses caring for them is a lot.
You don't believe Covid is real? Then we will allow you to continue with your thoughts and beliefs when you contract it, you will battle it alone at "the fairgrounds". Yes visitors are welcome... but if they enter, they cannot leave.
Seriously... we need the right to refuse to serve those who threaten our lives and families. They expect to be saved? Darwinian ideas full scale. We are only interfering with it when we try to save these idiots.
The minorities in my region are not anti-vax. They are vaccine hesitant and with good reason. I deal with this on the daily and have had some terrific, honest discussions. I believe the OP was directing her rant at the politically motivated, rabidly anti-vax, anti-mask, anti-anything that will help slow the spread of Covid group who for whatever reason are willing to sacrifice their neighbors and even their own children to some twisted ideology. Those are the ones making health care providers angry.
Perhaps when you have 30 years of experience and two graduate degrees we can chat about ethical practice in nursing and medicine.
Let's chat!
1 hour ago, Mary P. said:
If you follow the science closely worldwide you would know that this virus has been politicized and facts grossly manipulated.
I agree the pandemic has been politicized but please provide references for how the facts have been manipulated (just because one clause is true, that does not make the second clause true).
1 hour ago, Mary P. said:
Must I also remind you of those who have been fully vaxed and died from covid complications ???
Remind me again, What are the statistics for those fully vaxed and dying from covid?
1 hour ago, Mary P. said:
you have 30 years of experience and two graduate degrees we can chat about ethical practice in nursing and medicine.
I do too, and I have met some really poor critical thinkers among us, with more than 30 years experience and 2 graduates degrees.
If you support OP, you’re either supporting the segregation of minorities, because they are getting vaccinated at far lower rates than whites, or you’re trying to target a relatively small proportion of whites who are choosing not to get the vaccine.
Just because you can recite the science doesn’t mean you can continue such a dangerous rhetoric.
So you’re saying you’re only trying to target the “anti-vaxxers” who are white, even though there is a lower percentage of them than minorities who are choosing not to vaccinate?
Again with the strawman arguments? I'm not saying anything of the sort. Just stop it. I have not put words in your mouth and would appreciate you returning the favor.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
1 hour ago, Mary P. said:
It is inexperienced colleagues who follow the herd that are the sad reality. Yes covid is real and will be here for decades to come. If you follow the science closely worldwide you would know that this virus has been politicized and facts grossly manipulated. The vaccines are nothing but money makers for big pharma and the expense of phase 3 clinical trials on the population with adverse effects often worse then getting Covid. Must I also remind you of those who have been fully vaxed and died from covid complications ??? Perhaps when you have 30 years of experience and two graduate degrees we can chat about ethical practice in nursing and medicine.
Nonsense.
The covid vaccines are safe and effective. All eligible adults should vaccinate ASAP. You should stop spreading doubt and concern, it's irresponsible.
Yeah. I understand that segregation is bad in most situations. In the case of preventing the transmission of disease, perhaps we could reconsider our position in order to save lives? Only temporarily. We do it for people with TB, acinetobacter, and other diseases. Just until we can get this situation figured out. If there were a zombie apocalypse, we’d segregate for sure ? (Just for humor LOL)
So you’re telling me you've never refused an assignment based on your personal beliefs?
No. I have never refused to care for anyone, for any reason. I don’t care if your black, white, blue, or purple, have no limbs, smoke peyote, dance naked around a bonfire on the full moon, or think you are an alien from Vega 3. I care for every single person that I am assigned to as if they were my very own beloved family member. I leave politics at home and do my job - which is to heal those who are weak and infirm, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or what laws they may have broken (I worked in a hospital near a state penitentiary).
6 minutes ago, Disappointed by my colleagues said:
No. I have never refused to care for anyone, for any reason. I don’t care if your black, white, blue, or purple, have no limbs, smoke peyote, dance naked around a bonfire on the full moon, or think you are an alien from Vega 3. I care for every single person that I am assigned to as if they were my very own beloved family member. I leave politics at home and do my job - which is to heal those who are weak and infirm, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or what laws they may have broken (I worked in a hospital near a state penitentiary).
Well. I have done anesthesia for abortions and removed patients from ventilators when my colleagues refused. I now refuse to participate in elective abortions but support the right to choice. Thank you for your selfless and enduring care for our fellow Americans. We need people like you. ❤️
I know this may be difficult to process for those who like to recite a few facts and then believe they are sooo much more intelligent than everyone around them…but I can COMPLETELY SUPPORT VACCINES while condemning rhetoric that encourages hate and division. No one on either side should engage in such a dangerous “rant.”
Again, minorities are being vaccinated at a far lower rate than whites. PLEASE tell me how you can spew such hate towards those not vaccinated, when the majority of the people not vaccinated are not even the people you’re pretending and lying they are.
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
Very well said.