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.
She's dangerous. No one should lighten up on someone like her.
9 minutes ago, Esrun777 said:
No, you cannot talk about such a dangerous idea and not understand how it could eventually become reality - we are nurses and our opinions are valued by the public. We cannot talk like this.
I don't care if you "think" you're a wonderful super hero nurse, your job is to care for each patient with the best care and respect. Remember your nursing oath....
Get off your high horse, patients are people, do your job and care for them! You don't have the right to judge why anyone is not getting this emergency vaccine...thats not your place...maybe your in the wrong vocation....either way, if you can't do your job compassionately, get out, fast, go....I wouldn't want you caring for any of my family.....Scary!
Thoughts from a recently retired nurse of 37 years
The nursing oath does not prevent me from refusing to take care of a patient for whatever reason. It does obligate me to do my job to the best of my ability when I accept the responsibility of caring for that patient. There are many nurses and docs who refuse to do abortions, remove people from ventilators or care for people who may have a condition that may be a health risk for them (pregnant women). I still have a choice.
Additionally, the last line says, “…devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”
Yes. Labeling dangerous speech as a rant doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Does anyone realize that minorities are getting vaccinated at a much lower rate than whites? This is the talk of segregation. STOP NOW.
Right?
46 minutes ago, Juanito said:
This pandemic minimally compares to HIV as there were no vaccines that could help during that time. Thank God for the medical advances available to these patients now. But don't be fooled, health care providers and the public were much more vicious towards HIV than COVID. There were definitely nurses and doctors who left the bedside because they didn’t want to get sick. There were nurses and doctors who refused to work with these patients. The infected were extremely ostracized by the public. It has been and continues to be a horrible situation for those impacted by HIV. Some were jailed for knowingly and unknowingly passing the virus to someone.
Since the comparison is being used to HIV, how about we use the same laws as punishment for transmission/death. The vaccine works to prevent death and reduce transmission, almost like a prophylactic condom and PREP. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I am happy to hear that the insurance companies are considering increased premiums and other financial implications for not receiving the vaccine.
Additionally, most of us are aware that some people cannot get the vaccine for some legit reason or another. We advocate for their right to choose.
I still believe the unvaccinated should go to special hospitals and schools where they are cared for and taught by other unvaccinated people. They can wear their masks and etc as they choose. Hopefully the virus doesn’t mutate too much. Maybe then we’ll reach heard immunity. They will all develop antibodies and we’ll all be vaccinated.
Are you serious? Please tell me you aren't serious. You're talking about segregation.
It's a rant on a nursing site. If you read the subsequent discussion nobody is advocating for this in real life. Conflating into the discussion the morbidly obese and smokers are simply strawman arguments. The truly dangerous stuff is the misinformation and conspiracy theories being posted from people who have just joined.
I'm sure someone said that about Hitler too...oh, he's just going off on a rant. She's dangerous to our profession. She needs to go.
I am so very disappointed in my fellow nursing colleagues writing and responding to this posting. When you became a nurse, you took on the responsibility of caring for EVERYONE equally, and without judgement, regardless of race, religion, national origin, culture, or alternative beliefs. SHAME on you all! You are propagating communistic ideas that are so harmful to the nurse/parent relationship. You are allowing your personal feelings in vaccination and/or masking to change the way in which you care about and for your patients. It’s fine to have your own beliefs about the subject, just as it is okay for patients to have theirs. We HAVE to respect and honor EVERYONE’S rights and wishes for how they want to manage their health and cannot let that change our feelings about them or the way we care for them. If you have become so embittered by nursing, then you should really just leave the profession, because these are not the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of a registered professional nurse who goes to work to save lives - ALL LIVES. I think you all need to reevaluate your opinions and attitudes regarding checking yourselves at the door and leaving all those ‘personal’ beliefs at that door when you walk in to work. You are there to heal everyone, regardless of their beliefs. So go to work and do the job you are paid to do, which does not include sending people who do not believe as you to concentration camps to die or be vaccinated. I’ve truly never been so disheartened by fellow nurses as I am by having read all of your posts. What is this world coming to? Nothing good, it would appear. SMH.
Are you serious? Please tell me you aren't serious. You're talking about segregation.
Yes. We are talking about segregation of sorts. And please, I’m black so this whole minorities are disproportionately affected means nothing to me when they choose not to be vaccinated. Im talking about your CHOICE to be unvaccinated. Again, somE people cant get the vaccinated, that’s why everyone else should be. To protect them. I have a 2 year old. I need the entire village to come together and help me keep this child alive.
Ah, clever. Now stop continuing a rhetoric that would disproportionately harm minorities, as they are getting vaccinated at a much lower rate than whites. This is a disgusting thread.
2 minutes ago, Disappointed by my colleagues said:
I am so very disappointed in my fellow nursing colleagues writing and responding to this posting. When you became a nurse, you took on the responsibility of caring for EVERYONE equally, and without judgement, regardless of race, religion, national origin, culture, or alternative beliefs. SHAME on you all! You are propagating communistic ideas that are so harmful to the nurse/parent relationship. You are allowing your personal feelings in vaccination and/or masking to change the way in which you care about and for your patients. It’s fine to have your own beliefs about the subject, just as it is okay for patients to have theirs. We HAVE to respect and honor EVERYONE’S rights and wishes for how they want to manage their health and cannot let that change our feelings about them or the way we care for them. If you have become so embittered by nursing, then you should really just leave the profession, because these are not the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of a registered professional nurse who goes to work to save lives - ALL LIVES. I think you all need to reevaluate your opinions and attitudes regarding checking yourselves at the door and leaving all those ‘personal’ beliefs at that door when you walk in to work. You are there to heal everyone, regardless of their beliefs. So go to work and do the job you are paid to do, which does not include sending people who do not believe as you to concentration camps to die or be vaccinated. I’ve truly never been so disheartened by fellow nurses as I am by having read all of your posts. What is this world coming to? Nothing good, it would appear. SMH.
So you’re telling me you've never refused an assignment based on your personal beliefs?
I'm sure someone said that about Hitler too...oh, he's just going off on a rant.
No, I don’t think people said that about Hitler. But you know that your argument is flailing a bit when you need to bring him up. Argue your standpoints and opinions instead.
37 minutes ago, Zimber said:
Are you serious? Please tell me you aren't serious. You're talking about segregation.
When you care for infectious disease patients on a unit separate from a unit where cancer patients are receiving chemotherapy treatment, do you refer to that as ”segregation”? Or infection control and common sense? Those who choose not to vaccinate, are a risk to other people. It’s not only their own health that they are gambling with.
The vaccines are nothing but money makers for big pharma
Some people would call that "misinformation," but I'm going to call it what it is-a deliberate lie.
These vaccines are saving lives. Vaccinated individuals who nonetheless get Covid are experiencing mostly mild symptoms and are far less likely to die than unvaccinated people. Millions have died from Covid. Relative to the HUNDRDEDS of MILLIONS of people vaccinated, only a handful have experienced severe adverse effects from the vaccines.
Your gaslighting might work with your lay friends or family, but we're not buying what you're selling here.
Retriever5280
36 Posts
Since the comparison is being used to HIV...
Incorrect. The comparison is not to HIV itself but to the attitudes and projections of those "caring" for the afflicted.