an RN is a practicing Jehovah's witness

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 4, 2014

Thanks for your insight. And truthfully, I don't think the thread was headed in a 'let's bash JW' direction. I think you could sub in "SDA/ Jew/Muslim/Wiccan" and the issue is the same. Expecting preferential treatment regarding scheduling because of one's religious views. AFTER making a career decision to enter a profession that is needed 24/7/365.

I agree. I don't think the problem is as much to do with being a Jehovah's Witness as it is about someone who feels that they are so special they need to be scheduled off instead of being subject to the same scheduling rules as anyone else. I've seen Christians of all varieties ask for every Sunday off (and call in sick if they're scheduled to work a Sunday) and Jews who want every Sabbath and Jewish holiday scheduled off (but who are unavailable to work Christmas, Easter or Sundays). It's not about religion, it's about being a Special Princess.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 4, 2014

I want to Thank everyone for your comments and thoughts. I absolutely do not want this thread to be a JW bashing. I am in a position of trying to understand the unrelenting expectations of a co-worker. She is not willing to compromise to meet her obligations of the schedule. Not so much holidays, but weekends. Weekends are a requirement for our profession and this individual will not understand that just like every other person has religious and spiritual belief to appease; hers are just as relevant than everyone else. How can a religion not appreciate the "calling"of a nurse to uphold her bargain. Yes. everyone should meet a compromise, but when you have alienated the work environment with your demands; I have to question your convictions. It is so difficult to appreciate someone's devout practice when it hinders your institutional and union obligations. I do want everyone to respect each other's comments and remain totally objective. I am just seeking different methods of dealing with the dilemna and offering me ideas on how to reach a compromise.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!

The only fair method of dealing with the dilemma is to place that worker on the schedule just like everyone else, and if she needs to trade to get off when she needs to be off, then she trades. Weekends are an obligation, so she either works them or trades them.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · May 5, 2014

Participation in blood transfusions is a conscience decision for a JW nurse; the faith takes so specific position one way or the other. I worked in outpatient oncology, and I hung blood and blood products. It didn't bother my conscience. Another JW nurse may feel differently.
I hope that she helps with other patients when nurses have to cover her patients getting blood.

There are copious threads in the archives about JW nurses and blood transfusion if you're interested. I hope we don't start this discussion again, though; it got really nasty in some of those other threads.

Interesting to hear another perspective. I'll look up the other threads. Didn't mean to bring up a sore subject!

trishmsn · May 5, 2014

For any and all faiths, it comes down to reasonable requests and the honoring of such. As a manager, I did not have issue with a standing request for one or two major religious holidays, or even "personal" special days once in awhile. I could work around annual holidays.

Frankly, the refusal to hang blood in an ONC unit would be a no-go for me...it is too essential a task. It would be like working at Planned Parenthood and refusing to assist with abortions. The former can work units like ortho where blood is "once in a blue moon", and the latter can work a non ob-gyn setting.

Sassy5d · May 5, 2014

We have an interesting situation because we are an Onc floor and hang tons of blood products and we have a JW RN who does not hang, monitor or take down blood products so another nurse has to do it.
Btw, not bashing at all! although there is resentment amongst the nurses on that shift. We also have an RN who is Orthodox Jewish and my management is very accommodating for her time needed off for religious occasions.

That's has to be frustrating for coworkers.. Do they give a specific reason as to why it would be against their beliefs to assist with prbc's? If it were me, I think I might question this. Do pts have to wait for treatment if no one else is available to hang?

I also work with a person in my dept who is Jw and if they are against giving blood they don't tell anyone.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 5, 2014

OP: you have to decide what takes priority for you. Being able to practice your faith exactly the way you want to may conflict with working in most acute care settings. If the scheduling or the procedures (or more specifically, lack of procedures) performed are more important to you, then you will likely need to consider positions in outside of the hospital or in different specialties.

I do suggest that you seek the counsel of your religious advisor. You will find that many of them will provide dispensations/allowances for working on certain days. I talked with my priest about working Sundays--I was reassured that what I was doing is as much of a service to God as attending Mass would be.

Nursing is 24/7/365, and almost all acute care facilities have weekend and holiday scheduling requirements. If you told them that you're not working every Saturday (or Sunday), they can choose not to hire you...and it wouldn't be religious discrimination--it would be because you were not willing to fulfill scheduling requirements that are asked of all the employees.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 5, 2014

OP: you have to decide what takes priority for you. Being able to practice your faith exactly the way you want to may conflict with working in most acute care settings. If the scheduling or the procedures (or more specifically, lack of procedures) performed are more important to you, then you will likely need to consider positions in outside of the hospital or in different specialties.
I do suggest that you seek the counsel of your religious advisor. You will find that many of them will provide dispensations/allowances for working on certain days. I talked with my priest about working Sundays--I was reassured that what I was doing is as much of a service to God as attending Mass would be.
Nursing is 24/7/365, and almost all acute care facilities have weekend and holiday scheduling requirements. If you told them that you're not working every Saturday (or Sunday), they can choose not to hire you...and it wouldn't be religious discrimination--it would be because you were not willing to fulfill scheduling requirements that are asked of all the employees.
Best of luck whatever you decide.

I thought the OP in this thread was a manager wondering how to handle the "special requests."

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 5, 2014

I thought the OP in this thread was a manager wondering how to handle the "special requests."

And this is why I should not be allowed to post until I've has at least two cups of coffee :)

flashpoint · May 6, 2014

The law actually does not require that religious accommodations be met if it causes undue hardship. Several states consider another staff member having to pick up extra weekend shifts or having the practice of their faith hindered to be undue hardship. I work with two Muslim nurses who need every Friday off. Other nurses get every Sunday off in exchange for working every Friday. If we were not willing to exchange the Fridays for the Sundays (and they exchange Sundays for Fridays) we would all have to work every other weekend just like everyone else (our weekend if Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

strawberryrnc1611 · May 10, 2014

Interesting? Thank you. I am trying very hard to reach a 'equitable and happy' median that meets everyone's personal, religious, social and spiritual needs. Expecting that a specific religion's needs be acknowledged with a higher regard is very difficult to comprehend. It has been stated in a previous statement; that we entered our professional calling and it is a 24/7/365 call, need and profession. It is hard to make this person see that she is alienating the world around her with her demands.

OCNRN63, RN · May 10, 2014

It's not the religion. It's the individual.

MunoRN, RN · May 10, 2014

I think there's a general misunderstanding that employers are required abide by the religious needs of employees, when really they are only required to offer accommodations that don't present an undue hardship. The interpretation of what this means the employer has to do to accommodate is actually very limited and basically just means they have to only those things that don't involve much hassle at all. Requiring others to work extra weekend shifts beyond their equal share to cover someone who doesn't want to work a particular weekend day is often specifically cited as an accommodation employers are not required to provide.