an RN is a practicing Jehovah's witness

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Has anyone had an issue with an RN that is a JW and demands exceptions with holidays, scheduling, etc.? Are there full exceptions with certain days to work? Are there provisions made by the "elders" to allow the RN to work? Do "elders" hold the practice above the profession?

I've worked the weekend shift at my job for many many years. No one else wants to work weekends so, when most of the other nurses got hired they said they weren't available on sat or sun. I live in the bible belt and many people refuse to work on Sundays (or saturday nights) whether they go to church or not. I like my job and I need it so, I'm nice and accommodating and don't fuss, even though I have seniority. I can usually get someone to fill in for me once or twice a year if if I need off but, usually everyone refuses. I'm not very religious myself but, my family is and it would be nice to attend a service with them every once in a while. I think we should all try and be accommodating to each other and sometimes that means working a day you might not necessarily want to.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Lindsey, unless you've signed some sort of agreement to work every w/e, you're entitled to have a w/e off just like everyone else. I know you've been trying to be accommodating, but your co-workers are taking advantage of you.

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My shift is specified as weekends so, no one technically has to give me a weekend off. When I was hired in I was told that all the new people start off on weekends and could work different days when a shift came available but, almost a decade later I still have the same shift. We're a smaller company and almost all the newer people hired in have absolutely refused to work on weekends so, I've been stuck. If I didn't truly love my job I would've fussed more.

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You are so ABSOLUTELY on the right track!!!!!! I just wish that my nurse would see that though she is not seen "as causing harm"; she is actually stirring a lot on the unit. Individuals with more seniority are now claiming religion when after decades they never have. No one is willing to bend and the person that is a JW is junior.

Reasonable accomodation should also apply to the individual to compromise and meet half way. THis individual is not willing to give and just wants what she wants. I am really shocked by the whole ordeal.

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THe hardest part is understanding how a Registered Professional NUrse took an oath to uphold her calling and commitment, but feels that her religion should dictate the operations of the hospital. How is it that other JWs that I speak to do not feel that they are "REQUIRED" to attend every Sunday and my employee is committed to work 2 Weekends/per month and 2 Sundays are out. SHe must attend church and she is not willing to make additional sacrifices to commit in another way. She wishes to cause chaos on a unit for 2 Sundays and an hour and half of service? I need to understand? I must be missing something. THis individual is not as commited, religious, or as spiritual as she is claiming to be. You can not be if you are not acknowledging the commitment of others. You are not being asked to work all the Sundays, just 2. You can not make special arrangements to then meet with the congregration if you change a shift or work half a day and make it up another? How self-absorbed? I do believe one of the previous comments that stated that it is the "individual, not the religion".

Am I wrong? Please do not hesitate to help me see what I am not getting. Thank you.

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

It's not the religion, it's the individual. And if she is unwilling or unable to work two Sundays a month as required, perhaps she is a poor fit for your unit. Presumably the schedule didn't come as a surprise to her when she started working there; she accepted the job as a "two weekends" position. If people are unwilling to trade to accomodate her, and she isn't willing to do her weekend shifts, then it's time to get HR involved. Either she does them or she's gone.

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You are so ABSOLUTELY on the right track!!!!!! I just wish that my nurse would see that though she is not seen "as causing harm"; she is actually stirring a lot on the unit. Individuals with more seniority are now claiming religion when after decades they never have. No one is willing to bend and the person that is a JW is junior.

Reasonable accomodation should also apply to the individual to compromise and meet half way. THis individual is not willing to give and just wants what she wants. I am really shocked by the whole ordeal.

Sounds like it's time to put your foot down! If it really is that important to her she will find another job. If not she wont. Either way your problem is solved. I don't know of an US legal requirement to give someone the same day off every week.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

The only 'oath' I have taken in recent years was for the military.

I didn't take an 'oath' as nurse.

That said, this is not about a religion anymore per se.

This is a about an employee who has accepted a job that has expectations that she can't/won't/ doesn't want to adhere to anymore.

She needs to cease and desist and fall in line or she needs to be gone.

Honestly, she probably needs to be gone as the damage with her managers and co-workers is likely beyond repair.

It's time to stop delving so deep for an answer, it's cut and dry easy at this point.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Pedi.
THe hardest part is understanding how a Registered Professional NUrse took an oath to uphold her calling and commitment, but feels that her religion should dictate the operations of the hospital. How is it that other JWs that I speak to do not feel that they are "REQUIRED" to attend every Sunday and my employee is committed to work 2 Weekends/per month and 2 Sundays are out. SHe must attend church and she is not willing to make additional sacrifices to commit in another way. She wishes to cause chaos on a unit for 2 Sundays and an hour and half of service? I need to understand? I must be missing something. THis individual is not as commited, religious, or as spiritual as she is claiming to be. You can not be if you are not acknowledging the commitment of others. You are not being asked to work all the Sundays, just 2. You can not make special arrangements to then meet with the congregration if you change a shift or work half a day and make it up another? How self-absorbed? I do believe one of the previous comments that stated that it is the "individual, not the religion".

Am I wrong? Please do not hesitate to help me see what I am not getting. Thank you.

Since when do RNs take "oaths"? I haven't taken an oath since my days in the girl scouts.

If working 4 weekend shifts a month is required and she is unwilling to work Sundays, tell her she can either work every Saturday or every Friday night.

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Specializes in ICU.

I worked with a nurse who was hired for the Trauma ICU then informed the management that she was a JW and couldn't administer blood products.

Some people love to make life hard for others and last I heard she is still there. What is up with that.

An upside: usually the Jehovah Witnesses love that time and a half and work the holidays.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
I worked with a nurse who was hired for the Trauma ICU then informed the management that she was a JW and couldn't administer blood products.

Some people love to make life hard for others and last I heard she is still there. What is up with that.

An upside: usually the Jehovah Witnesses love that time and a half and work the holidays.

Who doesn't like holiday pay? I don't know of a religious or spiritual path that forbids it.

If the team she works with can manage her requests without an issue, there isn't nothing up with that other than good for them,

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I'm sure when she took that job, the first thought that was foremost on her mind was, "How can I make life miserable for my co-workers?"

Agree with what Ruas61 said. It's a good thing you've moved on from that job, since you have a problem with having a co-worker like her. It's not your problem anymore. Not to mention it has nothing to do with the OP. If you want to complain about that topic, use the "Search" function. There's a plethora of threads on that topic.

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