Shabbos/Religious Observances

Nurses General Nursing

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As I begin the applications process for nursing schools, I have one huuuuge concern - my religious obligations. I am not permitted to work/attend school, etc. from sunset Friday nights until an hour past sunset on Saturday nights because of the Jewish sabbath. I've heard that a lot of programs have 12hr clinicals on Saturdays...yikes! Has anyone "worked it out" with similar obligations?

Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I have two points.

1. IMO faith is a feeling of goodness, that brings peace to a personal soul. It also begets trust for your wellbeing and allows a personal expression to privately speak to or for another's soul. Faith to me is a very personal thing. How one celebrates their faith is there right.

2. A post was written that talked about the bible "for instance", as possibly being developed as "whispers". To me, the bible was written through decades of information learned and past down and eventually placed ina written format. Just as I believe other cultures of people have learned their religion or traditions through past generations being passed down. It seems to me that this is an intended way of learning the teachings of your people or cultures and that they each appear in a separate faction. I find that very heartwarming and traditional. I believe traditions are sacred.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Faith sometimes leads to zealous acts by fanatics. Faith has many expressions, not all appear positive to an average person.

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i remember a circumstance where there was a minister/lpn working in ltc and he worked midnites so no interference with his duties,I would see him on his lunchbreaks preparing his sermons or whatnot, He negotiated his shift due to his profession as a nurse/minister/reverrand.So the ltc was aware and had no problem with it I have worked in the past on holidayseaster,christmas,good friday, jewish,muslim holidays with no problem becuase somebodys got to be there right.Hey I make the xtra money thats okay God still loves me

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Faith sometimes leads to zealous acts by fanatics. Faith has many expressions, not all appear positive to an average person.

True,like I mentioned it's an individual thing as I see it, but I know what you mean.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
True,like I mentioned it's an individual thing as I see it, but I know what you mean.

Yes, it's very individual, I agree.

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I have enjoyed this thread very much so thank you TM for starting it and thanks to eveyone for keeping it alive for so long without TOS violations ha ha.

So I am quite Jewish and have been a RN for 7 years. I am not frum but have many, many(did I say MANY) frummie relatives and was raised in a conservative/orthodox household. I know many don't belive you can be both, but I assure you I can/was. I have strong moral and ethical beliefs and ways I live but as for the actual following of rules, I have never been that great. I always felt that translations of the Torah and other writings are an opinion and if I don't agree with one I question it and don't follow it. I use common sense as well. I would NEVER tell anyone that they are imposing on me by not wanting to work on their holy day or Shabbat, but I also feel trapped.

I feel that as a person we change and grow. IF I really wanted to start observing Shabbat I would not continue working in my present job with my on-call status as it is. Now, perhaps some nice manager and other staff would accomodate me, but maybe not.I might have to look elsewhere for a job and that is not practical for me now. So while I would like to observe Shabbat I cannot, because when hired I was not contemplating ever wanteing to!

So we all do what we can. I wish you luck in school and am so happy and filled with pride that more Jewish women are going out and looking into this profession which will bring you as much joy as you will bring to someone in need. Ok, so not every shift is joyful but many are filled with great moments. I have a cousin who is also considering nursing and is a very observant young single clollege graduate. I am so amazed at how Jewish women are blossoming When I was a child a "nice Jewish girl "married a nice Jewish male doctor and would never THINK of doing THAT kind of work(dirty and seeing naked men I suppose). Mazel tov to you and welcome to nursing. You will find you have a family in nurses than transcends religion. We nurses are a breed of our own!

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.

For the uninitiated, "frum" means especially observant Orthodox Jews. "Frummies" is the plural.

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Hi, I am a shabbos observant Jew and have enjoyed this thread very much. I will be graduating from nursing school in May (YAY!!) and while my school has been super accommodating about shabbos and jewish holidays, I am nervous about finding a job that will be. I have just begun applying for jobs, and I was wondering what you would recommend telling potential employers regarding not working on shabbos. I am more than willing to work every sunday and cover holidays but I do realize that I am still asking for a lot. When should I tell employers that I can't work shabbos? When they ask about scheduling at the interview? If they dont ask should I just leave it until after I am hired? Any advice would be appreciated!!!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Hi, I am a shabbos observant Jew and have enjoyed this thread very much. I will be graduating from nursing school in May (YAY!!) and while my school has been super accommodating about shabbos and jewish holidays, I am nervous about finding a job that will be. I have just begun applying for jobs, and I was wondering what you would recommend telling potential employers regarding not working on shabbos. I am more than willing to work every sunday and cover holidays but I do realize that I am still asking for a lot. When should I tell employers that I can't work shabbos? When they ask about scheduling at the interview? If they dont ask should I just leave it until after I am hired? Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Not sure how it'd work in nursing, but based on my last couple of non-medical jobs...you need to be upfront about it because as a new hire, they might stick you on the crappy shifts (i.e., weekends). Don't leave it until afterwards.

And definitely promote the willingness to work Sundays because I'm sure they have a lot of employees that if given a chance would love Sundays off so they can do their own worship. That's what helped me get one of my jobs--I was willing to do Sundays when few others were.

They can't not hire you for being Jewish. But be aware that if they're specifically looking for someone to pull a Saturday shift and you tell them you can't do Saturdays (for whatever reason), then they don't have to hire you.

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actually, jewish law does not require a woman who has her period to sleep in a seperate room from her husband, they just have to have seperate beds.

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
That was a great reply, but I do have to ask the question:

Why would you need to believe in something so deeply, possibly in contrast to logic and current evidence, to the point where faith is required?

Because the ancients must have had a reason........I have faith in that, and I'm not Orthodox. Why knock it, if it makes others feel good? :redpinkhe

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
actually, jewish law does not require a woman who has her period to sleep in a seperate room from her husband, they just have to have seperate beds.

True, but what if their room hasn't room for 2 beds? That must be why Jewish men feel they need to provide more for their families, and achieve higher goals, generally (or not). Have you read thje "Red Tent"? That explains it all..............

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