Shabbos/Religious Observances

texasmommy · Dec 2, 2007

don't let the "irish" moniker fool you - i had my issues with nursing school and exams scheduled on yom kippur and such. i just went through the syllabus with my handy chabad calendar and met with the professor to discuss ways to meet the requirements of the class.
i had no trouble except for one clinical that i missed due to the first night of passover - i got an "absence counseling form". it was my *only* absence - but it was policy to give one out no matter the reason. so i included a few choice words in my "student comments" section. then i had a chat with the dean about "cultural sensitivity". i never had a problem again.
as for working - you'd be surprised how many people will line up to switch for xmas eve and day. i never have to work thanksgiving...lol nurse managers will work with you if you have to split a weekend - just be prepared to work a lot of sundays and mondays! :) i bet if you asked your rav, being on duty over shabbas may be something worth getting a heter. (permission to break with "the rules")
feel free to pm me if you want to talk more -
blee

thanks so much for your helpful comments! i really haven't explored this area of halacha, but i'm sure heterim exist for certain situations. generally speaking, people are very understanding of the obligations my family has as observant jews, which i am very grateful for. in return, i have always been more than happy to work during the religious holidays of co-workers.

texasmommy · Dec 2, 2007

You took the words STRAIGHT out of my mouth. Great point. I absolutely agree with you.

I'm not sure what goes on in Israeli hospitals, but as another poster said, the majority of Israeli Jews are not strictly observant. Also, there are many Christians and people of other religions living in the country. My point in making this topic wasn't to start any kind of debate or get people "fired up." I really hope I haven't made a mess of things...

birdgardner · Dec 2, 2007

No Texasmommy, you're not stirring up any debate. My program is in Lakewood, NJ, where most of the residents are very orthodox Jews, so I do wonder about some of their customs I see and I'm sure I'll be caring for them at some point during clinicals. It's good to discuss and learn about these things.

texasmommy · Dec 2, 2007

No Texasmommy, you're not stirring up any debate. My program is in Lakewood, NJ, where most of the residents are very orthodox Jews, so I do wonder about some of their customs I see and I'm sure I'll be caring for them at some point during clinicals. It's good to discuss and learn about these things.

Birdgardner, please feel free to PM me at any time to ask any questions you might have about caring for Orthodox pts. I'd be more than happy to share our customs and things that would be useful to a caregiver!

woody62, RN · Dec 2, 2007

I worked at the only orthodox hospital, in New York City. About half of the staff were either non-observant or gentile. Those that were orthodox, never had to work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, nor any of their religious holidays. We worked them without complaint. And they worked our holidays for us.

I would check on the program you are considering. Most programs are willing to work with their students. And when you become an RN, your future employer will also likely work with you as well. I miss working at my old hospital. One of the things I enjoyed the most was setting up the elderly ladies for observance of Shabbos.

Woody:balloons:

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2007

I think most religions excuse people who are required to work on their day of rest, either Saturday or Sunday. I used to read books by Chaim Potok about observant Jews as a teenager, and even the most orthodox Jew was allowed to do work that was caring for the sick, or some other totally neccessary work.

texasmommy · Dec 2, 2007

I think most religions excuse people who are required to work on their day of rest, either Saturday or Sunday. I used to read books by Chaim Potok about observant Jews as a teenager, and even the most orthodox Jew was allowed to do work that was caring for the sick, or some other totally neccessary work.

The situations that would allow an Orthodox Jew to violate the laws of the Sabbath are really very few, and as a rule, we must consult with a Rov (a rabbi who can make decisions based on the parameters of Jewish law) for any of those. Potok's books are very interesting, but not necessarily an accurate representation of religious Jewish life. Only if deemed absolutely, completely necessary (to save a life, etc, if that particular person was the only one available who could do so) may the Sabbath be violated. It is a very important decision that can only be decided for the observant Jew by a competent Rov.

vashtee, RN · Dec 2, 2007

I was written up for missing clinicals on Rosh Hashanah this year. :rolleyes: It was the only day I have missed for school during my entire program.

Anyway, our class is split up into different clinical rotation days: some of us are on Tuesdays, some on Wednesdays, and some on Saturdays. I don't know how your program works, but it shouldn't be too hard to arrange to have Shabbat off.

bagladyrn, RN · Dec 2, 2007

Birdgardner, please feel free to PM me at any time to ask any questions you might have about caring for Orthodox pts. I'd be more than happy to share our customs and things that would be useful to a caregiver!

Texasmommy - I'd be really interested if you could post a few guidelines on the forum concerning what the caregiver should know or be sensitive to when caring for Orthodox patients. It would be helpful for many of us.

A particular question that comes to mind from what I do understand - would restrictions of the Sabbath preclude use of the call system or a PCA pump (with the patient controlled dosing) during that time, or is that allowable related to the patient's condition?

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2007

I was written up for missing clinicals on Rosh Hashanah this year. It was the only day I have missed for school during my entire program.
Anyway, our class is split up into different clinical rotation days: some of us are on Tuesdays, some on Wednesdays, and some on Saturdays. I don't know how your program works, but it shouldn't be too hard to arrange to have Shabbat off.

Hi - I would write a letter to the dean to be put into your student file petitioning that the write-up be taken off your record. Once I explained to the Dean that being written up for a legitimate religious observance was discriminatory, considering that I alerted the clinical instructor and the administration well in advance, she was more than accomodating.

I won't even get started over our school pin, which had a prominent crucifix and it is not a religiously affilitated school!

Blee

texasmommy · Dec 2, 2007

I was written up for missing clinicals on Rosh Hashanah this year. It was the only day I have missed for school during my entire program.
Anyway, our class is split up into different clinical rotation days: some of us are on Tuesdays, some on Wednesdays, and some on Saturdays. I don't know how your program works, but it shouldn't be too hard to arrange to have Shabbat off.

It's so good to hear that other frum people have "made it work!"

vashtee, RN · Dec 2, 2007

Blee - I intend to bring this up with the dean of nursing when I am closer to completing the program, not so much for myself, but on behalf of younger and more timid students who may not feel empowered to speak up. Because I am in no danger of actually flunking out of my program, I thought I'd put it off till a more convenient time. Right now, I am swamped with finals. :)

texasmommy: I don't wish to misrepresent myself; although I am religious in my own way, I am not frum. However, I fully comprehend your problem.