Using Your Nursing Credentials to Validate Anti-Vaxxer Theories

Nurses COVID

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As nurses we are supposed to understand and follow science. Yet all over the country nurses are using their background to validate crackpot theories about Covid and the vaccine. Should there be consequences for leading an effort to hurt the public health? After all, it violates basic nursing ethics in particular, do no harm. Should boards of nurses sanction these people or should the ANA or other associations put out a statement saying these folk don't represent us?

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Any Nurse or healthcare provider or anyone coming in contact with patients, should not be allowed to work in any facility or health care setting that puts them in contact with patients or other health care workers, period. The spread of Delta is very contagious. My opinion is protect all those around you. Without Covid vaccine you are much more contagious. MMR vaccines are mandatory, so should be Covid vaccine which is much more contagious than measles. No Covid vaccine? NO job in Healthcare industry. Period. If I ,as a nurse, didn't  get MMR vaccin I wouldn't be hired. Same goes with Covid vaccine. Healthcare providers should be tested weekly before allowed to work in Healthcare facility including ancillary staff.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
13 hours ago, Horseshoe said:

She sounds like a lunatic.

Oh she certainly does. Even her family have disowned her;

"My mum is definitely beyond help... It's impossible to talk to somebody when they've got that level of God complex" Sebastian Shemirani. (Her son).

 

"Covid vaccine: Speech comparing NHS medics to Nazis condemned."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57962675

 

 

"COVID-19: Met Police investigate after ex-nurse compares NHS staff to Nazis at anti-vax and anti-lockdown rally."

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-met-police-investigate-after-ex-nurse-compares-nhs-staff-to-nazis-at-anti-vax-and-anti-lockdown-rally-12364442

 

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Specializes in A variety.
On 8/31/2021 at 10:43 AM, Helen Crump said:

should-anti-vaxxer-nurses-be-sanctioned.jpg.8e983894513e83f9d05e24ce8ea3e6ef.jpg

As nurses we are supposed to understand and follow science. Yet all over the country nurses are using their background to validate crackpot theories about Covid and the vaccine. Should there be consequences for leading an effort to hurt the public health? After all, it violates basic nursing ethics in particular, do no harm. Should boards of nurses sanction these people or should the ANA or other associations put out a statement saying these folk don't represent us?

Much of what is said here is vague and possibly subjective.

For the sake of argument, sanctioning should occur if the nurse is being compensated or volunteering while performing as a nurse giving education, advice or information contrary to the patient's physician's orders, facility policies, contrary to sound nursing judgement and the nursing process, and/or doing so beyond their scope of practice to name a few scenarios.  If the nurse is giving advice under any circumstance that could be considered practicing medicine, same results.  If the nurse is on social media sharing their personal perspectives that one might consider "crackpot theories", it would be unfortunate but possibly not sanction worthy by a governing body. However, if their message gained enough popularity and someone could claim harm came to them by following that information, it wouldn't be surprising if they experienced some sort of sanction. They would very likely be terminated by their employer if the message was not becoming to them.

Please share examples of misinformation shared by nurses that applies to your question.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
1 hour ago, jive turkey said:

Please share examples of misinformation shared by nurses that applies to your question

You should pretend that the examples are as necessary as your examples of valid reasons to not vaccinate...

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Specializes in Operating room, ER, Home Health.
22 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

You should pretend that the examples are as necessary as your examples of valid reasons to not vaccinate...

Typical response when asked to back up their claim. 

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Specializes in Clinical ICU/Hospital Administration.

I've been impressed with this topic thread, for better or for worse!

Suggestion?  Disease The Extraordinary Stories behind History's Deadliest Killers  Author Mary Dobson (Cambridge) 2007

This book is divided into four categories:  Bacterial, Parasitic, Viral and Lifestyle (I.e.,scurvy, Kuru & CID, cancer and heart disease)

Under "viral", the topics are smallpox, measles, yellow fever, dengue fever, rabies, polio, influenza, ebola AIDS and SARS.  

Having been published in 2007, it's also a time capsule of history!  And I'm certain I've have not heard about any of those tragic diseases in 2021.

What would the common thread be, do you wonder?  Vaccines.

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Specializes in Clinical ICU/Hospital Administration.

On an upnote, I wanted to mention I was given this book as a Christmas present by my then-love George H. Snyder III.  

We could all laugh that this book was, and still is, the best Christmas present I ever received.  I'm a nurse, go figure!

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Specializes in LTC-DON.

I have been fully vaccinated and had Covid-19 as well.  Although, it made sense to me to get vaccinated it may not for some.  The problem seems to be one of trust in the government which is at an all time low now.  One thing for sure is everyone's right to refuse a medication even a vaccination.  I remember 20 years ago when it was a big deal that parents not wanting to get their kids vaccinated before starting school because it was believed to attribute to autism (This was just accepted as their right and they were allowed to go to school).  I have never fired a nurse for not getting the flu shot we just asked them to wear a mask during flu season and stay home when sick.  When I started nursing school I was taught that I could only trust peer reviewed sources.  If I had turned in a paper with what was announced that day in the news I would have failed for sure.  Why do we just take the latest announcement as true without a peer review?  Also, I don't understand why an employees personal information seems to be allowed to be public suddenly.  I remember a time where we could only ask, "Sick or Personal" when someone called in for a shift.  I've had nurses tell me it is their right to know if an employee is out with Covid-19.  I tell them that is none of their business.  All they need to know is a staff member or patient tested positive.  I test employees and patients when needed and will do everything I can to keep all of them safe (Sharing Personal Information that I will not do.   Just like if an Employee had Hep-C, Cancer, or HIV if they follow universal precautions then they will be safe regardless).

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.
2 hours ago, Bretside said:

  The problem seems to be one of trust in the government which is at an all time low now.  

I do not think trust in government is at an all time low, as demonstrated by approx 70% of the population having gotten at least one dose of vaccine.

I do believe a vocal minority as well as a few media outlets has made seem as though trust in government is low.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
On 9/8/2021 at 10:44 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

The FDA has approved many meds that have later been found to be harmful.

But never a non-live vaccine.  They have never had latent onset of significant side effects. 

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Specializes in LTC-DON.

I do agree that the vaccine is safe and that is how we eradicated several diseases like Small Pox .  I also know that it doesn't make sense to me that their would be any latent side effects.  I did get it myself and I encourage others to do their research to make an informed decision as well.  I do disagree with firing good nurses because they are reluctant.   I'm in a rural community that it is hard enough to find just adequate staffing.  Now, I'm being told to fire an RN that has been in practice since the 70's because she's reluctant.  Is there going to be a day that I have to tell families, "Sorry, your mother fell while going to the restroom on her own I had to fire half my CNA's because they wouldn't get the vaccine."  Why can't those that don't want the vaccine be allowed to do labwork instead?  I was told that my Hepatitis A/B Vaccination may or may not be effective.  I had bloodwork done to just see and still have very good immunity.  I also remember a nurse that did the Hepatitis A/B Series twice and never developed immunity.   I cannot force medicate an individual without a court order or a hearing with at least two providers plus an advocate.  I can however now require a nurse to take a medication in this case a vaccine or lose their job?  

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Specializes in A variety.
2 hours ago, BostonFNP said:

But never a non-live vaccine.  They have never had latent onset of significant side effects. 

What about mRNA vaccines what's the history on that greater than 1yr

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