Oh geesh, classes have just started and ALREADY I have a problem.
You see I'm a vegetarian and my lab for Anatomy and Physiology has a part to it that is dissecting a cat. Problem is I have a respect for life and am a strict vegetarian (no leather, meat of any kind, etc.) This is part of the reason why I want to become a nurse - to help the world not hurt it. If I dissect a cat then I will be directly responsible for that cat having been killed. What should I do? The lab (as a whole) looks like it is one third of the final grade. I've already emailed the dean of students, and I'm waiting to hear back from him. I can't imagine that I'm the only one to ever have had this problem. Nursing schools weigh GPA very heavily. I want to kick ass.. any suggestions?
I can look in on others doing a dissection (as that is their own choice), but if I do it myself then I become responsible. Sigh.
We had to dissect a rat last week and my lab partners were too squeamish so I took over and just did it. I feel like I learned from the experience, but probably no more than I could have learned from a good computer program. I wouldn't have cut my finger on a computer program either!
My instructor mentioned that years ago they used live frogs, I could never, ever kill something. I know theoretically it's not much better cutting one up that someone killed for me but I know what lab rats go through and I believe mine was better off dead.
I didn't like doing it but my familys needs comes first, I need to have a career, and I'm not rocking the boat as one of "those" people before I can even get into the highly competitive nursing program.
I even have a pet rat.
There were 2 cats on display, one had been pregnant and the teacher had removed a tiny baby for us to observe. I asked him where the cats came from because you could see dead fleas all over the cat and obviously it wasn't a "planned pregnancy" so wherever they came from was deplorable. He said they are cats euthanized by shelters and are donated.
I totally agree with above posters who blame the cats predicaments on irresponsible owners. And man, if any of yalls cats ever does get lost, notify the shelters FAST. I don't let mine (all spayed) outside but once in a while they slip out and all I could think of while looking at those poor cats was that I hope they didn't just get lost
Edited to say: The reason I have in inkling to what lab rats go through is due to my intro to psych class right now we're learning about animal testing by psychologists, and it is so horrifying. Didn't want to sound like someone with extensive rat abuse knowledge.
Yeah, I have to admit, it would be pretty amusing to allow humans to go without food for a while, then put them in a Skinner box to find food. :rotfl:
J/K of course.
We had to dissect a rat last week and my lab partners were too squeamish so I took over and just did it. I feel like I learned from the experience, but probably no more than I could have learned from a good computer program. I wouldn't have cut my finger on a computer program either!
My instructor mentioned that years ago they used live frogs, I could never, ever kill something. I know theoretically it's not much better cutting one up that someone killed for me but I know what lab rats go through and I believe mine was better off dead.
I didn't like doing it but my familys needs comes first, I need to have a career, and I'm not rocking the boat as one of "those" people before I can even get into the highly competitive nursing program.
I even have a pet rat.
There were 2 cats on display, one had been pregnant and the teacher had removed a tiny baby for us to observe. I asked him where the cats came from because you could see dead fleas all over the cat and obviously it wasn't a "planned pregnancy" so wherever they came from was deplorable. He said they are cats euthanized by shelters and are donated.
I totally agree with above posters who blame the cats predicaments on irresponsible owners. And man, if any of yalls cats ever does get lost, notify the shelters FAST. I don't let mine (all spayed) outside but once in a while they slip out and all I could think of while looking at those poor cats was that I hope they didn't just get lost
Edited to say: The reason I have in inkling to what lab rats go through is due to my intro to psych class right now we're learning about animal testing by psychologists, and it is so horrifying. Didn't want to sound like someone with extensive rat abuse knowledge.
You do not need to disect a cat to pass the nclex exam. Shortages or not, it is really silly for you to even assume that. Maybe you need to inform yourself on that as well.
that's not what i said...i said:
except IF you have to pass the class so that a school will allow you to take the NCLEX
many schools to require some form of lab dissection (cat, rat, shark, fetal pig, or whatever). whether that's a silly requirement is for a student to address with the curriculum committee. regardless, it is not "really silly" for me to "assume" that.
Here is a Hard and simple truth: Life experiences do make you more sensitve, tolerant,empathetic, and intelligent; granted you are willing to learn from your own mistakes and willing to learn from past experiences with those you cared for professionally.
umm...no, one would hope that this were true.
btw...this whole thread has degraded into an exercise in
:deadhorse
i would like to commend you, over30nursingstudent, on haveing memorized, verbatim, some consultant's cultural diversity and tolerance training seminars. i'm sure you'll go far in middle management with Aurora, ProHealthCare, and the like (thank goodness corporate america is getting through to someone!).
Personally, I would feel short changed if the only A & P class offered forced me to dissect a cat. Most of us will be working with human beings, and you (the OP) should do what you can to find a class in HUMAN physiology - or just physiology in general. I don't know where you are, but I would research some other universities. I have a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and have never had to dissect anything four-legged (frog, cat, etc.).
As far as your beliefs go, many people will never understand. I was a vegetarian for 5 years and I constantly heard it all - "I don't see why you won't eat this - there is only chicken FAT in it", or, "Are you sure you get enough protein?" I was 6' 3", 210lbs, and had 8% body fat. It was enough to drive me crazy.
It actually sounds as if you are VEGAN. If so, more power to you. I would actually try some of the vegetarian/vegan discussion boards. As you probably already know, veggies can be some of the most politically active people on the planet and will have a wealth of resources to help you in your situation. Let me know if I can point you in any direction.
Good luck with your decision. The fact is, these are your beliefs. As nurses - and future nurses - we are continually taught the importance of our patients' beliefs, and how to accomodate them. Maybe we all can start practicing this sensitivity with the original poster. Good luck!
I never memorized anything, its called Common Sense. How silly of me to think that the cornerstone of nursing was to actually respect and care about your patients needs; after all when you step into that hospital room it's supposed to stop being about you (sounds like that may be hard for you) and the focus is on the patient. Maybe you don't have any hospital experience yet; but you will see that ALL hospitals follow the direction of patient centered care, by treating the patient in a holistic manner, (mind, body, spirit in case you did not know that newbie!) :) Also, hospitals are VERY customer satisfaction driven!! I hope you did not assume you could work at one and get away with being rude and insensitive to people and think that they won't have a choice but to put up with it. If that is what you thought than maybe you need to check out the local corrections officer program :stone . Lastly, I do not care where you go to school, civil liberties protect a persons beliefs; I challenge you to find me a school that forces a person to disect or threatens to fail them; maybe you will find it in the same literature that educated you on complete proteins!! :rotfl:
i would like to commend you, over30nursingstudent, on haveing memorized, verbatim, some consultant's cultural diversity and tolerance training seminars. i'm sure you'll go far in middle management with Aurora, ProHealthCare, and the like (thank goodness corporate america is getting through to someone!).
Thanks for your kind words. I am not the OP, all i did was start to stick up for him when he started to get clobbered. But I would do it for anyone. I have a short fuse when people tend to talk about things and assume things that they do not know anything about and are not willing to learn about. I just can't help myself. :)
Personally, I would feel short changed if the only A & P class offered forced me to dissect a cat. Most of us will be working with human beings, and you (the OP) should do what you can to find a class in HUMAN physiology - or just physiology in general. I don't know where you are, but I would research some other universities. I have a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and have never had to dissect anything four-legged (frog, cat, etc.).
As far as your beliefs go, many people will never understand. I was a vegetarian for 5 years and I constantly heard it all - "I don't see why you won't eat this - there is only chicken FAT in it", or, "Are you sure you get enough protein?" I was 6' 3", 210lbs, and had 8% body fat. It was enough to drive me crazy.
It actually sounds as if you are VEGAN. If so, more power to you. I would actually try some of the vegetarian/vegan discussion boards. As you probably already know, veggies can be some of the most politically active people on the planet and will have a wealth of resources to help you in your situation. Let me know if I can point you in any direction.
Good luck with your decision. The fact is, these are your beliefs. As nurses - and future nurses - we are continually taught the importance of our patients' beliefs, and how to accomodate them. Maybe we all can start practicing this sensitivity with the original poster. Good luck!
I never memorized anything...[bLAH, BLAH, BLAH]...
that is too funny...does anyone understand what this person is talking about? seriously, the logic with which he/she operates is...unique.
[i know i said this was my last post but I kept getting email notices and over30nursestudent's incongruous and unintelligible rant was hilarious. I think I'll turn off email notification now...uh oh...I don't know if I'll be able to do that since over30nursestudent labeled me a "newbie"...labels hurt my feelings...I need a hug ]
that is too funny...does anyone understand what this person is talking about? seriously, the logic with which he/she operates is...unique.
[i know i said this was my last post but I kept getting email notices and over30nursestudent's incongruous and unintelligible rant was hilarious. I think I'll turn off email notification now...uh oh...I don't know if I'll be able to do that since over30nursestudent labeled me a "newbie"...labels hurt my feelings...I need a hug ]
ty
Well, I do- but as for you? I have no idea. You seem to be fond of insulting others and you seem quite insensitive. I wouldn't want someone with that attitude as my nurse.
Personally I think it is just sad that you STILL don't get what s/he is trying to point out to you (on both the dissection issue, and your attitude) I did have a lot of things to point out to you but over30nursestudent has that covered.
So with that, all I can hope is that you "grow out" of this immature, insensitive attitude towards others beliefs- it really won't get you anywhere.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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TheCoppertop
32 Posts
We had to dissect a rat last week and my lab partners were too squeamish so I took over and just did it. I feel like I learned from the experience, but probably no more than I could have learned from a good computer program. I wouldn't have cut my finger on a computer program either!
My instructor mentioned that years ago they used live frogs, I could never, ever kill something. I know theoretically it's not much better cutting one up that someone killed for me but I know what lab rats go through and I believe mine was better off dead.
I didn't like doing it but my familys needs comes first, I need to have a career, and I'm not rocking the boat as one of "those" people before I can even get into the highly competitive nursing program.
I even have a pet rat.
There were 2 cats on display, one had been pregnant and the teacher had removed a tiny baby for us to observe. I asked him where the cats came from because you could see dead fleas all over the cat and obviously it wasn't a "planned pregnancy" so wherever they came from was deplorable. He said they are cats euthanized by shelters and are donated.
I totally agree with above posters who blame the cats predicaments on irresponsible owners. And man, if any of yalls cats ever does get lost, notify the shelters FAST. I don't let mine (all spayed) outside but once in a while they slip out and all I could think of while looking at those poor cats was that I hope they didn't just get lost
Edited to say: The reason I have in inkling to what lab rats go through is due to my intro to psych class right now we're learning about animal testing by psychologists, and it is so horrifying. Didn't want to sound like someone with extensive rat abuse knowledge.