Will I HAVE TO particpate in abortions if I become a L&D nurse????

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2007

I honestly don't have the answer to your question, but I appreciate your concern. As far as I know, you can opt out of certain things that you find morally offensive. There are doctors who won't prescribe and pharmacists who won't fill birth control pills or the morning after pills. There are plenty that will, so it does not have to be an issue of not being available at all.

You can choose to work at a religious based hospital and probably avoid the issue completely. I worked at a Catholic hospital that would not even do sterilizations.

You should have options. Even if you are at a secular hospital, when you interview for the job, you can ask about abortions and your potential involvment in them. Most are preformed at outpatient abortion clinics anyway, so there may only be a few that come up anyway.

I, too, would never participate in an elective abortion, BUT, if someone comes into my ER with a complication related to one, all bets are off and I will do all I can to take care of her humanely and compassionately. At that point, abortion is no longer the issue, saving her life would be.

You are very wise to be considering this before you are faced with hard decisions.

GilaRRT · Aug 4, 2007

Well, it depends on how you define "abortion." Typically "elective abortions" are not performed on the L&D floor of a hospital. These types of abortions are typically performed at an office or clinic that specializes in these types of procedures.

You may be involved in emergency abortion type procedures and D&C procedures on the OB floor. You need to ask your self what you can live with. If you cannot tolerate abortions of any type (even to save the mom), then perhaps another field would be more appropriate.

mediatix8 · Aug 4, 2007

I don't know much about this topic but wouldn't working at a Catholic hospital take care of this problem? I know they don't even give out birth control where I work. If the patient brings it from home and the MD approves then that's OK but our pharmacy doesn't give out birth control. I can't imagine that they would do abortions if they won't even give out birth control. I've heard that if you're assulted and to to a Cathoic hospital's ER they won't even give you the morning after pill. But I really don't know because I don't work in ER or L&D.

LizzyL&DRN · Aug 4, 2007

Where I work the only elective "abortions" are those that are terminating a pregnancy due to fetal birth defects that are not compatible with life. If there is no way the baby will live if carried to term, I have no problem taking care of patients undergoing these types of terminations. You are very likely to care for these types of patients if you work in L & D. You absolutely for sure will care for fetal demises, prepare yourself for that as well. L&D is such a rewarding area to work in, but when it is sad, it is sooooo sad. Thankfully it's always more happy than sad.

RNLaborNurse4U · Aug 4, 2007

We provide second trimester abortions on my unit, above 16 weeks. They are done 99% of the time because of fetal defects or chromosomal abnormalities. All RN's are asked to sign a form, stating when they will or will not take a patient assignment related to an elective termination. We are not required to take an elective termination assignment, and probably half of the nurses do not.

However, ALL nurses must care for the patient in an emergent situation, or if she calls on her call bell (i.e. you must answer her call bell and assist her as needed).

Luckily we don't do too many terminations on my unit.

ktwlpn, LPN · Aug 4, 2007

I'm VERY against abortion! I can't imagine supporting some through one, not saying that I would be mean, or anything like that, but I seriously couldn't act like I thought it was "OK" to do it just because they are too selfish to be parent's and would rather kill a baby than give him/her to someone who would give anything to have a baby. [Please don't reply with all the "medical reasons" to have an abortion! I know you have rights under the law to choose to do what you want with your body. !
Have a Great Day!
Chancie

You may encounter other patients whose lifestyles are different then your own-I hope you can suspend your judgements and are able to provide care without letting your personal feelings enter into the careplan.What about substance abusing moms? Would you be able to be supportive ? You need to gain maturity-"choosing abortion" for many women is quite the opposite of selfish and the number of programs that will support a pregnant woman through delivery and adoption is very small.You'll learn the world is not black and white...

azor · Aug 4, 2007

If you think you cant live to see where a pregnancy is been terminated,why not look forward to other field?Or just like someone said,you can take care of a patient without being judgemental.Everybody cant be you!! I know you have your own beliefs and values but your ability to care for apatient that is not 'you'without judgement will go a long way to help you cos you are bound to see pple that do things you see as atrocity.You have to grow pass that to be what you want to be if you want to be what you want to be.

allnurses Guide · Aug 4, 2007

No, you don't have to participate. Calm down hon.

I won't participate but then we don't do them at our small rural hospital. Other posters are right - most of the time this has nothing to do with labor and delivery.

1st trimester abortions ARE usually done in a clinic setting. And you will know if the unit you apply to does abortions later than that and you can then opt out of applying.

You can, upon being interviewed, state your preference. No one is forced to do something against their ethical code.

When I was in school, one of our assignments was to recognize our biases . . . .mine was drug-abusing pregnant women (many of those in my immediate family unfortunately). I do take care of them but it really helped to identify this so I could go into L&D with some insight.

It is a big world - nursing and otherwise. You will be fine.

steph

rn/writer, RN · Aug 4, 2007

It sounds like some posters are saying that if you don't want to participate in abortions you shouldn't even become a nurse (several said choose a different field). That's pretty extreme. Choose a different employer, perhaps, or possibly a different specialty area, but you might not even need to make those choices. Many hospitals recognize that the topic is one that is both sensitive and personal and do allow nurses to opt out of something they would find strongly objectionable. The question would not even arise in Catholic hospitals, for obvious reasons. This may be true of other religious institutions as well.

The only kind of abortive procedure I would consider assisting with would be one where the fetus has a condition incompatible with life. Especially if continuing the pregnancy would endanger the health and life of the mother.

That said, I would be able to care for any patient before or after the procedure. It isn't the person I would object to, but the procedure itself. Regardless of my compassion for the patient, I still would not want to participate in the act.

Please, do not let yourself be frightened off by fear. OB and postpartum are wonderful places to work.

I wish you well.

chnc1024, ASN · Aug 4, 2007

you may encounter other patients whose lifestyles are different then your own-i hope you can suspend your judgements and are able to provide care without letting your personal feelings enter into the careplan.what about substance abusing moms? would you be able to be supportive ? you need to gain maturity-"choosing abortion" for many women is quite the opposite of selfish and the number of programs that will support a pregnant woman through delivery and adoption is very small.you'll learn the world is not black and white...

yea, whatever! did i say once in my post that i think all people who have abortions are less than human and should be shot at sunrise? no, i said i could never assist with one because it would conflict with my beliefs!!! i also said that i understand that you or whom ever chooses to have an abortion has that right under the law. i'm not argueing that point, and i won't this is not the place for it! i simply wanted to know what the "rules" were in the l&d unit. i have no problem being a loving, kind, and comapsionate person to anyone, regardless of whether they think the same way as i do or not. i'm only saying that i could not actively participate in something that is against my belief! so if you want to make fun at me, or put me down because i have morals that i live my life by, go ahead! call me "immature" or whatever else you want, you see that's the great thing about having a belief system! i don't feel the need to please you, or to think the way you (or anyone else for that matter) thinks i should! only god has that right in my life! and sorry, your not him!

anyway as far as the "other lifestyles" that i might encounter, and if i could put my personal feelings aside.... well, as long as they weren't asking me to take part in something that was against my beliefs (ie. participate in devil worship or whatever) i would have no problem being carring and compasionate! that is a major part of my beliefs, that i am to love my neighbor, and no, that doesn't mean the guy that lives next door to me that means anyone/everyone i come into contact on a day to day basis! it is my duty as a christian to show others the love that jesus has shown me, and no that doesn't mean that i would preach at every teen/druggy/lesbian mother that comes into the hospital i'm providing care in, that means that i treat them with respect, kindness, and compassion! if someone were to ask me if i personally agreed with something, then i would be honest, but tactful! i won't push my beliefs on anyone, but if someone is interested, i will be more than happy to share with them what god has done for me!

have a great day!

chancie

Crux1024 · Aug 4, 2007

i'm simply saying that for me assisting in an abortion would be the same (again) for me as standing next to someone with a gun in their hand about to shoot another person then saying "oh wait, you forgot to take off the safety!"

yea, whatever! did i say once in my post that i think all people who have abortions are less than human and should be shot at sunrise? no, i said i could never assist with one because it would conflict with my beliefs!!! i also said that i understand that you or whom ever chooses to have an abortion has that right under the law. i'm not argueing that point, and i won't this is not the place for it! i simply wanted to know what the "rules" were in the l&d unit.

if you only wanted to know the rules, maybe you shouldnt have put your personal opinions likening abortion to out and out murder by gun. not attacking you, just pointing out why, you might be feeling attacked.