Yes, I'm Vaxxed But...

[grammieRN, ADN, RN]

I remember being taught in nursing school the rights of medication administration -

1. Right patient
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right route
5. Right time
6. Right documentation
7. Right situation
8. Right place
9. RIGHT TO REFUSE. 

I also remember my nursing instructor stressing how important number 9 is and that we as nurses have a duty to ensure that the right to refuse any medical care or medication is honored and upheld. To advocate for our patients and protect them. Protect them from what you may ask? To protect them from other medical professionals and “people” who think they can bully, manipulate, control and dominate any patient to force a medication, procedure or any type of medical care.

And wouldn’t you know that this RIGHT to refuse has been what I have had to defend more than anything? As an RN of more than a decade, I will forever support the right to choose and also the right to REFUSE any form of medical care. I can’t believe anyone feels that mandates of any form of medicine or medical practice or procedure is acceptable. Even more shocked that some nurses and NURSE LEADERS feel this is acceptable after a career of fighting for, defending and advocating for our patients rights. 

Forced healthcare is NOT healthcare and I stand for the freedom this country was founded on. I have stood for my patients right  to choose. And now that nurses and other healthcare workers rights are being threatened, I stand for their right to choose as well. COERCION is not CONSENT. 

[toomuchbaloney]

Vaccines have been "mandated" for nurses your entire professional life.  

Everyone gets to choose.  Some people will just choose to remain unvaccinated and that will impede their ability to some employment situations.  

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AllNurses, what an unexpected first post ??

You were mandated to have vaccines for nursing school. You were mandated to have proof of those vaccines to become employed as a nurse. And you have a choice.

[grammieRN, ADN, RN]

Yes...we are "mandated" to show proof of certain vaccines.  There are many vaccines that are not mandatory. We have a right to choose.  

I've been an AN member since 2009. I'm not a frequent contributor. 

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:14 PM, grammieRN said:

Yes...we are "mandated" to show proof of certain vaccines.  There are many vaccines that are not mandatory. We have a right to choose.  

I've been an AN member since 2009. I'm not a frequent contributor. 

You do have a right to choose, nobody has taken that away. 

[toomuchbaloney]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:14 PM, grammieRN said:

Yes...we are "mandated" to show proof of certain vaccines.  There are many vaccines that are not mandatory. We have a right to choose.  

I've been an AN member since 2009. I'm not a frequent contributor. 

We still have a right to choose.  Some are choosing to remain unvaccinated and are willing to sacrifice their employment in order to remain unvaccinated.  

[NurseLy, BSN, RN]

We are not the patients in the scenario we are the health care providers. We have the privilege of providing care to the most vulnerable patient populations. By vaccinating ourselves we offer that safety to the populations we serve. 

It is or is becoming a job requirement just like every other job requirement. I distinctly remember undergoing various tb tests, vaccinations, a drug test, etc.  to have the employment opportunity that I do, too. ?‍♀️

[Guest219794]

MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.  "We" are already required to take vaccines in order to work as nurses.  

As a patient, you have a right to refuse.  You can refuse your TB test, or hep shot, or whatever.  As an AMERICAN, you can stand for freedom and refuse to have BLS. As a nurse, you are required to be vaccinated.  This vaccine is not about you the patient.  It is about the patient you care for.

Also- there is a pandemic.

[grammieRN, ADN, RN]

The Influenza vaccine is not mandated, the Shingles vaccine is not mandated, the varicella is not mandated.  

Of course we can choose not to get a vaccine...but accommodations can be made as they have been.  Masks, testing, titers.  Our jobs are not threatened if we choose not to get certain vaccines.  Some vaccines or proof of vaccine (titers) are required to be hired into a facility, some are not required.

I have had my jabs....I know what's at stake and I "chose" to vaccinate.  

Again.....we should all have that right without fear of repercussions.  Our colleagues will be losing their careers, their livelihood.      

[MunoRN, RN]

13 minutes ago, grammieRN said:

The Influenza vaccine is not mandated, the Shingles vaccine is not mandated, the varicella is not mandated.  

Of course we can choose not to get a vaccine...but accommodations can be made as they have been.  Masks, testing, titers.  Our jobs are not threatened if we choose not to get certain vaccines.  Some vaccines or proof of vaccine (titers) are required to be hired into a facility, some are not required.

I have had my jabs....I know what's at stake and I "chose" to vaccinate.  

Again.....we should all have that right without fear of repercussions.  Our colleagues will be losing their careers, their livelihood.      

That's the thing, being unvaccinated has repercussions whether you choose to recognize them or not.  There are possible repercussions that include putting those around you in harm's way which includes not just your family and friends, but also your patients.  

And while it may not be your employer's business whether you are putting your family in harms way, it is most definitely their business if you are putting your patients in harms way.  

You certainly have the right to refuse but you don't have the right to be free of any consequences from that decision, particularly when your patients aren't free of the consequences of such a decision.

[toomuchbaloney]

22 minutes ago, grammieRN said:

The Influenza vaccine is not mandated, the Shingles vaccine is not mandated, the varicella is not mandated.  

Of course we can choose not to get a vaccine...but accommodations can be made as they have been.  Masks, testing, titers.  Our jobs are not threatened if we choose not to get certain vaccines.  Some vaccines or proof of vaccine (titers) are required to be hired into a facility, some are not required.

I have had my jabs....I know what's at stake and I "chose" to vaccinate.  

Again.....we should all have that right without fear of repercussions.  Our colleagues will be losing their careers, their livelihood.      

Influenza is not in pandemic status. 

Shingles is not killing people across the globe. 

Varicella is hasn't killed nearly 700k Americans in 18 months. 

You don't have a right to be free of repercussions or consequences for your choices.  No one does. Where did you ever get that idea? Our colleagues are CHOOSING to trade their professional employment for a belief about these vaccines.  They are trading their livelihood for their stance on covid and vaccination. 

[P IV]

I definitely believe in people making a choice for their health, but all choices have either rewards or consequences. In nursing, we have tons if options outside of bedside. Maybe this is the time to look at those options. I know that’s why I became a nurse anyway.