Thank you to those with comments of support, especially to yarn goddess and paphia, your words really do help. I was afraid that by me posting I would get attacked and labeled as "one of them" but as fearful as I was I posted anyway because I had to get it out SOMEWHERE. I had to let it all out somewhere where everyone didn't think I was "being overdramatic" or a "wimp".
As far as starting a "chain reaction" of other people refusing to do it-- in the time I have been working there, I have been on the lookout for anyone who might feel the same way as me, and I have yet to find any possible candidates. If I remember correctly, I think my state is in like the top 3 for circ rates. All of the nurses are for circ, and if the the rare boy does manage to get out of there unscathed, the nurses will joke and mock about it. There is even this SICK song I've heard them joking sing that goes something like "whack whack whack my dick" (sung to row row row your boat) It's absolutely disgusting. There is this one nurse I especially hate. I swear she is obsessed with circumcisions. She goes on and on about how doc's so-and-so do "such pretty circs". She always assists with the circs if she is working that day. One time I heard her and a doctor talking while they were in there doing one, and I think they were joking about the size of the baby's penis or something.... There are different sizes that they use (1.1 or 1.3) and all I remember hearing is the doc laughing and saying to her "that poor baby, he should have been a 1.1 but you made me stretch him to fit the .3
I secretly plot to kill her....
But there is no one else there who feels the same way. If I refused right now I would get NO respect and they would probably laugh. Especially since I am the "new guy" yet to earn any respect, and because I'm only a cna and therefore have "no training or knowledge like THEY have". So right now, my opinion means nothing to them.
If I were to refuse it as an RN, I would be seen as an equal and they would take my stance more seriously. I wouldn't be brushed off and laughed at like I would now (or at least have less of a chance)
Also, I WOULD be able to talk to the parents more about it. Right now, I have no contact with the parents at all. The closest I have gotten, is when it's been my job to round up all the babies for the pedi rounds in the am, I will tell the parents of the boys that they will be circed at this time. I'll slip in something like "you know that this is an elective procedure and you don't have to do it? You've read on the consent sheet that it is a cosmetic procedure only, and not recommended medically?" I've found that lots of times, I will be the one taking the baby BACK to mom after pedi rounds, and the mom didn't know that baby was to be circed at that time. I just think that since they probably made the decision and signed the papers before baby was born, there might be a chance that once baby is actually here, they might change their mind. But if they are only told it's done after the fact it is too late for any second thoughts.
So far, I've had none change their mind though..
But as an RN, I could really go over it thoroughly with them before signing the consent. It is part of the standard checklist to go through with the parents. When I got to the circ part, I could REALLY stress the facts about it (leaving out any personal info). I would create the tone that it was something that is disapproved of, and that I thought they were weird for wanting it done. I would go over what the procedure entails VERY thoroughly. Etc etc etc.
The nurses are SUPPOSED to be doing that (giving informed consent) but most of them do a really piss poor job of it.
As far as posting my "story" in other places..... I really don't know. I didn't write it for the purpose of spreading it to parents...It was just something I needed to get out to vent. It seems like it would be a little too "dramatic" or "one sided" for any parent to take seriously. Don't know if that makes sense, but I have just seen so many times where people will completely dismiss information that is "too hard for them to swallow" or seems like is "out there". If something seems biased at all, they will think that person just has an agenda and is exaggerating.
Maybe I will look over it again and see how I can reword it to be more suitable for posting on those types of sites. At the VERY least I need to go back and clean up my grammar. When I typed it, everything just kind of poured out so fast for me to care about the grammar or proper sentence structure, etc. Going back and reading it, actually, it sounds like it's coming from someone with little or no education
Like I said, maybe I will look over it again and try to come up with a better way of writing everything so it is more clearly written and organized and submit it to a couple of those sites.
Thanks again to all of you for being here spreading the word and having this site available
Quirky is right, maybe the job isn't worth it. Hugs and support, mama.
I can't ever bring myself to watch a video. I know I'd have nightmares, hearing it was bad enough. It has to go against every instinct that you have....and I have to think these moms, if they knew what it was really like would do whatever they could to stop this from happening to their little boys. Maybe that's where sharing your story could help.
: and be THANKING YOU
: for saving my baby from this atrocity. That may sound cheesy, but its deemed very appropriate.
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