Vaccine refusal by nurses is appalling

As a retired nurse I am appalled by today’s nurses who refuse to get a COVID vaccine then demand they be allowed to continue to care for vulnerable hospitalized patients. These nurses either have forgotten or choose to ignore what nursing is all about.

The historic framework of the nursing profession is to protect our patients, keep them safe and do no harm while they are under our care. As nurses we follow safety protocols to keep patients safe from falls, from getting pressure ulcers and from getting hospital induced infections. We protect patients from malnutrition and dehydration by managing IVs and enteral feedings and we give pain medicines to protect them from needless suffering.

Nurses who refuse vaccination run the risk of harming their patients through infection and are failing to protect, the fundamental core of nursing practice. If you as a nurse truly feel your rights are more important than your patient’s right to be safe, then you have no understanding of what being a nurse is and no business practicing as one. Simply find another job where you cannot harm vulnerable hospitalized patients who are dependent on you to keep them safe.

Margaret Hannon

Cedar Rapids