I am an NP who works at a Family Health Team. We serve priority populations, including transgender patient undergoing gender transition. Recently, one of our clinic’s NPs said that providing hormone therapy as part of care goes against their religious beliefs and is requesting to decline care. Can this nurse request religious accommodation for care that’s provided to a priority population?
When nurses consider limiting or declining care due to personal beliefs, it’s important to balance the rights of their patients with their own needs or preferences. Here are some key points to keep in mind in these situations:
- Always communicate respectfully with your patients. This helps maintain trust and understanding
- Make sure your objections don’t prevent a patient from getting the care they need. It’s crucial to ensure that their health and well-being are prioritized
- Help connect patients to another provider who can offer the necessary care through an effective referral. This means taking action to ensure they are referred promptly to a non-objecting, available and accessible nurse or health care provider
In the Code of Conduct, nurses must respect their client’s decisions (1.3) and recognize when their personal beliefs conflict with a client’s care plan. They should continue to provide safe, compassionate and timely care until other arrangements are made (1.9).
If alternative arrangements can’t be made, the client's right to receive care takes precedence over the nurse's right to limit care.
In these situations, it’s encouraged to have thoughtful discussions with your employer and health care team to find a resolution that considers the nurse’s needs while ensuring safe patient care. You can read more about conscientious objection and nurses’ accountabilities in the Discontinuing and Declining to Provider Care standard.
Additional resources that may also help:
I hope this helps and thanks for writing to us!
Cindy Lee, RN, MN, CHE
Advanced Practice Consultant