Nursing Residency applicants to Vanderbilt’s ‘woman’s health track’ are required to sign a statment containing the following bolded text.

“I am aware that I may be providing nursing care for women who are having” procedures including terminations of pregnancy.

“It is important that you are aware of this aspect of care and give careful consideration to your ability to provide compassionate care to women in these situations,” the acknowledgment states. “If you feel you cannot provide care to women during this type of event, we encourage you to apply to a different track of the Nurse Residency Program to explore opportunities that may best fit your skills and career goals.”

Naturally this would be offputting to any pro-life  applicants, who would probably decide to choose another residency program.  This might be the actual  intention.

John Howser, the medical center spokesman  claimed  that it does not mean to suggest that residents with religious or moral objections will be required to participate in the actual procedures. He , in classic double talk noted that nursing students are not required to sign a similar letter of acknowledgment.

What is the difference?   Why require something of the residents which is not required of the nursing students in that track?

Care for patients who are having abortions would naturally be expected to include assisting with the procedure, unless specifically stated  (in writing) otherwise.   The verbal assurances of Howser, the media frontman, cannot be construed to assure nurses who object to abortion that their conscientous objection will be respected, and that they will not be penalized for it.

David French, senior counsel with the  Alliance Defense Fund is addressing this issue currently, seeking rewording of the application materials for Vanderbilt’s nursing residency program.   The basis for immediate  legal repercussions are the existing  federal restrictions on institutions WHICH ACCEPT FEDERAL GRANT MONEY.

In the era of Obama,  one cannot necessarily  expect enforcement of said restrictions.   A free market  solution is for  the (more competent) pro-life nurses and prospective nursing students  to avoid application to Vanderbilt.  There are many more  educational opportunities available.