Patient going to send nurse to Concentration Camps??

[Kayauhs]

It's another day and another dollar around here and the fun just never ends.

A patient was making a long rant about Hipanics, African Americans and Native Americans. We have been instructed that we cannot leave this patient's room until all needs are met even if this patient is speaking like this.

In an effort to get this patient to see that we are all human, I shared with the patient that I was Jewish. We spoke for 5-10 minutes about my Jewish heritage, my family and how we celebrate and honor this Jewish background of mine.

Two days later I entered this patient's room and I was just a few mintues delayed in answering the call light.

This patient says to me, "I am going to send you to the Concentration Camps because you are too slow."

I WAS STUNNED.

So I said, "Excuse me? What did you just say???"

The patient repeated it just as clearly the second time; "Yes, I am going to send you to the Concentration Camps because you are too slow."

I did not respond. I was taught that comments like this are not worth responding to because the person is obiously a completely ignorant bigot. I just went to the bedside and started addressing the needs of this patient, adjusting bedding, empty catheter bag ect...and then excused myself from the room.

I reported this to my supervisors and they have done absolutely nothing. Their reply is that this patient has the RIGHT to say whatever she/he wants and we cannot dictate what this patient says.

I completely disagree and I think this is a horrific thing to say to anyone.

Comments and thoughts are appreciated.

This is a long-term patient and I will be interacting with this patient for weeks to come.

Advice?

Anyone else gone through this?

[Kayauhs]

Well, here is an update:

In order to remain employed and not quit in the middle of the shift and run off screaming down the road; I had to lay down some rules.

1). I never go in this patient's room alone anymore. Not once, not even for something small.

This has nearly eliminated the constant lying. I now have a witness with me. This patient isn't dumb either, this patient knew exactly why I was doing this.

2). I check this patient on a frequent schedule, set my phone to alarm and then go in. This has also nearly eliminated all the lying about "No one checks on me for HOURS!!"

3). Absolutely under no circumstances do I talk about myself, my own feelings on something or share with this patient ANYTHING about my peronal life. and WOW I had not realized how manipulative this person truly is until I stood firm on this issue right here. This patient will try nearly anything to get me to talk about my family, social life ect...when I have a complete poker face? Doesn't like it.

4). When the verbal abuse begins, I simply do not respond. Not with a raised eyebrow, a deep sigh, a look of disgust or surprise. I give the vulgar comments absolutley no power when I don't respond to them.

So far all of this has worked very well. I hope it helps someone else.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Well, here is an update:

In order to remain employed and not quit in the middle of the shift and run off screaming down the road; I had to lay down some rules.

1). I never go in this patient's room alone anymore. Not once, not even for something small.

This has nearly eliminated the constant lying. I now have a witness with me. This patient isn't dumb either, this patient knew exactly why I was doing this.

2). I check this patient on a frequent schedule, set my phone to alarm and then go in. This has also nearly eliminated all the lying about "No one checks on me for HOURS!!"

3). Absolutely under no circumstances do I talk about myself, my own feelings on something or share with this patient ANYTHING about my peronal life. and WOW I had not realized how manipulative this person truly is until I stood firm on this issue right here. This patient will try nearly anything to get me to talk about my family, social life ect...when I have a complete poker face? Doesn't like it.

4). When the verbal abuse begins, I simply do not respond. Not with a raised eyebrow, a deep sigh, a look of disgust or surprise. I give the vulgar comments absolutley no power when I don't respond to them.

So far all of this has worked very well. I hope it helps someone else.

Doesn't it feel great to take your personal power back? Good for you.

[Tasern1214]

I agree that the time is coming when patients should be held accountable for their behavior and self care. With reimbursement being tied to patient satisfaction and decreased due to readmission, patients need to take responsibility for their participation. I also agree that regardless, our job is to care for them to the best of our ability

[skaravanic]

I'm sorry, I believe medical staff have rights too. If I'm caring for you, I have the right to be respected. I refuse to treat patients who are abusive

Had patient who masturbated whenever female staff entered room. I left and told them I wouldn't be treating him. They said they would send male security guard in with me, but believe me he got minimal care required.

Another patient was screaming for nurses with most vile language. No nurses showed up. I wonder why.

I do tell patients they need to be respectful to receive treatment. Of course it helps that I've been doing patient care for 50 years. I do believe they take advantage of younger nurses, the supervisor needs to let them know it's unacceptable. Perhaps some patient education regarding getting just what is required vs TLC.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

If I'm caring for you, I have the right to be respected.

I agree with the principle that, as a caregiver, you should be respected; however, I don't think this is a "right" that you have. If you feel that you are not respected it certainly does not give you the right to not provide the same care as you do for someone who you feel does respect you.

[nursinglove30]

Sorry OP and to other nurses going through this. I have to say that patient isn't confused or depressed due to hospitalization. He is just racist bigot which is kind of pathetic in 2018. You are doing a great job dealing with him and now he is mad he isn't getting an opportunity to be vile toward you.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

Oh my. Never discuss personal stuff such as this with patients. Crazy patients cannot always be ID'd, they don't glow in the dark.

I do not have anything I celebrate, my background is mainly German but that was many generations ago and, apparently, there were no German foods, holidays etc...anyone felt like carrying on.

That being said you state this patient already rants about black and Hispanic people, if I were in that situation I would let them know I do not appreciate their racist rants and leave it at that.

Being a blue-eyed blonde they would have less to rant at me personally, I just have no desire to have personal interactions with racists.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Sorry OP and to other nurses going through this. I have to say that patient isn't confused or depressed due to hospitalization. He is just racist bigot which is kind of pathetic in 2018. You are doing a great job dealing with him and now he is mad he isn't getting an opportunity to be vile toward you.

This patient could most certainly be depressed-he is a quadriplegic, and if that isn't a reason to be depressed, I don't know what is. That is not to say, however, that his depression has "caused" his racism. He may have developed those attitudes as a child, due to his upbringing.

[Mini2544, ASN, RN]

I both agree and disagree with you. (How confusing is that!). Yes, I do have a responsibility to provide for this patient, ( I don't believe I stated the gender of this patient). However; the tide is turning in nursing to recognize that nurses are no longer required to be beat up, spit at, physically abused and verbally abused.

Anti Semitic remarks are not acceptable in any realm.

This patient is completely oriented and knows exactly what was being said.

Consider if you will this situation in reverse and this patient had shared with me their own Jewish heritage and I had said, I'm going to send you to the Concentration Camps". I would be fired that day.

I think it's time that patients are held accountable for their actions.

Being sick isn't an excuse for being rascist.

Several hospitals in my area are employing "Patient Behavior Contracts" that clearly state a patient cannot be verbally abusive or racist. We have a large population of foreign doctors here who have to put up with horrible statements on a routine basis.

It's time for a change.

Yessssssss

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

...Go full Mavrick next time:

I will actually tell patients that what they said is unacceptable and move on...

I recall a pt to whom I said this to.

He reported me to the charge nurse.

I ended up still assigned as his nurse. But I never went in his room again without a witness.

[Daisy Joyce]

Yes, the patient said something very ugly to you, and it was uncalled for and totally sucks.

I get that you were trying to reach out to him as a human being, trying to form a connection. That impulse wasn't bad or stupid.

But this patient has something seriously wrong with him--maybe organic in his brain, or maybe something in his soul.

I'm sorry you went through this.

But for what it's worth, my patients know next to nothing about me.

Life is better that way...