When to draw the line on religious and cultural accomodation?

[Inspired By Silence]

Should I ever come across a female patient who would prefer a female nurse insert her foley catheter, I will comply with a smile on my face and ask the nicest female nurse on my floor to assist this woman. Should a Muslim male prefer no male nurses (or doctors) be in the room while his wife gives birth, I'll make sure his wishes are respected and carried out and will personally round up the males and escort them to another more tolerant soon to be father.

But should I come across a woman who grew up in the pre civil rights era who does not want to be treated by a Mexican American male nurse, how do I respond?

[Inspired By Silence]

I just think its a shame that when someone is sick/dying that their focus is on their caregiver's sex/color/race/whatever. We all went to nursing school, we all are nurses who are capable of providing care. I know people have opinions of hispanics, gays, whites, blacks, or whatever. But we all are people and I wish the world would finally stop discriminating. No, it will not change sadly, but if I am in the hospital and sick or puking, I couldnt care less what color my nurse is as long as they take good care of me. Thats why Im there, to get better.

I had a patient one time who expected me to leave a hypoxic patient to take him for a walk. When he wanted something, he wanted it immediately, with NO WAIT. I explained to him that I was in an emergent situation, which is why he had to wait 15 minutes to be assisted to walk. Do you know what his response to me was?...."I guess I need to get me a ni$$er to take care of me". I was livid! I have a fellow coworker nurse who is african american and I witnessed her at the nurses station crying because a patient refused her to be his nurse because she is black. I just think its a crying shame.

Maybe so, but our main focus should be to make sure the patient is in comfort.

[justiceforjoy]

We're here to heal people. Not to pass judgment on them... That includes calling them ignorant for thinking differently or even incorrectly.

[Inspired By Silence]

We're here to heal people. Not to pass judgment on them... That includes calling them ignorant for thinking differently or even incorrectly.

I agree full heartedly.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

We accept cultural differences.

Reject racism.

If you don't like your multi-racial nurse, that is YOUR problem. Not the nurse's.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

We're here to heal people. Not to pass judgment on them... That includes calling them ignorant for thinking differently or even incorrectly.

Maybe it's just me. I don't tolerate ignorance. Nor do allow it to impede in my care. If they are ignorant, you don't have to say anything to them.

They do a good job of proving your "judgment" correct.

[Batman24]

I always treat my patients with respect and always will. If I heard some of the comments I read here I wouldn't call them ignorant but I sure would think it about them. Thankfully I've yet to hear a patient ask for a black, white, etc. nurse.

[elkpark]

Is it really intolerant/ignorant for a female patient to request a female nurse, or the same for a male? I find that hard to believe.

I think it depends on the particular situation. I can see a person of either gender requesting a nurse of the same gender to do an "intimate" procedure like a urinary cath (and, everywhere I've ever worked, we've done our best to honor those kind of requests), but I see it as a different situation if a person just doesn't want a male (or female) nurse in general, for anything (unless, as discussed, it's a religious/cultural issue).