Accused of Racism!

[yaddadoit]

I'm so upset.. just walked in the door from working a night shift at a skilled long term care facility. I had a CNA working under me who had left a patient in a bed with urine until the urine had a yellow ring a round it. I instructed her to change the bedding and let her know that tolerate patients being I consider this kind of care unacceptable. I am brand new to the night shift. The CNA immediately accused me of being racist and "you're treating me like a black woman!"

I let my DNS know this morning... of the lack of care that the CNA provided, of things not done during the shift, etc. The DNS told me that she is very nervous about the possibilty of an EEO suit and that I should "cover yourself really well".

HELP!! This is a terrifing situation to me. I've worked as a nurse for over 2 decades and never been accused of racism. I don't think that there was anything in this situation that could have been construed as racism... but... what do I need to do to protect myself. What a nasty situation! What makes it even more frustrating is that this CNA frequently does very poor quality work and I've been trying to keep everything up beat and cheerful in the workplace. Now I don't know what to do!

[stidget99]

I read the original post earlier today and have been thinking about it ever since. Iam truly saddened that the world has come (or stayed) like this. I think that if i were in your situation, I would immediately document what EXACTLY was said and the reasoning behind what was said. Next, call for a meeting w/ unit manager, director, DON, and the facility legal eagle w/ yourself and the CNA in question. Address this head on. I believe that if you "try to get some people on your side", it is going to turn into another "racial" war.

IMO, this needs to be nipped in the bud....right now. If you really think about it, this really is not an issue of race but of work ethics but hiding under the race issue.

[alexillytom]

I was wondering how long it would be before someone used the inflammatory "race card" characterization. Guess what, White people and other races have no problem with claiming racism when things do not go their way. I was working on a floor which was predominantly Black when 4 White nurses who had bonded started complaining that they were the victims of racism because the Black charge nurse asked them not to all 4 go off the floor smoking at once and the Black nurse manager backed her up. They claimed that the Black nurses were not restricted from going off the floor to smoke. Hmmm, could it be because none of the Black or Filipino nurses smoked? Imagine that, 4 nurses leaving the floor together for 20-30 minutes at a time to smoke and they claimed that they were being targeted because of their race. It was ridiculous.

Thank you Sharon.

[tencat]

Does this CNA work with other nurses, too? If so, then it might be good to talk to the other nurses she works with and find out if any of them have had any problems with her that they've documented. Since management knows your concerns, it's probably best to start officially documenting what happens. Are there other CNAs you work with? Be aware of how the others do their jobs, and if there is another incident with a different CNA, make sure you document that, too, to show that you're not picking on one person.

I have lived on the Navajo Nation reservation in New Mexico, and it was really an interesting experience to be the 'minority' in the mix. As a 'white' person it was a good lesson to not be in the 'majority' and feel what discrimination is like. I think one can either grow from the experience, or use it to justify their feelings toward other races. Racism happens everywhere with every kind of people. We all have our prejudices and assumptions about people who are 'different' from ourselves, regardless of what ethnicity we are.

[BamaBound2bRN]

To Blue Chip and the others out there who are in denial about people hiding behind paranoia. It doesn't matter where you come from or what your education, if you are denying that blacks or whites or hispanics or any other race will hide behind their race and accuse someone who is different of discriminaton, then you are blinded by your own prejudices. The biggest factors at play here are lazy human beings using whatever will get her out of work and continue collecting an easy paycheck.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

To Blue Chip and the others out there who are in denial about people hiding behind paranoia. It doesn't matter where you come from or what your education, if you are denying that blacks or whites or hispanics or any other race will hide behind their race and accuse someone who is different of discriminaton, then you are blinded by your own prejudices. The biggest factors at play here are lazy human beings using whatever will get her out of work and continue collecting an easy paycheck.

Human beings are capable of all kinds of behavior and I agree here.

steph

[medsurgnurse, RN]

I read the original post earlier today and have been thinking about it ever since. Iam truly saddened that the world has come (or stayed) like this. I think that if i were in your situation, I would immediately document what EXACTLY was said and the reasoning behind what was said. Next, call for a meeting w/ unit manager, director, DON, and the facility legal eagle w/ yourself and the CNA in question. Address this head on. I believe that if you "try to get some people on your side", it is going to turn into another "racial" war.

IMO, this needs to be nipped in the bud....right now. If you really think about it, this really is not an issue of race but of work ethics but hiding under the race issue.

Very well said, stidget99.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Just a thought to throw out here to everyone: Isn't having different standards and accepting substandard behaviour and work from someone because of fear of appearing racist also a form of racism?(i.e. "I have to tiptoe around them because of their race") It seems that true "color blindness" would be to hold the same standards for all.

[GrnHonu99, RN]

Just a thought to throw out here to everyone: Isn't having different standards and accepting substandard behaviour and work from someone because of fear of appearing racist also a form of racism?(i.e. "I have to tiptoe around them because of their race") It seems that true "color blindness" would be to hold the same standards for all.

I agree, that is why most (if not all)facilities have a standard of care, one that EVERYONE is upheld to...now, I dont know becuase im just a nursing student...but, standards of care are not only for certain races/colors..i believe we ALL have to adhere to the policies and procedures, the SAME standard of care....i dont understand what this womans race has to do with anything (in your case, i understand she made it an issue when she accused you of being racist)...the bottom line is, she left a poor, incontinent resident sitting in a pool of her own urine! that is neglect plain and simple...her race has nothing to do with it...i doubt any policy or procedure in your LTCF says that it is alright to ignore patients or let them sit in their own urine for an extended amount of time!!!! I wonder if she would feel the same if that were HER mother sitting there!?!?

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

you went up the chain of command after the event. that's your best defense right now. if you are 100% sure you made no racist statements and it can't be shown you treat this cna any different than the others, then you're o.k.

rather than be afraid administration needs to stand up to this individual and address her work-related issues. if there is no documentation, such as verbal warnings and write ups, then the case is weaker. you say she frequently does poor quality work, there should be warnings and write ups.

her response is racist and unacceptable. i hope things work out for you, and i'm sure they will. providing your administration has backbone.

there's nothing that burns my a$$ than for someone to play the race card when it's not warranted :angryfire.

as tweety said above, if this person has demonstrated poor work efforts/ethics in the past...their personnel records should reflect such in the form of poor evaluations, write-ups, etc. however, if all anyone in management has done was to sweep all complaints under the table & not address their care, then it would be hard to prove they're incompetent to remain in their position.

just as it's very hard to prove any accusations (as the proof of burden is on the accuser)...i wouldn't be concerned with her allegations because it's her word against your documentation of the facts. if & when a eeoc investigation occurs, the people on the panel will see the cna has no bases for complaint & their case against you (&/or your facility) will be dropped.

the *only* way this cna would have "a case" is if you've actually said something derogatory against them in front of witnesses/patients..as well as if this person consistly keeps a daily work journal...citing every fact that happens during their shifts (no matter what nsg is on...not just you)without entering feelings...then & only then you'd might have a problem. but again...the proof of burden *is* on the accuser.

good luck to you ~ cheers,

moe

[z's playa]

There's nothing that burns my a$$ than for someone to play the race card when it's not warranted .

Mmhmm. Me too.

Z

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

i've had an experience, in fact in nursing school, where i had a conflict with another student who happened to be african american. her race was no factor in my mind, but she lied and told administration that i had called her a 'n' word, a word that i've never used in my life!. i think she was frustrated because she was struggling academically, and she did indeed end up flunking out of 4th semester.

so, some minorities will unfortunately try and play the 'race card' to cover up their personal inadequacies. just try and realize that this is one person who probably has some problems. i ended up being resentful towards black people generally for awhile, but finally got over it and realized that it was only one person's problem.

unfortunately, some people do use the *race card* whenever they see their objectives/agenda isn't getting addressed.

i also understand your *knee jerk* reaction to the accusation...after all...there's nothing worst than being accused of being a racist. i'm only glad that you've realized that this was only *one* person's character flaw & that you're no longer holding an entire race of people against that one person's behavior.

by the same token though....the ratio of people using the *race card* & there being legitimate reasons for filing discriminatory cases differs greatly. there are even cases where reverse discrimination occurs....i know because it happened to me once. i've had to work an unit from hell whereby all four cnas where aas & they all gave me a hard way to go because i too was aa & considered *young*. they had no problems with taking instructions/directions from the *white* & perceivingly *older* nurses...but gave me a run because i am *black* & look *young*. they thought because i'm *black* & *young* that they could just run all over me by not performing their duties as assigned. they didn't want to do their vitals, give residents water during their changes...heck...they didn't even wanted to do all the assigned changes (we had x3 round checks during the night shift). they thought all they were going to do was *pad* the bed at the start of the shift & change them in the morning. they must of thought it was *miller time* or something . two even had the nerve to sit in the middle of the hallway & sleep half the night away & when one of them did wake-up...she thought she could just walk off the unit without even telling me she was going. needless to say...i wrote them all up! i was then of course accused of being an "uncle tom!" when their hearings came-up....their union ended-up siding with me & not them because ultimately...residents suffered throughout that night. i floated onto that united several times after that incident & had no problems with three out of the four cnas...that fourth one kept insisting that i was harassing them because i had to follow-up on her poor work ethics. i went to the cna union shop stewart & met with the union president (both were aas btw)...i had no problem with this individual after this. they told her that i was being generous by coming to them first & not to management to address *her problem*. they told this person that i had loads of stuff to write her up with to the point of suspension/termination & that i was doing her a favor. that experience taught quite a few lessons at that facility ~

1) don't take race for granted!

2) just do your assigned duties as hired & no one will get into any trouble.

so mystery, you don't have to be *white* in order to be accused of racism. also...there are plenty of other folks who play the *race card* whenever it suits them...that (the *race card* that is) is *not* only reserved to aa's use. being aa...i've been discriminated against by people of other races as well as folks within my own race...i don't like it whomever does it to me :angryfire!

needless to say...no one should put-up with discrimination...no one! if & when it does occur legitimately, then those victims have every right to file complaints & should win....but those who file false claims by using the *race card* should not only be exposed...but should be made to pay for their false accusations in someway...imho.

cheers,

moe

[blue chips]

To Blue Chip and the others out there who are in denial about people hiding behind paranoia. It doesn't matter where you come from or what your education, if you are denying that blacks or whites or hispanics or any other race will hide behind their race and accuse someone who is different of discriminaton, then you are blinded by your own prejudices. The biggest factors at play here are lazy human beings using whatever will get her out of work and continue collecting an easy paycheck.

I do not need to hide period. and my pay checks are not easy. I notice you still have that mind set that black people are lazy, but that is your problem not mine. And remember racism is not a "CARD" but a problem.