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!

[z's playa]

I notice you still have that mind set that black people are lazy,

I really don't see where you pulled this idea out of their post.

This thread is rapidly deteriorating.

Z

[SharonH, RN]

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

moe, i agree with this completely. as it pertains to the op, if someone claims racism and you do not believe that you are guilty of it, then the thing to do is confront it; do not validate the person's complaints by giving in and acting as if you have done something wrong. sometimes, people legitimately believe that they are being discriminated against even when they are not; other times people use it as an excuse. and other times they are right on the mark about their suspicions! either way, it does no one any favors by allowing someone to get away with bad behavior because you are afraid you will be accused of something you didn't do.

[blue chips]

I notice you still have that mind set that black people are lazy[/i']

I really don't see where you pulled this idea out of their post.

This thread is rapidly deteriorating.

Z

i do not care what you see.

[mattsmom81]

There seems to be a few posters here determined to start a 'race war' in this thread. Lets not feed the trolls.

[begalli]

I'm with P_RN.

Everytime I see an internet message board discussing "race" I rush into the www to find Dr Martin Luther King quotes. I'm always saddened when I read and am reminded of the history of discrimination in this country.

P_RN is right. It's 2005 and not a whole lot has changed.

[nurse_wannabe]

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.

You are correct, blue chips. Racism is a problem, a BIG one, and it should definitely be addressed when warranted. I realize that real discrimination happens much more often than false accusations.

However, there are the few people who DO use the prospect of racial discrimination as a "CARD" to play whenever it would be to his/her advantage to do so. There is no denying this fact... I have heard it and seen it for myself.

There is one particular student in my nursing class who makes everything out to be a race issue. I honestly think she hates white people. She has even said that AIDS is a disease used by the government to wipe out the black population. Anyway, I have heard her state several times that none of the instructors had better mess with her because she will "play the race card so fast it will make their heads spin." When she WAS written up, she did accuse the instructor of racism, but they held their ground and didn't give her what she wanted, which was for the write-up to be thrown out.

I hope I haven't said anything that has offended anyone. I am merely relating a personal experience that is somewhat similar to what the OP is enduring.

[SharonH, RN]

There seems to be a few posters here determined to start a 'race war' in this thread. Lets not feed the trolls.

Oh please, no one is trying to start a "race war". Anytime you have a topic such as this one, there will be strong feelings and invariably, some of you will try to stifle those who make you uncomfortable by acting as if they are troublemakers or something like that. Some express their opinions strongly, either deal with it or move on.

[z's playa]

i do not care what you see.

Wow. That was pleasant.

ps I don't care if you care or not. :stone

Z

[leslie :-D]

However, there are the few people who DO use the prospect of racial discrimination as a "CARD" to play whenever it would be to his/her advantage to do so. There is no denying this fact... I have heard it and seen it for myself.

i agree.

there have been times when i've asked cna's to do something.

one cna's response was "you are treating me like an animal because i'm black",which then created a domino effect w/the other black cna's. it got to a point where a few of them were echoing her sentiments and i told them all to knock it off, that i expect more professionalism and finally, the patients needn't listen to their bantering. i also told them they were in jeopardy of being written up if this nonsense was to continue.

once they saw that i wasn't going to even acknowledge their accusations, they quieted down and begrudgingly did their job.

and that's what i think the op should do-ignore the race card attempt and focus on the care given or lack thereof and act accordingly.

leslie

[smk1, LPN]

I am sorry this happened to you. I have edited my post because I do not want to get into a heated racial debate in this day in age. All I will say is that racism happens to ALL and I mean ALL races, no one is exempt.

i think prejudice happens to all people, but racism is a systematic and institutionalized form of oppression that benefits (in this country at least) whites and not the other racial groups. Sorry it's a bit of a pet peeve oif mine... having said that, again all groups have to deal with prejudice.

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

I would not worry about this much, your CNA was being lazy and neglecting her patients and you called her on it. She is mad because you made her work. I for one say that it is time for all of the lazy staff to put out their cigarettes, put down their coffee, come out of the break room, stop gossiping and do there resident care or go home and stay there. I have absolutely had it with people trying to hide there own negligence by pointing out faults in others. I could tell from the time that you used the politically correct term "people of color" that you were 99.9% innocent. Shame on that aide for being negligent, disrespectful, and unprofessional. Document everything, trust no one, and do your best.

[nicuRN2007]

racism is a systematic and institutionalized form of oppression that benefits (in this country at least) whites and not the other racial groups.

i strongly disagree with you.