Racism at clinical site...what to do?

Nurses Relations

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I am currently in my last semester of clinical and I’m appalled at the amount of racism! On my first day of clinical I followed a nurse that made comments such as: Black people are obnoxious and loud! How could a nurse say such things! I also followed a nurse that made sure I knew, during report, that a patients husband was “colored”. Then to make matters worse, a fellow student and I followed a nurse who was taking care of a post-op patient (I do not want to mention what type of surgery) that spoke only Spanish. As we were cleaning the patient she talked about the patient! She made comments such as: Oh…she only speaks Spanish…GREAT... THEY need to learn English. She made other comments that I do not want to repeat. I guess she noticed the look on our faces and said “it’s OK…she doesn’t understand English.” She also provided poor care to the patient. She ignored her call light, never checked on her, and acted as if she did not understand the patient when she was asking for pain medication. Then, at discharge, she gave the patient English discharge papers, explained discharge instructions in English, and ignored me when I asked for Spanish discharge instructions.

I could go on and on! So my question is.....should I report this? I am biracial and take offense to such remarks and I feel really uncomfortable at clinical. Not only am I are uncomfortable but other students are noticing such remarks also. I am afraid if I report the incidents that I will be affected. I hate to say this but the majority of the hospital is this way (the hospital is in very small town). I just don’t know what to do. I HATE going to clinical.

Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.

Hi ybestressed-I'm sorry that you've experienced racisim. Eveyone really seems shocked at this -especially coming from nurses- but not all nurses are nuns!! I'm an AA nurse and I've had nurses and patients say and portray racism to me. Choose your battles. Some may have to be addressed as it happens. Some may have to be reported. ITA with rn/writer- It doesn't just occur in small towns. Prejudice is prejudice, no matter what flavor it comes in.:loveya:

Specializes in BHU, ICU, ER, Med / Surg, OHN.
Angel_RN_1 said:
I experienced racisim in clinical as well. It wasnt quite as outright as your situation but a lot of undertone comments and you could just feel it. as a fellow minority I would say something after your clinical rotation is over. you don't want to take the chance of retaliation and proving a point isn't worth risking your behind. you have worked hard to get to where you are. there are always going to be ignorant people in the world that you can't change. I personally would write an anonymous note to the manager or supervisor on the unit, or even higher (hospital administrator) and report the nurse by name. threaten to call the state in your letter and trust me that will get their attention.

Anonymous notes usually get the file 13, because they cant be backed up or checked into. If youre going to be gutsy enough to write a letter, be gutsy enough to sign your name to it.

1 Votes
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I would document. Then graduate. Then report. I know that doesn't solve the problem, but what is MOST important? That you graduate. This battle has gone on and will go on for a long time so don't let it drag you down when you are vulnerable.

I know that is not the PC answer, but you have to take care of you before you can really do anyone else any good.

1 Votes

This is something that you should report to your clinical instructor immediately. Was the instructor on the unit at the time of these incidents? It would then be the instructor's responsibility to report to the nurse manager. However, keep in mind that the nursing instructor is going to try to stay on the good side of the nurse manager, so that students will still be able to come to that unit/facility. After I told the instructor, I would send an anonymous letter to the media as well as regulatory agencies, to report this behavior. You are getting a first hand experience of a moral/ethical dilemma, and what would you do to resolve it.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I would mention it on the clinical evaluation at the end of the semester.

Specializes in School Nursing.
CASTLEGATES said:
report the inbreds to top management

How is this any better than what the racist nurses said/did? Not helpful and equally offensive, IMO.

1 Votes
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Purple_Scrubs said:
How is this any better than what the racist nurses said/did? Not helpful and equally offensive, IMO.

Because they deserved it! Not one bit equally offensive in my opinion.

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical care, trauma, cardiac, neuro.

I agree with most of the colleagues posting here. I am so sorry you AND the patients are experiencing such illegal, unethical, unprofessional and ignorant behaviors.

Granted you may take this anyway you like, but the truth of the matter is, that when truth comes to shove, there is bit of racism even in the most syrupy-nicey sounding person.

Specializes in Critical care, trauma, cardiac, neuro.
Katie5 said:
Granted you may take this anyway you like, but the truth of the matter is, that when truth comes to shove, there is bit of racism even in the most syrupy-nicey sounding person.

And IF what you say is true, than it is still unethical, unprofessional and ignorant to display ANY such beliefs in the professional workplace - and that is what this thread is about.

Katie5 said:
Granted you may take this anyway you like, but the truth of the matter is, that when truth comes to shove, there is bit of racism even in the most syrupy-nicey sounding person.

I agree that this may be true, but it must not affect patient care

Specializes in Home Health.

update:

i informed my instructor and he told me i should not be so sensitive. i told him that i was not the only student experiencing such issues he pretty much said that we are all stressed and are being sensitive.

since we are a small group (12) we all decided to be the best student nurses ever j, provide the best care possible to each patient, and finish our clinical while trying to avoid such remarks. we decided that this is a battle that we are not ready to take on along with the rest of all our nursing school stress (especially when our instuctor is not concerned).

when i stated that hospital was in a small town i did not mean to offend anyone. i've never experienced such behavior so i didn't know if this could be a contributing factor.

i would like to say that i have never been around such behavior. although i like to believe that i will never run into such behavior again i know i will. if it's a patient i will just provide the best care i can provide and if it's a fellow co-worker i hope i will have awesome managment that will help solve such issues.

thank you for all the replies. :loveya:

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