AA hair care racist?

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.

I was caring for a very sweet AA lady, w/ TKA and asked if there was anything special she wanted me to do for her hair. She got all upset and said I was a racist. I was shocked by this, as I was only trying to care for the 'whole person'. How would you handle this?

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Say "I'm very sorry you see that as a racist comment, I would have asked the same if you were of any other race, since many people like their hair a certain way."

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

If this was inpatient, I would have mentioned that some of my patients have a sleep bonnett they wear while in bed and did she have one? I hope you documented/charted.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Say "I'm very sorry you see that as a racist comment, I would have asked the same if you were of any other race, since many people like their hair a certain way."

:yeahthat:

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Specializes in critical care, management, med surg, edu.

Nice reply ! I was just speechless at the time.

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Yeah, well, it's easy to come up with a reply when not right in the middle of the situation. I probably would have been flabbergasted at the time too.

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maybe she read it that way. apologize and move on.

i was caring for a very sweet aa lady, w/ tka and asked if there was anything special she wanted me to do for her hair. she got all upset and said i was a racist. i was shocked by this, as i was only trying to care for the 'whole person'. how would you handle this?
Up Vote Up Vote ×

documented and charted that comment...why?

if this was inpatient, i would have mentioned that some of my patients have a sleep bonnett they wear while in bed and did she have one? i hope you documented/charted.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
documented and charted that comment...why?

what if the pt. tells people "that nurse made a racist comment to me."?

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You document any negative comment/action to cover all bases. In this case, to cover the possibility that the pt might later file a complaint against the OP for being racist.

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Specializes in SICU/MICU and soon...CVRU.

She automatically assumed you were racist and all you were trying to do was give good care. I think we know who the real racist is here.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.
You document any negative comment/action to cover all bases. In this case, to cover the possibility that the pt might later file a complaint against the OP for being racist.

Yes, Thank you, that is why I always chart anything said that could come back to haunt me. Even if a pt. calls me a "78ioaufj##" I will chart that "while assessing pt. IV, pt called this nurse a ,&*^%_ and said' leave me alone!". This nurse attempted to reorient pt to time & place and reassure hospital personnel here to help pt, yadayadayada.

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