Accused of Racism!

[AquariusRN129]

2 nurses are being accused of racism. A formal complaint and investigation is underway but the accusations are absolutely false!  What would you advise?

[heron, ASN, RN]

Crystal-Wings said:

Typical of today's political scene. Everything is racist, sexist, or whatever now a days. 

And every one of those situations is different and merits serious consideration.

Back at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the US, we had a saying: denial is not a river in Egypt.

[trinigrl78]

I am usually a comment reader but I had to respond and know I'll get attacked for this. This is a perspective from someone who actually experiences racism and micro aggressions at work.
Unless you're part of a group that's treated differently at work and in society as a whole. how are you qualified to know what you being done is not biased? Micro aggression are also forms of bias  Many days I've had  where people called me "colored"  or other derogatory terms , asked if I'm the nurses aide when my badge says RN and uniform is the same as the other nurses,  had help withheld when needed the most,  assume English is not my first language, assume you can lift heavy objects without help because "you guys are stronger”; have colleagues touch my hair without permission then say I'm sensitive when I object or assume I don't wash it. Can you imagine working your *** off and ppl assume you "Didn't Earn It" when you're the most educated and most experienced? Nurses deal with this issue very thing every day. the burden of proof you take on when you accuse someone of racism is profound....its not a card to pull out to get ahead.....……it jeopardizes ones credibility, causes trauma if dismissed even when it's true.
Imagine explaining an injury just to have someone who can help say it doesn't exist. 
Just because your intention isn't hurtful doesn't mean the impact of your actions won't be hurtful. 
racism exists research shows people die in hospitals because of it and it hasn't improved for the last 50 yrs.
All in all when someone accuses you of something ask for clarification, examples and be open to discuss why they feel how they feel. 


 

[AquariusRN129, MSN]

The investigation has ended.  We proved that we did not act in any way racist.  We proved our innocence. But our legal fees are still there.  I'm paying them as I can.  It's a shame I was accused of something I didn't do. It cost me thousands of dollars to prove my innocence, because someone is allowed to lie, and nothing happens to that person!  In fact, she's getting a clinical ladder promotion.