Disrespected daily by residents

Nurses Relations

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Hello,

I am a 20 year old black female working in a LTC. And ready to give up nursing all together. Almost daily I am called the n-word and other derogatory names by residents. I have had it. I don't know what else to do. These residents do not have dementia.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.

IMHO, racial slurs are simply unacceptable, particularly in an oriented person and no rationalization of using them simply as descriptive term justifies their continued usage. I certainly would not want to work in a facility that allows such behavior, and suggests that you develop a "thick" skin. I'm not sure a rhino has skin thick enough to deflect that sort of hurtful behavior.

In our facility, we not only report such inappropriate behavior to management & HCP's, we also chart the behavior with the exact slur used by the patient to create a legal record of the behavior. This charting has proven invaluable when the patient denies having used the inappropriate language to their families and other caregivers. I imagine it would also be helpful if there was ever a legal need for verification of the patient's behavior.

I wish you the best of luck with your job search...you deserve better.

Specializes in Geriatrics.
Thank you all for your posts. I had a meeting with my nurse manager today and well let's just say im the one who walked out with a write up. For those of you who said I just put up with it and get a tough skin, must not have had to put up with being called racial slurs for most of your life. My mom is white. I have never heard my 85 year old WHITE grandma use derogatory terms like this one. To those of you who said that I should not put up with it anymore, Thankyou. Im beginning my job search now.

EXCUSE ME???? they wrote you up for telling them you don't want to put up with being insulted??? Leave that place NOW! It's not worthy of your time or well being.

(sorry for the caps but this just ticked me off and hit every button on my list)

Specializes in ER.

Make sure they give you a copy of that write up, and show it when you apply for unemployment. We could make a list of people to send copies to...if you're into that.

You might want to frame it. Show it to your kids someday.

hunnie, even though i do feel sorry for you and your daily verbal troubles while you work you must stop and think, majority of these residents grew up in a time when whites and blacks were NOT equal under any circumstance, not only that but even if they werent, many people do not believe blacks and whites SHOULD be equal, your going to come across that no matter if your working with elders in a nursing home or walking down the street. verbal harassment is everywhere, im sure you have had your slurs to other races too, nobody is innocent in that deparment, However if you love nursing at all you will keep it up no matter what life throws at you.

Best of luck whatever you decide

Specializes in Trauma/Tele/Surgery/SICU.

b.randolph are you serious??? You are being called racist and derogatory names at work and YOU got the write-up?!?!?!?!?!?!?

There is NO excuse for anyone to EVER call another person a derogatory name like that. For those of you saying it may just be age and what they are used to are you kidding me???? Unacceptable period and if your employer is not backing you on this well good for you for getting out!!!! Demand respect for yourself. If you ever run into this again you tell whoever is speaking to you like that you will not tolerate it and they must address you appropriately. At my previous job many patients made rude remarks regarding my weight. I always told them I would not accept it and if they continued I would call security.

I am very tired of this customer service mentality. We must be able to set limits. If your manager has no problems with letting residents call you by names like this then let him/her care for those residents.

Well, I KNEW when I left my comment that I would be flamed!

First of all, I never told the OP to have thick skin. That was something that others are throwing into this. What I did say was that it doesn't bother ME to be called names.

Second of all, I was explaining how some of the older generation think (like the example of my grandma who slipped up at times.) We always talk about patient education, sometimes we need education ourselves. The OP stated she was 20 years old. Let's do the math. If she graduated from High School at age 18 she is probably a brand new nurse and this may be her first health care job. So, I don't think that educating someone about what our older population may be thinking is out of line.

And third, for the person who figures I never have gone through anything like this, you are wrong. My son has CP. There are so many uneducated people out there that asked me what I did wrong, if I did drugs while pregnant, told me I should never have any more kids cuz I made him that way through genetics, etc. And that is NOTHING compared to what my son went thru in public school.

But, it's ok, keep flaming. I can take it. I am seldom understood so I'm used to it.

Specializes in Oncology.
I seriously have mixed feelings on this. I think it depends on the context. Are they asking someone for the N***** nurse to come help them? Or are they saying "Hey N*****! Come help me!" If they are being derogatory it is one thing, but if they are saying it because that is the only way they know to describe you to someone else it's another. Sometimes we have to think about the age of these people. My great grandma used to say N*****, then she would sometimes catch herself and say, "Oh, I forgot, we aren't supposed to call them that anymore." It was just really hard to get out of the habbit after 70 years.

I am wondering if any of us are any different? Someone in one of the above posts said something about being gay. Some people would condemn that writer because they are supposed to be called homosexuals, not gay. And what about calling a patient manic depressive instead of bipolar? Or what if your housekeeping department is actually now called the enviromental specialists? How long will it take to get the new words in your head? For some people it takes a while, especially if they have gotten used to it for years and years one way and all of the sudden it has changed.

Heck, I understand that people use descriptive words because they can be ignorant and just don't know any differently. I have been addressed as the fat one, the heavy set nurse, the one with the boy haircut, etc. And seriously, if I were in a predominantly black or mexican environment and they called me "honky," who really cares? To me, being called names means nothing, as long as it is not in a threatening or demeaning context.

So I guess I just think that unless it is said in the wrong context, who cares? Flame away!

Oh PLEASE! African Americans were called these names freely years ago (& still are to this day) but, you cannot sit here and say it only matters when used in a certain context! EITHER way, it is demeaning and WRONG. People that use these words know how hurtful it is, believe me. NO ONE should "slip" and say it. It doesn't matter what the person means by it. Unless they are not in their right mind, they know they shouldn't be using it & any racial slur is WRONG. You can't put it ANY OTHER WAY.

Specializes in FNP.
I seriously have mixed feelings on this. I think it depends on the context. Are they asking someone for the N***** nurse to come help them? Or are they saying "Hey N*****! Come help me!" If they are being derogatory it is one thing, but if they are saying it because that is the only way they know to describe you to someone else it's another. Sometimes we have to think about the age of these people. My great grandma used to say N*****, then she would sometimes catch herself and say, "Oh, I forgot, we aren't supposed to call them that anymore." It was just really hard to get out of the habbit after 70 years.

I am wondering if any of us are any different? Someone in one of the above posts said something about being gay. Some people would condemn that writer because they are supposed to be called homosexuals, not gay. And what about calling a patient manic depressive instead of bipolar? Or what if your housekeeping department is actually now called the enviromental specialists? How long will it take to get the new words in your head? For some people it takes a while, especially if they have gotten used to it for years and years one way and all of the sudden it has changed.

Heck, I understand that people use descriptive words because they can be ignorant and just don't know any differently. I have been addressed as the fat one, the heavy set nurse, the one with the boy haircut, etc. And seriously, if I were in a predominantly black or mexican environment and they called me "honky," who really cares? To me, being called names means nothing, as long as it is not in a threatening or demeaning context.

So I guess I just think that unless it is said in the wrong context, who cares? Flame away!

OMG, what the he!! is wrong with you? And with the people giving kudos to this vile, inexcusable post? That word is unacceptable in any context and the people using it know it. If I were the administrator of that nursing home, I'd kick them to the curb and let them live someplace else. It is hate speech and should not be tolerated. OP, raise a stink. Do not let this stand.

signed, lilly white linear thinker of the 21st century

Specializes in FNP.
Thank you all for your posts. I had a meeting with my nurse manager today and well let's just say im the one who walked out with a write up. For those of you who said I just put up with it and get a tough skin, must not have had to put up with being called racial slurs for most of your life. My mom is white. I have never heard my 85 year old WHITE grandma use derogatory terms like this one. To those of you who said that I should not put up with it anymore, Thankyou. Im beginning my job search now.

Are you saying you were disciplined for requesting that management step in and intervene in cases of hate speech and verbal assault? Honey, my husband is a top litigation attorney sitting here next to me saying you are a future owner of 1/2 of that facility, and your attorney will own 1/4. If you hire a good one. He suggests you call the local branch of the ACLU for a recommendation for a civil rights litigator. You are a protected minority, this is black letter law and you have an iron clad case. You can't stop the patients from being racist pigs, there is (unfortunately) no law against that. Check out Faragher vs. City of Boca Raton and Ellerth vs. Burlington Industries. Your company and the individual managers are all liable, even if they themselves never utter an offensive word. The US Supreme court has ruled they have a duty to stop it. I suggest you find a loquacious attorney to make them aware of this, promptly. :lol2: The best part is, you don't have to prove a thing. The majority opinion reads: "whether a reasonable person, in the same or similar circumstances, could find the conduct offensive."

I'd still find a new job though, they don't deserve you. But do sue their @sses off please.

I know but I believe tha5t a pt teaching regarding racial epitaphs is in order they will not be tolerated and should not be used and document and have a witness with u when dealing with difficult I find u should hqave another pe4rson with u if at all possible and redirect the pt as much as possible

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