Do You judge and treat patients differently depending on who they are ?

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The reason I asked this question is because we had an inservice at my job and they told us in so many ways nurses can show prejudices towards patients based on this. Does this happen with us not knowing what we are doing. Can you assume you know about a person based on their name ? Is this ethical ?

We are "scripted." Judgement or prejudice doesn't come into the phrase, "is there anything else I can do for you? I have the time..." LOL

Seriously, there have been one or two patients over 20 years that I would trade for any other two, because they made the hair on the back of my neck stand up... Wasn't racial, or religious, or age-based, they just affected me that way... Mostly, I try to be kind, supportive, and professional with all my patients..

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Sometimes we can hurt or be cruel to a patient without even knowing it. All patients should be treated the same. In this work you have to have patience. Years ago in our culture class they made all the students go into the inner cities and work with people they felt uncomfortable with. I think that was a good experience.

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No, all patients should not be treated "the same". If youre really in tune with other cultures, you realize that different cultures communicate and interact differently. Black people usually appreciate a more "real" and honest approach. Many white people prefer more of a distanced or formal approach. Of course we treat different patients differently. Heck, sometimes that's the "culturally sensitive" thing to do.

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Yes in a kind manner and not yelling at someone because one do not like them based on personal issues. We had a nurse that yelled at a hispanic patient because she said it was a culture barrier problem and she felt that she was less that her. It is sad, but that does happen more than we think.

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Do you judge?

I'm not a nurse yet, but I really hope I don't.

When I was a teenager I accompanied my father to his VA Hospital. There were lots of ex-soldiers there, all of them in different states of both physical and mental disrepair. There was one man there, homeless, half-crazy, wearing fatigues from many years ago. He was dirty, he smelled bad and had some sort of crusty funk on his hands and feet that the attending nurse appeared too squeamish to touch, talk about, or otherwise deal with.

I hope someday I can be on the side she was on, in a place like that. And I really hope that I can welcome someone like that soldier into my care and treat them like a real human being even if nobody else would. That I would look past color of skin, malady or hygiene and help. Listen to their stories. Heal their wounds. Give them any amount of hope that I can.

I hope. Everyone is subject to prejudice, and I'm no exception. But, I really want to make a difference for those who need it most.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

The answer is not intentionally! I give everyone the same level of care I would give my own family. Who would knowingly give different treatment based on something like ethnicity or culture?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Yes, we all judge. I know I have. But, I have enough insight to recognize when I am guilty of prejudice, and remind myself that I need to have compassion and empathy. We don't have to like everyone, or agree with their choices. However, as nurses we should always keep in mind this: We really have no idea what factors contributed to the state that person is in. Sure, you can read a medical history, but that's only a glimpse.

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Specializes in trying to figure it out.

I try, try, try NOT to judge. If those thoughts cross my mind. I put the judgements away in a little "box in my brain" and lock it up. I proceed into Nurse mode and do my job regardless. I took a pledge to care for the sick and wounded. I don't remember a clause in that pledge that said "only under these conditions" to care for them.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
I'm not a nurse yet, but I really hope I don't.

When I was a teenager I accompanied my father to his VA Hospital. There were lots of ex-soldiers there, all of them in different states of both physical and mental disrepair. There was one man there, homeless, half-crazy, wearing fatigues from many years ago. He was dirty, he smelled bad and had some sort of crusty funk on his hands and feet that the attending nurse appeared too squeamish to touch, talk about, or otherwise deal with.

I hope someday I can be on the side she was on, in a place like that. And I really hope that I can welcome someone like that soldier into my care and treat them like a real human being even if nobody else would. That I would look past color of skin, malady or hygiene and help. Listen to their stories. Heal their wounds. Give them any amount of hope that I can.

I hope. Everyone is subject to prejudice, and I'm no exception. But, I really want to make a difference for those who need it most.

I wouldn't touch someone like that without gloves for my own safety and other patients' safety and I don't think that makes me a bad nurse. And I think that's gross. I do hope someone gave the guy a shower. You can dislike a patient or be grossed out by something the patient has done or has and still give them good care.

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Specializes in nursing education.

Being able to turn off prejudices is a learned skill and one that can be developed. (I love working with "my patients," the so-called "noncompliant diabetics;" it's a learned skill!! If I didn't love it I would do something else.)

I have worked with nurses and staff that cannot do this and it leads them to bad attitudes -- then it is time to leave and go work elsewhere. Unfortunately I can't make anyone leave....wish I could !!

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Of course we judge people and treat them differently.

Today I got handed over about a lady who was yelling and screaming with "abdo pain". Yet refusing anti emetics and analgesia. Italian lady who was in the country for 50 years minimal english all her adult kids present demanding a bed pan. She got the abrupt nurse who doesn't like what we call "Mediterranean syndrome".And supervised to the toilet and told to ring the bell when she was done. Bed pan my eyeball!

The next patient i dealt with was a dying man and his family, they got the compassionate nurse who explained things to ease their fears boxes of tissues and cups of tea.

The next lady was a Greek lady who had a parathyroidectomy a few days ago but her calcium is still really high. She is having multiple investigations done. She and her family got the honest nurse - yes we may need more surgery but we are not sure what is going on at the moment. I asked the surgeon to come up and speak to her family as they were very worried.

I then racially profiled a group of visitors that appeared on my ward looking for a patient. I knew that he was not on my ward because they were Ethipoian. I found the pt on the computer on the ward next door but they didn't speak any English (they had showed me his passport to give the name!!). I walked then over to the next ward and showed them where their loved one was.

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Specializes in PCU.

I think we all have preconceived notions and mores and tend to judge, especially if we are not aware we are doing it. I try very hard to be aware of how I feel and try to leave it at the door. Once I am in uniform and on the clock, it is all about the patient. They may be rude, mean, whatever, but at the end of the day, one is there to take care of them. We are protectors, advocates, educators...we cannot be any of these things if we allow our personal opinions to color how we treat our patients. It is hard, but with a little determination, I think we can do what we must.

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