How do you describe your co worker?

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jul 17, 2012

This is a good question!! Have you spoken to your nurse manager about this? Highly inappropriate to say the least. I would make an appointment with your nurse manager, sit down with her and explain that you are very uncomfortable with co-workers describing each other via color of skin, that you find it degrading and rude. See what he/she has to say about it, and maybe offer a suggestion to change the behavior (ie: that people who want to talk to a specific nurse wait in the day room for a moment and one will find her and direct them to the day room for talking, as I wouldn't want any random person to be pointed in my direction for a conversation that may have to made in private). In any event, look in your employee handbook about what the policy is, make an appointment with HR if you don't get anywhere with the NM, and point out again what is happening.

I would also not hesitate to say to this co-worker, "I really prefer if you refer to me as 'ohmeowzer' as I think we are all culturally competent enough to keep skin color out of it". Or take the humor route and extend your hand with a "I like to think of myself as sort of peach, but Hi, I am ohmeowzer, and what can I do for you?"

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2012

What if you pointed to her and defined her by the color of her skin?

As to what would happen at my facility? It's never happened because

it's so inappropriate.

We don't even include race when giving report on a pt. We could argue

the good and bad of that, but it works for us.

kcmylorn · Jul 17, 2012

It seems to be common treated we caucasians are getting lately. I had also be getting this from the African American nursing staff. I am in the minority. I came on to the unit, I was new, and said good moring to one woman. I was treated like I wasn't even there, no response back, never acknowledged I spoke or was in the room. Never met this women before in my life. it wasn't until 3 hr later I found out the woman's name. The 35yr old African American RN began to ream me out because I took a break- it's a union shop however break times are part of the state labor laws whether a place is union or not, and it was 1015 already and no break. I asked the non verbal rude person if it was ok if I took my break and "she speaks!" yes This 35yr old RN accused me of a "leaving an old lady sitting in the waiting room" She clearly had not investigated this- that old lady came with an other old lady and a young adult grand son who was the ride for both these old ladies-both old ladies are Hindi, 77and 82 yr old and do not speak english. That old lady was in the waiting room waiting for the other old lady( and the grandson as the interpreter and car driver) to get done with the doctor in the exam room. The 35 yr old RN proceeds to ask me my age and begins to call me "sweetie" I am reporting her to the EEOC, the state dept of labor, state board of nursing( because I think her personal feelings cloud her judgement in taking care of patients- infact I was witness to an occassion when it did) and to her CEO- I have had enough of this racial discrimination and age discrimination.This African American RN just wanted to get a 56 yr white RN fired!!