I need your opinion

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in 23 years of critical care.

I have been put on administrative leave because a pharmacist sent an email to HR stating I made derogatory comment about Koreans. He asked me to make a gestimate about a patient's height. Using what knowledge I knew about the patient, I said the man is korean and is short stature. This pharmacist thought this was derogatory. So I have been put on leave without giving my side of the story. I would like to know other's opinion if they think this is derogatory.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Doctors put racial information in H&Ps all the time where I work. What you said sounded as if it was meant to be descriptive. Obviously the pharmacist is extremely sensitive, politically correct wise, but I don't see how your statement should cause this level of response from management.

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Doctors put racial information in H&Ps all the time where I work. What you said sounded as if it was meant to be descriptive. Obviously the pharmacist is extremely sensitive, politically correct wise, but I don't see how your statement should cause this level of response from management.
I agree to a point. I'd like to know exactly what was said... "he's a 5'6" Korean" or something like, "well... he's Korean so he must be short. I'd guess 5'6""

I'm just thinking back on all the times I've been asked a patient's height, and I can't remember a time that their ethnicity was part of the equation.

I'm a little confused as to why the OP felt it was necessary to include that info, not that it's in and of itself 'derogatory'.

However, to put someone on leave without getting both sides of the story is a bit much, IMO.

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from your side of the story, it sounds overboard.

but i can't help think there has to be a missing piece.

leslie

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
from your side of the story, it sounds overboard.

but i can't help think there has to be a missing piece.

leslie

Could be. Exactly what did you say, nightingale? Was it a tone of voice thing? Have you had other problems with this sort of thing? Why did you mention his ethnicity?

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I agree to a point. I'd like to know exactly what was said... "he's a 5'6" Korean" or something like, "well... he's Korean so he must be short. I'd guess 5'6""

I'm just thinking back on all the times I've been asked a patient's height, and I can't remember a time that their ethnicity was part of the equation.

I'm a little confused as to why the OP felt it was necessary to include that info, not that it's in and of itself 'derogatory'.

However, to put someone on leave without getting both sides of the story is a bit much, IMO.

Good points. The only reason I could see is if the OP had been counseled about making comments or unnecessary referances to ethnicity in the past.

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Specializes in 23 years of critical care.

I think certain ethnic cultures have particular characteristics. Asians have black hair and almond shaped eyes. THus,in trying to guess a height I know that Koreans are short statured. The average height is 5ft 6 to 5ft 8in. An American average height is 5 ft 10 in. for a male. That is why I made the comment.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

If it's as simple as you describe it's hard to understand the extreme response. I guess you have to be super careful about this sort of stuff, some people are very easily offended.

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Specializes in 23 years of critical care.

I have never been counseled before. I have always had execellent evaluations. I have been working at this hospital for thiry years. The other part to the story is the Pharmacist is 5 ft 7 in and thinks this is tall. He kept saying I am tall! I told him I am 5 ft 9in female and that 5 ft 7 in is shorter than me.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I have never been counseled before. I have always had execellent evaluations. I have been working at this hospital for thiry years. The other part to the story is the Pharmacist is 5 ft 7 in and thinks this is tall. He kept saying I am tall! I told him I am 5 ft 9in female and that 5 ft 7 in is shorter than me.

Sounds to me like the pharmacist is insecure. Is he Asian? Next time just give him a number. Obviously he was highly offended.

I've heard some hospitals like to look for any excuse to get rid of their higher paid staff. You say you've been there for 30 years? Do you have a union?

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maybe you'll have to eat some crow and apologize...

simply stating, it was never my intent to offend anyone.

best of luck.

leslie

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
maybe you'll have to eat some crow and apologize...

simply stating, it was never my intent to offend anyone.

best of luck.

leslie

:yeahthat:

This is excellent advise. That's what I would do. Obviously the man was offended, just apologize and avoid discussing anything but the bare facts with him in the future. No more conversations about height!!!

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