Michigan hospital sued after honoring woman's request for "white nurse only"

[klone]

3rd Michigan hospital faces suit alleging it honored patient request for care only by white nurses

In the lawsuit, Teoka Williams, RN, alleges that on Oct. 2 she heard a patient say she did not want any black caregivers. Ms. Williams says she told the clinical manager, who then spoke to the patient. The clinical manager then reportedly told Ms. Williams not to enter the patient's room or care for her. A white nurse was asked to care for the patient.

Ms. Williams also alleges that she told the human resources department about the incident and was told "patient requests are honored all the time and that the next time it happened, she would be taken off the assignment altogether," News 5 Cleveland reports.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

So now as a male RN I can sue when a Muslim family only wants a female nurse? Same difference.

Yep. That sword cuts both ways....

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

I agree that we should always try to accommodate the patient's request but I think we can all see where this might go, and it isn't good. Hospitals are already accommodating way too much. This will just add one more layer of entitlement to patient demands. (Middle of shift and now you have to change patients because of this/that) I don't have a problem with either nurse or patient asking for accommodation but it should not be expected to always happen. Sometimes you just gotta suck it up. I have had both nurses ask for change of pt, and pt ask for change of nurse, sometimes you can and sometimes you cant, that's life. I still am unclear why this nurse sued.

Yes. Me? Personally, I would much rather have a nurse of a different race if that nurse has more experience in handling my particular needs, than a nurse of my own color who isn't. We are all the same color underneath, but expertise is more important to me than color.

God loves all of us black, white, or purple with pink polka dots!!

[Daisy4RN]

So far, I've not personally witnessed a patient refusing care from a staff member based on race. What I have seen is patients being difficult or outright abusive to staff members based on race. In those cases, I have tried to avoid having POC be assigned to the patient because I don't want my colleagues to have to deal with that.

In one case, it was my patient, but the aide was enduring racist remarks every time she entered the room. I told her she didn't need to go back in, to let me do the next round of vitals, and I'd answer the call bell. I made sure charge knew the issue so hopefully the next shift's assignment would not have black caregivers assigned. It was halfway through the shift, and I had the time to pick up the CNA duties for that patient, though I realize there are cases where the assignment would have to be redrawn.

I've also seen it with patients wanting an "American" nurse - usually when the nurse was of Asian origin. We have quite a few nurses educated in the Philippines, and they're mostly senior and fantastic nurses. Clearly, they have experience dealing with patients who are difficult, but don't outright fire them, because they respond with professionalism and grace. But it blows my mind that a patient would prefer me because of my perceived "American-ness" over a nurse with a hell of a lot more experience. Usually if I see that at shift change, I'll pass it on to charge. I figure if we tell charge about other issues that can affect the assignment, giving a heads-up about a racist patient/family member is a legitimate factor to consider.

I have seen out right racist people also, I had the same experience with a patient using racist remarks to a CNA, no excuse for this!!

I have also had patients ask for an "American" nurse and come to find out it's not because they are racist its because they have a hard time understanding the accent, and if they are a little HOH to begin with its even worse.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

This just happened the other night, I got report on a patient and then another nurse came into the huddle area and announced that the patient should have a male nurse. I asked why, (and if it had be a religious/cultural thing I would have accommodated), but the nurse said "he says women are beneath him". Oh heck, no, we're not playing that game. I kept that assignment, answered all his ridiculous "quiz" questions to test my competence and in the morning he actually thanked me for being a good nurse. Not pandering to that stuff, we are all providing competent care, suck it up, buttercup.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

These days you can sue for anything,does not mean it will hold.I have seen requests for all nationalities ,body shape,"dont want that fat Yankee",doctor preference,I only like this or that doctor, blah blah blah....

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Wait for the Hcap or press ganey review and then see if he still likes you.

[Neats, BSN]

I am so tired of hearing about the color of someone's skin. I grew up in Canada and when I first saw a black person I was maybe 8-10 years old. They were walking down the street in Whitehorse, I asked my dad how that person with frostbite could walk...my father's quick reply was they do not have frost but they just have different skin pigmentation than you. I remember looking at several of my big moles on my arms and thinking I must be part black too. Made sense to me and I thought that for several years.

A patient should have the choice who they want to take care of them. Its not just your appearance of your skin pigmentation but can be female verses male or young verse old. Heck I had one patient who stated she did not want that "Southerner" taking care of my Yankee butt. I would always try to abide by my patient wishes. I am not their thought police nor do I want to get into the political "correctness" of how my patient should act, I am still going to provide the nursing care they need. I will remain as unbiased as possible because when it comes down to Anatomy and Physiology we are all too similar and color, age, male/female it just does not matter we are trained to take care of us all.

[broughden]

So now as a male RN I can sue when a Muslim family only wants a female nurse? Same difference.

No not nearly the same.

In one case you are respectfully honoring the religious culture of a patient and family.

In the other you are giving in to the demands of a racist bigot.

Frankly while I feel we should honor patient's wishes to the extent possible, I dont think we should be placating racists and bigots.

[Wuzzie]

No not nearly the same.

In one case you are respectfully honoring the religious culture of a patient and family.

In the other you are giving in to the demands of a racist bigot.

Frankly while I feel we should honor patient's wishes to the extent possible, I dont think we should be placating racists and bigots.

That may be true but is it fair to make a nurse take care of an openly hostile patient on principle?

[withme]

If a patient declines my care, I would celebrate it. One down, move on to the next one.

My mother-in-law has that kind of attitude. I told her she needs to be prepared because there are not many white CNAs/caregivers in our demographic area and white nurses, yes, there are many of them. And I said, "I'll find a white caregiver. Your son!"

[withme]

I don't know where to put my finger on this.

Some black patients refused black caregivers.

Some white patients refused black caregivers.

Some Filipinos refused Filipino caregivers.

Some white females refused male caregivers.

And the list goes on.

But this incident wasn't a frequent occurrence.

I had one refusal (from a Hispanic patient) because I looked like a high school student. Told my nurse I was a nina.

[Wannabenurseneko]

Honestly, I wouldn't want to deal with the racist person, if they want the white nurse let them have the white nurse. I have cared for racist folks in the past, and I would consider it a pleasure not to have to deal with them. I do wish I had the option to refuse care for racist patients ,but too bad I don't have that option. As I learned to just grin and bare it.