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.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

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.

To play devil's advocate on this....I have seen guys ask for a male caregiver to help them use the urinal, and I totally understand why a male might be more comfortable with a man helping them in that situation. However, suppose it is a blanket statement demanding a male nurse. Again, that may be due to being more comfortable with the male nurse. What if that the pt asks for a male nurse and then says something disparaging to women and questions the intellect of females in general. At that point do you refuse to acquiesce to his demand? Just curious as to where that line is drawn. This is a hot button topic, with no real "right" answer; interested to hear others' thoughts on the subject.

[CocoBug20]

Uh, there is a big difference between being a racist jerk and trying to follow your religious convictions, I'd say. A Muslim woman wouldn't refuse your care because she considered you inherently a secondary human being, she would do it either because she was uncomfortable with a male caregiver or because her religious convictions required she only show a certain amount of skin in front of men who are strange to her. Not because you as a male human are unfit for the royal office of providing her medical assistance! I'm surprised sixteen people liked this unworthy comment without seeing the difference.

[AJJKRN]

Uh, there is a big difference between being a racist jerk and trying to follow your religious convictions, I'd say. A Muslim woman wouldn't refuse your care because she considered you inherently a secondary human being, she would do it either because she was uncomfortable with a male caregiver or because her religious convictions required she only show a certain amount of skin in front of men who are strange to her. Not because you as a male human are unfit for the royal office of providing her medical assistance! I'm surprised sixteen people liked this unworthy comment without seeing the difference.

You may want to go back and reread the comment...it was "liked" so much because of the sarcastic twist that the OP added about being able to sue for being a male and being "discriminated" against...

At least I think this is the post you're referring to except the post you're referring wasn't quoted...you may have underlying "unworthy" reading comprehension that doesn't allow you to "see the difference"...

Disclaimer: I personally only know how to quote only one discussion post at a time :-)!

[nursel56]

I just read the complaint and noticed a couple of things that I haven't seen in prior discussions here that might have played into the nurse's decision to file the lawsuit. The first thing was that there were two patients in the room. One of them said she didn't want a black b---- taking care of her. The manager spoke to the complaining patient and assured her that she wouldn't even have to see Nurse Williams in the room again, even to take care of the patient who didn't complain.

The manager didn't reassign the patients, she just required Nurse Williams to inform a designated white nurse if either of her patients needed something. Nurse Williams was required to give report on these patients for the oncoming shift, even though she felt her standard of care was diminished as a result of the delay in time it took for her to go find the white nurse and inform her of the need or request.

Not sure of all the legalities here, but I can see why these factors may have precipitated her final decision.

[debirn918]

I recently had surgery in a facility I have worked in for 40 years. I am also an instructor in the local nursing program. I asked for females only to care for me, due to the type of surgery I was having. In addition, I have male relatives working in the OR and felt uncomfortable having them present. This had nothing to do with clinical expertise, they are excellent in their roles. If the only available gender was male, I would have gladly asked them to care for me. This was just my personal experience. I have no issues with race. What I want is someone who is knowledgeable and can take appropriate care of me.

[Kratoswife]

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

Oh please! Stop comparing religion to racism.

[Kratoswife]

Why would anyone fight for the right to take care of hateful bigot? Isn't that a bit over the top?

Black people are a minority in this country.

There are many racist people in this country, if they listen to every racist request. Most Black people would be out of a job.

That's why I don't comment too much on here. The level of empathy some people have for minorities is very low on this site.

[Kratoswife]

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.

Ugh! Most nurses wouldn't last a year being a Black person in a racist state.

[Guest219794]

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.

Does this refer only to hospitals? If so, shouldn't it also to any organization or business that is in the business of customer satisfaction?

Bubba goes to a restaurant. Bubba doesn't want any minorities handling his food. Anybody here honoring Bubba's wishes?

[Wuzzie]

Black people are a minority in this country.

There are many racist people in this country, if they listen to every racist request. Most Black people would be out of a job.

That's why I don't comment too much on here. The level of empathy some people have for minorities is very low on this site.

You don't know me. You don't know my level of empathy. You don't know my circumstances. I'll thank you not to associate a quote from me with your assessment of this site.

If I was in charge and a patient made such a request I would ask the nurse what they wanted to do. If they chose not to care for the patient I would honor THEIR request and I certainly wouldn't choose to put another nurse in that same situation. To do so would expose them to the risk of being reported to the BON for some trumped up complaint and I'm not willing to do that to one of my peers. I prefer to assume good intent and think that most of us, including the manager in this situation, would do the same in the best interest of the nurse not the patient. I would most certainly not be pandering to a bigot and resent your implication.

Furthermore this nurse's job was not at risk. She wasn't sent home without pay. She wasn't reprimanded or put on some sort of work improvement plan. She wasn't given a terrible assignment instead. She was removed from the responsibility of caring for a jerk. It's clear, as more details came to light, that the situation could have been handled in a more sensitive manner but I still am mystified as to why this has risen to the level of a lawsuit against the hospital.

[Kratoswife]

You don't know me. You don't know my level of empathy. You don't know my circumstances. I'll thank you not to associate a quote from me with your assessment of this site.

If I was in charge and a patient made such a request I would ask the nurse what they wanted to do. If they chose not to care for the patient I would honor THEIR request and I certainly wouldn't choose to put another nurse in that same situation. To do so would expose them to the risk of being reported to the BON for some trumped up complaint and I'm not willing to do that to one of my peers. I prefer to assume good intent and think that most of us, including the manager in this situation, would do the same in the best interest of the nurse not the patient. I would most certainly not be pandering to a bigot and resent your implication.

Furthermore this nurse's job was not at risk. She wasn't sent home without pay. She wasn't reprimanded or put on some sort of work improvement plan. She wasn't given a terrible assignment instead. She was removed from the responsibility of caring for a jerk. It's clear, as more details came to light, that the situation could have been handled in a more sensitive manner but I still am mystified as to why this has risen to the level of a lawsuit against the hospital.

I Know that you're speaking from a place of privilege.

Please don't quote me any longer! Will be considered harassment.

Let's focus on the subject. No personal attacks.

Have a blessed day!

I'm glad the nurse sued! I hope she wins big time!

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

Oh please! Stop comparing religion to racism.

Ok...

So what if that same Muslim family said I dont want a Jew taking care of my family. Is that ok then because Jewish is a religion...