Patients and the race card

Nurses Relations

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I am a fairly new nurse and many of my co-workers have run into situations where a patient pulls the race card on them. This has not yet happened to me, but I'm sure with time it will.

Just wondering how others have handled this type of situation and how patients have reacted.

Thanks!

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Two whole people from ? Well geez I guess that's enough data for us to reach a consensus on the issue. Next, it just so happens that every member of OTHER minority groups thinks your NICU is wonderful except those welfare druggies from . Wow, you've had quite a few people through your NICU considering that 25% or roughly 78-80 million people in the U.S.A are minorities. What's your nurse to patient ratio?

OP, how about accepting that most people have their prejudices, let it roll of your back like every other insult that nurses have to take at times, and focus on doing your job? I've been the recipient of non-minority patients from trying to pull the "race card" on me as well by claiming reverse discrimination because I work in an area with a high minority population and am a member of a . In general addicts are manipulative to the max and will use any weapon they have in their orificenal to deflect and distract from their behavior. Know how I handled it? I said uh that's not true and let's focus on the matter at hand here which is me YOUR NURSE providing YOU THE PATIENT with care...next. :uhoh3:

How about minority groups, regardless of what they are, focusing on who they are and their behavior rather than their race?

The most successful, minority role models we have in America, never let their race/background, interfere with their success in life.

It makes no difference to me who they are....so why does it make such a difference to them?

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How about minority groups, regardless of what they are, focusing on who they are and their behavior rather than their race?

The most successful, minority role models we have in America, never let their race/background, interfere with their success in life.

It makes no difference to me who they are....so why does it make such a difference to them?

Most successful?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

Well I don't know about any race card, but there really are some racist nurses which I have yet to see anyone admit. First thing we need to do as a profession is call those people out and acknowledge they exist and quit acting so darned surprised when patients are suspicious. I'm also not buying the claims of some folks that they can put their negative perceptions aside and treat the patients fairly. I've seen some of these nurses in action.

Secondly, I urge the OP not to adapt the attitudes of your co-workers and simply treat each patient as an individual and treat them all equally. You are not obligated to believe as they believe. Just because they are experienced, does not mean they are wiser.

And finally, I'm betting many of us have been on the receiving end of false accusations for one thing another during our careers. It's infuriating but remember that often perceptions can differ on the other side and they can be especially distorted when you are afraid/anxious/in pain.

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There was a lady in front of me in the grocery store line tonight. It was really busy and there were only a few lanes open. She was next and had started putting her items on the belt. The lane next to us opened up and told me I could come over there since I was next in line. The woman in front of me started yelling out that she was being discriminated against because of her race. She said that the manager wouldn't open up a checkout lane for anyone of her race, they waited until it was too late for her to go over there. The manager and the clerk were both the same race as the irate customer. Needless to say, the lady ended up leaving with nothing as she was escorted out for her behavior. Nothing they tried would satisfy her.

I read the OP's original post to refer to situations like the one above except for in the health care setting.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Lets all grab our pitchforks and torches and throw her/him to the wolves! Sheesh, some of you people take 'The Internets' far too seriously. Notice how this topic snowballed before the OP had time to clarify. Retract the claws people!

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Specializes in ER.
Why did you identify the race of the black woman but not the pastor?

likely because identification of either race of the pastor or the woman is not the issue, the issue is abortion and being prolife or prochoice. Not race.

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Specializes in ER.
For some reason this discussion has reminded me of this picture:

151_notgointomakeit7ok__600_x_700.jpg

I've never come across behavious like this in any patient here except the unemployed, non-tax paying ignorant white British moron who rants on about "the foreigners being treated before the tax payer". Oh, once we had somebodies daughter complain because her mother was being treated "next to" a black person, but we got her escorted out of the unit for causing a scene. Her mother was a lovely, confused lady with dementia who couldn't care less who was she sat next to and didn't know about it anyway.

that picture is so funny. I saw that years ago.... I can't believe you posted that picture! haaaaa!!! to that patient on that stretcher: Good luck, man!!!

Haaaaaa!!! Love what photoshopping can do to pics.

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Specializes in ER.
Most successful?

think Condoleeza Rice. She did a great job, quietly focusing on the task at hand. She didn't engage in jibber jabber or field stupid questions. She was professional in her interactions. I think this is more the poster's idea of "successful", if I may say so. No Kanye moment for her.

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Specializes in ER.
There was a lady in front of me in the grocery store line tonight. It was really busy and there were only a few lanes open. She was next and had started putting her items on the belt. The lane next to us opened up and told me I could come over there since I was next in line. The woman in front of me started yelling out that she was being discriminated against because of her race. She said that the manager wouldn't open up a checkout lane for anyone of her race, they waited until it was too late for her to go over there. The manager and the clerk were both the same race as the irate customer. Needless to say, the lady ended up leaving with nothing as she was escorted out for her behavior. Nothing they tried would satisfy her.

I read the OP's original post to refer to situations like the one above except for in the health care setting.

acting like that, she was probably a frequent flyer of my ER. Any ER. :lol2: ETOH, drugs, psychiatric issues... those are the only really plausible reasons for that kind of behavior. From anyone.

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Specializes in ER.
You know it is really not fair to target "southern" people to imply that they are all judgemental or racist. As I stated in my earlier post, there will ALWAYS be these type of people and surely they don't all live toward the southern end! ;)[/quote']

I have lived in every region of the US, and though every place has its issues, the south was the only place where separation of race was such a finite line. Much was defined by it. It was truly bizarre. Pretty backwards. It seemed to be more of a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. How it had always been, so it will always be. It's like the civil rights movement was missed in this particular area. I know there are many areas out there like this... it's just very weird in this day and age, so to go into areas like this and experience that is uncomfortable.

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The OP asked what she should do in a situation like that and my point was that nurses have to deal with people from all walks of life and there will always be people who have prejudices. Are you there to bring them into the 21st century or give them nursing care? Why is this issue any different than a minority LTC nurse who has to take care of a white patient who was born in 1925, is still alert and oriented x3 but still insists on calling you a maid or even worse? You deal with it, give them the care they need, and move on.

No need to make platitudes about entire minority groups based on your observations of what some people who happen to be a part of a minority group do. Regardless of whether they genuinely feel this way or want to manipulate you as long as you don't provide substandard care then do what you have to do and get over it.

That's what I've done when I've encountered patients who've tried to play the "race card" whatever that means. I do my job, document thoroughly, and MOVE on.

How about minority groups, regardless of what they are, focusing on who they are and their behavior rather than their race?

The most successful, minority role models we have in America, never let their race/background, interfere with their success in life.

It makes no difference to me who they are....so why does it make such a difference to them?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ER.

First, agree with everyone who says treat everyone with respect and dignity and even if you are accused of racism, you will move on with a clear heart.

That being said, had one psych guy, who visited our ER 3-4 times a week, insist that he didn't want "that gringa" taking care of him... um, that would be me .

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