What in the world are we supposed to do when a patient makes it known that they "don't want any nurses of color taking care of them"?
There was a patient on my unit last week who mentioned this (I have no idea who she told this to, administration, the doctors, I have no idea who she notified). She was in her 20s and was not on the unit for mental illness issues at all, she had an OBGYN related surgery and was not under any sedative medications, she was able-bodied with full mental capacity! Thank goodness for the patient none of the nurses (all of whom but 2 out of 50-something nurses are people of color) knew about this patient's odd request until she was discharged from the hospital.
What I really wanted to do and say were unprofessional. What are we supposed to do when someone comes to hospital with this request?
I have seen the opposite problem! We had an African American woman request an AA nurse. Actually, what she said was "I'm sick of lookin at white people, give me a black nurse!". we just had to tell her sorry, there weren't any working that shift!
Actually, it is the very same problem, same prejudice, just a different racial preference.
I remember awhile ago in the news it was popular to use the phrase "reverse racism" when talking about a black person who was making inappropriate racial remarks and judgments about a white person. Thankfully the phrase passed out of vogue, as there's nothing "reverse" about it: racism is racism, when you put YOUR race as superior to MINE, and MY race is automatically inferior because it is not YOURS.
I remember awhile ago in the news it was popular to use the phrase "reverse racism" when talking about a black person who was making inappropriate racial remarks and judgments about a white person. Thankfully the phrase passed out of vogue, as there's nothing "reverse" about it: racism is racism, when you put YOUR race as superior to MINE, and MY race is automatically inferior because it is not YOURS.
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
Bigots definitely come in all varieties.
I think I shared this earlier in the thread, but I've had a few older white black ladies as patients who preferred white caregivers. I never understood it, and a few of the black nurses and techs found it insulting, as I would have.
I think I shared this earlier in the thread, but I've had a few older white black ladies as patients who preferred white caregivers. I never understood it, and a few of the black nurses and techs found it insulting, as I would have.
I know I'm tired, but I'm pretty sure a 'white black lady' would be gray?
People should not discriminate!! They should be glad to have caring people to take care of them or their family members. I have been in the nursing field long enough to know that their are good black nurses and good white nurses!! Color has nothing to do with CARE!! All i can say is they better hope that their nurse is there for MORE than just a PAY CHECK!!! Enough said!!
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Situation 1-1981, Sun City AZ: I am American of Mexican descent, (as George Lopez says, an American Mexican)!! White patient asks me as I introduce myself at start of shift where I am from. "New Mexico" to which she must only hear, "Mexico", I correct her and explain it is the state next to AZ, next she asks where my mother was born, "California!", next where was my father born, "Mexico". She tells me that I "speak GOOD ENGLISH, Yes I speak English well I reply. I leave, the call light goes on, another nurse answers call light only to be called, Darkie (she is of East Indian descent)you and that other darkie that was just here I don't want you in my room. I return to the room and say to her, "my oldest brother was born in Mexico, but 2 years ago when we buried him, his coffin was covered with an American flag. He was a Marine and he died for this country." A little while later, while the charge nurse was changing assignments to accomodate the bigot, the resp therapist entered the room before I could stop him (he was mixed white/black race) and the patient lit into him with racial slurs. I have never forgotten how this patient made me feel.
Situation 2, Southwest NM, I am teaching nursing in clinical in the ICU, Spanish speaking only patient is refusing my white English only student. I intervene & ask her to please reconsider and let my student figure out how she will care for patients when she can not speak their language, she agrees & by the end of the day with gestures/pictures they are both smiling/laughing. Not sure if patient is also a racist but could not pass the opportunity to change perception.
Situation 3-approx 1985, Phoenix AZ. I work as agency nurse at one of the big teaching hospital. One day, during report, the Charge Nurse & I are listening to report on the cassette recorder when a white cna from float pool comes in. We finish report and she asks us, "where are the nurses?" (OK, I am Mexican/American, Charge RN is Black), Well I said, "The nurses? You are looking at them." I handed her the clipboard and told her, " you need to get started with vitals." Later, I did sit & chat with her and asked her why she assummed that we (RNs ) were not nurses but cnas? It was after all on our name tags. There are lots of Mexican/American RNs in Phoenix. Well I have been mistaken for the housekeeper/cna a few times. Stereotypes!!
I am a nurse of color and I wouldn t care. Just honar the request. I had a patient refuse care from me because she felt I was too young. She also stated I listened to her lungs while she was on the phone......***** I was baffled by this but life goes on.
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
I'm a black female and would prefer that the racists be accommodated. I've been there and done that.
With normal patients and a schizo who would always go off on rants about 'colored' people and 'n---er' babues.
LOL
The schizo, I can understand. The average joes?
Ran across another lady who had an issue with whites and she said some awful things about white people, too.
I told her, in so many words, to hush up. That 'the language' wasn't 'tolerated'.
SMH
Way I see it? Heck, if they don't want to work with you/me? Fine.
Get them someone else. Whatever.
I can put personal feelings aside and do my job, but people like that tend to be a 'problem'. They tend to behave badly and treat you horribly. I'm in the medical field and I like to help. I won't be treated as a subhuman and spoken to any old kind of way. I'm sorry.
One of my charge RNs was still trying to render care after being called a n---er to her face.
The n--er thing doesn't bother me. No.
It doesn't hurt my feelings. This whole 'race' thing is just old, played out and stupid. I don't care. It just absolutely ticks me off that folks in such a vulnerable position would literally spit on those who try to help them, regardless.
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CrazierThanYou
1,917 Posts
TeeHee