"No nurses of color....."

[Queen2u]

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?

[Merlyn]

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 been told by more then one "Person of Color" that they didn't want 'No white MF taking care of them.' were they bigots? Oh, Dear.

[leslie :-D]

while i love the no tolerance policies some hold, you do have to wonder if forcing the issue and ignoring their request, will result in an undesirable outcome.

for example, precisely what dazglue shared re false abuse charges.

i could definitely see something like that happening.

so while i would love to tell the biased pt "tough luck", there are others to be considered and we need to look out for potential harm that may be caused.

in the end, i would try to get another nurse if available.

leslie

[leslie :-D]

I have been told by more then one "Person of Color" that they didn't want 'No white MF taking care of them.' were they bigots? Oh, Dear.

i don't think it makes a difference as to who said what.

the bottom line is, do we accommodate the bigots, or not?

leslie

[rnlately]

I am a nurse of color as well and "in-charge" so of course I have to always speak to the patient when someone makes a request like this. However, if it's not possible, then it's not possible. But I would rather pass the patient on to someone else if I can because I would rather not deal with that. I respect patients for being upfront about their differences, what I don't like is the patient that lied on me claiming abuse when what they REALLY meant was they did not want a black nurse.

I'd rather be assigned another patient also because I have been lied on simply because of the color of my skin. Patient stated that I'd never been in her room. Luckily for me I wear a locator, my coworkers/charge sided with me because they know my work habits, and the patient's mother isn't a liar like she is. Yes please save me the hassle of having to deal with ignorance because there's definitely a patient on the floor that would appreciate my care if you don't.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

Personally, I think changing assignments to satisfy the needs of a person like this is ridiculous. Why should we scramble around for people like that? It's like rewarding a toddler for bad behavior. I've actually had a teenager say "I don't want no BLACK nurse taking care of me!" Know what I said? I laughed and said, "You don't have to like me. You have cancer. You feel horrible. You don't want me taking care of you, but I will because it's my job and I still care. Just close your eyes and pretend I'm white whenever I'm in the room." This was after he refused to take his zofran from my "black hands" and was puking his guts out. I documented everything and told my managers. Now if I end up with him, he doesn't say a peep to me.

Out of our staff, I'm one of two non white nurses (which is ridiculous considering the size of my unit, but that's a whole other topic.) If someone has issue with me and doesn't want me, that's fine...but if it's because of my race, they need to get over it. I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to anyone treating me like that.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I'm a black nurse in a very white state. When I was in Nursing Home Hell, a resident on my hall went to the hospital, and came back to a different hall. A note at the nurse's station, which later went into his chart, said "Caucasian caregivers only." Oddly, he had no problem with the Filipina nurse in his hall.

I was puzzled, but didn't take it personally. He was old, he wasn't going to change, and racism was his problem, not mine.

[Merlyn]

Personally, I think changing assignments to satisfy the needs of a person like this is ridiculous. Why should we scramble around for people like that? It's like rewarding a toddler for bad behavior. I've actually had a teenager say "I don't want no BLACK nurse taking care of me!" Know what I said? I laughed and said, "You don't have to like me. You have cancer. You feel horrible. You don't want me taking care of you, but I will because it's my job and I still care. Just close your eyes and pretend I'm white whenever I'm in the room." This was after he refused to take his zofran from my "black hands" and was puking his guts out. I documented everything and told my managers. Now if I end up with him, he doesn't say a peep to me.

Out of our staff, I'm one of two non white nurses (which is ridiculous considering the size of my unit, but that's a whole other topic.) If someone has issue with me and doesn't want me, that's fine...but if it's because of my race, they need to get over it. I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to anyone treating me like that.

The patient pays the bill. So what if they want another nurse of color- in color or by color.

" one man's meat is an another man's poison" _ Bugs Bunny

[kakamegamama]

Maybe, just maybe, one day it will not matter......we can hope.....

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I worked in a nursing home in a chichi town on Cape Cod. Many of the residents were bigots, many of the staff were black.One woman was admitted for rehab following a knee repalcement. When I introduced myself as the nurse manager, she informed me that she expected only the best of everything and of course she didn't want any black CNAs. "Too bad you can't have the best aide" I said as I walked out of the room. She called me back in and demanded to know why I wouldn't assign the best CNA to her. "He's Haiitian" I replied, "and very, very black.". She decided having the BEST outweighed her bigotry and ended up respecting the CNA.People can change if we push them in the right direction, but if they don't I wouldn't set any employee of color up to fail or be accused of something.

[sauconyrunner]

our hospital does not tolerate this. We have had patients in the ED tell us they don't want "That foreign MD" or "That foreign Nurse" We respond, with the same, "That request can not be accomodated" No "I'm sorry, but" We explaint o the patient that they do have the right to refuse care...usually they settle down.... I have to appreciate that Admin has gotten involved to the bedside, saying "We can promise you a competent Nurse, Doctor, etc, but your request can not be accomodated."

But I do agree, that a lot of times, simply accomodating them is better for staffing than trying to change people.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

The patient pays the bill. So what if they want another nurse of color- in color or by color.

" one man's meat is an another man's poison" _ Bugs Bunny

I disagree. The patient pays the bill, true. That doesn't give them the right to treat the staff any way they please.

And someone mentioned what if it goes the other way (black patient not wanting a white nurse.) It does, and it sucks. My 90 year old grandmother kept kicking out her home nurses. I yelled at her and apologized to the nurses. Now she presses her lips together and glares....but she lets them do what they need to do. Like I said, I could care less if someone dislikes my race. Just keep it to yourself when I'm in the room.

[sharpeimom]

i am of western and northern european descent and have my mostly swedish dad's coloring. i have had

people of different races assume i must have nazi beliefs simply based on my fair looks alone. outrageous,

but shows that prejudice goes two ways. if someone doesn't feel comfortable with who i am, i too would much

rather have someone else take care of them.

i always kept my license in my maiden name. my dad's paternal grandfather was jewish, hence my maiden name was

a jewish name. if someone didn't want me taking care of them... fine.

while i was a student nurse, i was assigned a 98 year old sweet old lady. she was very concerned that i wouldn't

be comfortable caring for her, which was unfounded. i asked her whether she would be more comfortable with

someone else caring for her. before she could answer, her granddaughter said, "how would you feel if an aa person took care of you or your grandma?" i replied, "i'd be just fine." and she said, "well, ok then." and that was that. i'm still not sure if my age or student status were factors or not.