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?
That patient is going to be SOL at the vast majority of the Hospitals in my area. I bet 95% of staff is NOT Caucasian. I've even had co-workers jokingly ask me how I got a job in the hospital because I am white.
I used to be an OB nurse and I once had a patient who was just plain nasty. She had grown uncomfortable in her labor and was demanding an epidural. When the young black anesthesiologist walked in the door to see about giving her one and introduced himself, she turned to me and yelled "NO WAY! I want a somebody WHITE!" That doctor just turned around and left. Fine with him, her loss.
It made me instantly mad and my response was very direct "Ok look...what's this really about? You are afraid that somebody might mess up? So you're thought is to insult the EXPERT?! I don't understand that logic. WE understand that you are scared and in pain and WE overlook you're foul-mouthed complaints and demands and still WE take care of you. None of your nurses or doctors have announced that they will not care for a small-minded, ignorant jerk....(ok I might have said ass instead of jerk) but guess what? An epidural is NOT a medically necessary procedure and I'm guessing since you ran off the only anesthesiologist on call here tonight you won't be getting one from him now... which is kind of a shame because he's positively the best and can do them in under two minutes with his eyes closed."
Maybe I was wrong and my response wasn't professional but it felt GOOD to say it. AND having gotten satisfaction from speaking my mind I did not feel any residual anger toward her and treated her with kindness after that. I even dropped in to check on her postpartum and told her how cute her baby was and wished her well. As I was about to leave she asked me, in so many words, how she should go about informing my boss. I brought her a pen and paper and said "Put it in writing.... After I told the nurse that I only wanted a white doctor to do my epidural she implied that I was a small-minded ignorant ass... I'm not sure how that will play out for you but you are absolutely welcome to do it."
That was years ago and now I am a psychnurse. We all have to deal with patients who yell racial slurs at us. Sometimes they hate white people, sometimes black people or foreign people. It's uncomfortable at times and we give each other pep talks and reminders that we can't take it personally. As a charge nurse I offer sometimes to those who may be getting burned out and effected to take a pull to another unit for a day or so if they want to, but I also found a way to respond when a patient calls a co-worker "the n word". Doesn't always work and sometimes the situation is too escalated to talk in that moment but when I can, it feels good to address it. I use a calm maternal voice and say; "Hey listen... don't do that. We're here to HELP you. (He or she) is here to help and he/she is my friend. You don't HAVE to like any of us but you can't be disrespectful like that. So please don't call us names... Besides one day you're going to wish you could get an extra snack or something and you aren't making anybody want to do you any favors THAT way."
There are a lot of mean people in the world but they know they are saying things that will electrify the situation thats why they say it! So it's best to just try not to take it personally and kill 'em with..... well, indifferent professionalism.
Sorry to send a second note but the fact is that people are in fact changing a little at a time. Many institutions in the South that were founded to continue segregation have had to integrate to stay in business and many of them are very high quality so it has become a win win for every one.. School Academies and the Southern Baptist Church are just 2 examples and though very few of you will probably believe me the Klan in parts of Louisiana has actually recruited mixed people from good families. Time is the only thing that changes people and as it goes on some of us learn how much we need each other.
I find it distturbing that someone would go to that trouble to categorize their patients. I have always had my hands full just providing them with the care they needed
In an ideal world where racism comes merely from bad parenting, I would be inclined to agree. However, racism has its roots in many terrible places, and rather than decide that this patients' needs for comfort and feeling of safety aren't a priority because you don't sympathize or identify with their request, we need to recognize that there is more to a patient than illness and there could very well be a justifiable reason for the way they feel. I believe this for race, religion, or any reason. I think we should all have the right to refuse care from someone who makes us uncomfortable. If the feeling is that deep, and it cannot be accommodated, then yes, transfer them or let them sign out AMA. Racism isn't always based on simple ignorance, though. Believe me, I'd take the hate, fear, and sadness from every single heart if I could, but until that's possible, we can only begin to build understanding with respect. Maybe they are being disrespectful, but that's a reflection on them. You can only control your own actions. Show them respect, and don't put a staff member in a position of having to care for someone who hates them based on skin color. No employee should have to deal with that.
A while back was watching an excellent PBS series called "Carrier" about life on a US aircraft carrier and those stationed aboard. CARRIER | PBS
In one episode a young sailor (white) from the South had, well shall we say "race issues" upto and including using the "N" word IIRC to other members of the crew. Despite being harshly spoken to and punished (even spending time on lockdown) the young man stood his ground in his beliefs basically saying it was the way he was raised. Long story short after many warnings the CO had enough. A meeting was held and said sailor was booted off the ship with a dishonourable discharge from the service. A helicopter took the young man from the ship to the nearest port I presume for him to make his way back home.
The CO stated he wasn't going to tolerate such nonesense and that he didn't think the sailor fully understood the consequences of a dishonourable discharge. The sailor for his part seemed mostly happy with being sent home in disgrace.
Since this is America, I do prefer to have a nurse who speaks English. I don't think that makes me racist.
Ok, will have to give you that one.
Nursing staff speaking in their native language to each other around patients has to be the number one complaint one hears or reads about. It drives some people up the wall.
A while back was watching an excellent PBS series called "Carrier" about life on a US aircraft carrier and those stationed aboard. CARRIER | PBS
In one episode a young sailor (white) from the South had, well shall we say "race issues" upto and including using the "N" word IIRC to other members of the crew. Despite being harshly spoken to and punished (even spending time on lockdown) the young man stood his ground in his beliefs basically saying it was the way he was raised. Long story short after many warnings the CO had enough. A meeting was held and said sailor was booted off the ship with a dishonourable discharge from the service. A helicopter took the young man from the ship to the nearest port I presume for him to make his way back home.
The CO stated he wasn't going to tolerate such nonesense and that he didn't think the sailor fully understood the consequences of a dishonourable discharge. The sailor for his part seemed mostly happy with being sent home in disgrace.
I'm not sure what you're getting at with this, but I do feel right now would be a good time to point out that I personally embrace all walks of life and am happy to share this beautiful planet with any walk of life.
I believe we have much to learn from one another and I believe racism does have horrific roots in world history, not just here in America. Keep in mind that those who DO turn to racism as a result of bad parenting may have had parents who endured the worst racial violence of the civil rights movement. If my parents were beaten, raped, and stolen from by a specific race not just once, but many times, and many different people, would you blame them for telling me that that race is terrible?
These issues won't go away easily. My husband's school was shut down for weeks because of racial riots in the early 90s. The 90s!
Hate doesn't drive out hate. Anger doesn't help either. It's acceptance that does. It's recognizing there is hurt there culturally that needs to heal. That kind of healing doesn't go away by simply saying, "get over it."
It starts with respect.
"I respect your right to not like me or want me near you. I'm sure you have a valid reason for feeling that way. Maybe one day we can get to know each other so you can see I have a good heart. But ultimately, I respect you and whatever life path has brought you to where you are today."
As a former carrier sailor and an RN I can say that these are two toally different subjects. Sailors are subject to the UCMJ and are not in a service industry but are serving the Nation and are subject to many different regulations. While there is some discrimination it is usually not in the open and rarely requires discipline. Everyone on a carrier does everything possible to make day to day life more bearable as you can be on 12 and 12 shifts for months at at time without time off. Life at sea is nothing like being in the hospital
Obviously you didn't live in the south in the 60's, or was not alive to see it on the nightly news. Watch a documentary and see just how close we were to eliminating racism.
I'm sorry I don't know what got into me. This Yankee remembers Newark, Watts and others burning we are no closer today then we were in the 60's. That's when the phase "Kill Whitey" was coined. Black and white racism has just gone underground.
I'm sorry I don't know what got into me. This Yankee remembers Newark, Watts and others burning we are no closer today then we were in the 60's. That's when the phase "Kill Whitey" was coined. Black and white racism has just gone underground.
Ummm... That is exactly the point I was making. Anyone that thinks we were on the verge of racial harmony in the 1960's, or anywhere close, is either ill-informed or delusional.
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That patient is going to be SOL at the vast majority of the Hospitals in my area. I bet 95% of staff is NOT Caucasian. I've even had co-workers jokingly ask me how I got a job in the hospital because I am white.