Racism in the workplace

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Not to be a downer or anything but I have noticed some harsh things said about patients and sometimes even co workers in my unit when they think no one else can hear them. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Specializes in None...YET!.
i've had pts use the 'n' word..usually elderly and demented pts trying to identify one of the staff.

if a pt says "there goes that 'n'", i immediately intervened and said No! there goes mr/mrs so and so".

i don't care how elderly or how demented.

and i don't care if i have to repeat myself 100 times.

i just will not allow use of racial epitaphs on my time.

leslie

Thank YOU! Don't ever let it slide.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
There are many black nurses in DFW, Texas. I am proud to say that I'm one of them.

There are a lot of us in Atlanta also.

Thank YOU! Don't ever let it slide.

what's even more upsetting is i would go to the bed of an pt. who was giving the nsg asst a hard time during a.m. care.

the pt would be calling the n-word to the nsg assistant.

the nsg assistant went ahead w/her care, even smiling at the pt.

hrs later, same patients would still be using this word, addressed to some of the black staff.

i'm not sure what i expected but i found myself getting flustered w/the staff.

i understand they're in their workplace, but i found this whole 'n' calling highly upsetting.

i seemed to be the most upset!!!

i spoke with the offending pt(s) and told them their behavior was unacceptable.

and these were hospice pts i was upset with!

but i couldn't/wouldn't let it slide.

and then i brought the targeted staff aside and told them that no one has the right to use that word with you. no one.

they said "we hear it all the time".

so complacent! :o

i don't understand the apathy.

i understand the complexity of racism in this country.

but zero tolerance has to start somewhere, doesn't it???

leslie

Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Personally - pretending race doesn't exist is not the same as creating equality. Race and racism are more than (just) stereotypes and individual prejudice.

Racism is certainly a "learned" phenomenon - I don't think I've ever seen racist children*, have you?

*: And by children, I mean kids. Sandbox. Not teenagers.

Personally - pretending race doesn't exist is not the same as creating equality. Race and racism are more than (just) stereotypes and individual prejudice.

Racism is certainly a "learned" phenomenon - I don't think I've ever seen racist children, have you?

pretending race/racism doesn't exist?

who said that was synonymous with equality?

i'm saying that's what is creating the apathy.

no one is saying that it is stereotypes and individual prejudice. :confused:

but- why not start with yourself?

granted, it's not changing the larger picture.

but what would happen if everyone (on an individual basis) just started rejecting the use of this vulgar epitaph?

it has to start somewhere roy.

and it's not just with racism.

we certainly don't have world peace.

but i can do everything i can, to make my corner of the world a little bit better.

it has to start somewhere.

when i was growing up, my mom was best friends with a black woman.

this black woman and her kids were the only black family in town.

when she left her husband, they came to live w/us.

we started getting eggs thrown at our house and called all sorts of names because of befriending this black family.

as a child, i did not understand the hate and the ignorance spewed towards this family and now, my family.

the black family (i'll call them the jones) wanted to stay inside our house.

they feared for their safety.

i remember being spittin' mad at the senselessness of these hate crimes.

me and the jones kids would go outside to the playground.

all the white kids started trying to beat them up, throwing stones, bottles.

i started to try and fight them all.

i wouldn't let me or the jones kids walk/run away.

and i couldn't contain my fury.

my adrenaline pumping, i remember turning to one of the joneses and demanded "WHY AREN'T YOU MAD???"

i couldn't stand to see them hovering.

suddenly the older jones kid got this look in his eye, kind of a get-it moment, and turned to the crowd and roared "NO MORE".

the look in his eyes shocked the bejeebees out of all the onlookers and perpetrators.

between him and me, everyone ended up backing away.

from that time on, the violence stopped.

when we got on the school bus, the kids left us alone.

some even said hi.

my point is it has to stop somewhere.

you have more power than you think.

everyone does.

no more.

it starts with you.

leslie

pretending race/racism doesn't exist?

who said that was synonymous with equality?

i'm saying that's what is creating the apathy.

no one is saying that it is stereotypes and individual prejudice. :confused:

but- why not start with yourself?

granted, it's not changing the larger picture.

but what would happen if everyone (on an individual basis) just started rejecting the use of this vulgar epitaph?

it has to start somewhere roy.

and it's not just with racism.

we certainly don't have world peace.

but i can do everything i can, to make my corner of the world a little bit better.

it has to start somewhere.

when i was growing up, my mom was best friends with a black woman.

this black woman and her kids were the only black family in town.

when she left her husband, they came to live w/us.

we started getting eggs thrown at our house and called all sorts of names because of befriending this black family.

as a child, i did not understand the hate and the ignorance spewed towards this family and now, my family.

the black family (i'll call them the jones) wanted to stay inside our house.

they feared for their safety.

i remember being spittin' mad at the senselessness of these hate crimes.

me and the jones kids would go outside to the playground.

all the white kids started trying to beat them up, throwing stones, bottles.

i started to try and fight them all.

i wouldn't let me or the jones kids walk/run away.

and i couldn't contain my fury.

my adrenaline pumping, i remember turning to one of the joneses and demanded "WHY AREN'T YOU MAD???"

i couldn't stand to see them hovering.

suddenly the older jones kid got this look in his eye, kind of a get-it moment, and turned to the crowd and roared "NO MORE".

the look in his eyes shocked the bejeebees out of all the onlookers and perpetrators.

between him and me, everyone ended up backing away.

from that time on, the violence stopped.

when we got on the school bus, the kids left us alone.

some even said hi.

my point is it has to stop somewhere.

you have more power than you think.

everyone does.

no more.

it starts with you.

leslie

Wow, we need more people like you in this world.

I can't believe that someone posted something on here which basically said oh well, just deal with it, we can't change it. If that were the case I would probably be a slave today. The truth is we can make a change. Some people are just unwilling to put forth the effort to do so.

Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.
I have a thought that's pretty much off-topic and yet related somehow. I was just talking to my BF about this today. Feel free to stone me because I already feel pretty bad about it but it "is what it is"

Background--grew up a CA liberal/PC/schooled in diversity/supporter of social programs/education/blah, blah...

I have been working in an inner-city ED for just about a year. I now think I am BECOMING racist. I don't need to give examples but the absolute worst stereotypes are being played out pretty much every shift. By all? No. But enough to where I just realized yesterday that I think I am getting resentful.

I already know, time to change the scenery...I'm already burnt out---for my sake and my patients. Just wanted to throw that out.

Miss Mab,

I'm not going to sit here and pretend that these situations don't exist, but I would like people to understand that people are different coming from different regions and SES. Personally, that situation is as foreign to me as it is you. I can guarantee you if you came to some parts PG county in MD, you wouldn't find that mess going on.

And although I've never personally dealt with them personally; having worked at the health department, I know plenty of white folks that fit the above bill.

I really feel if this country promoted traveling at a young age, that we would see that people are different with from all walks of life with different experiences.

Anyway, that's my thought for the week. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend everyone!;)

Specializes in None...YET!.
what's even more upsetting is i would go to the bed of an pt. who was giving the nsg asst a hard time during a.m. care.

the pt would be calling the n-word to the nsg assistant.

the nsg assistant went ahead w/her care, even smiling at the pt.

hrs later, same patients would still be using this word, addressed to some of the black staff.

i'm not sure what i expected but i found myself getting flustered w/the staff.

i understand they're in their workplace, but i found this whole 'n' calling highly upsetting.

i seemed to be the most upset!!!

i spoke with the offending pt(s) and told them their behavior was unacceptable.

and these were hospice pts i was upset with!

but i couldn't/wouldn't let it slide.

and then i brought the targeted staff aside and told them that no one has the right to use that word with you. no one.

they said "we hear it all the time".

so complacent! :o

i don't understand the apathy.

i understand the complexity of racism in this country.

but zero tolerance has to start somewhere, doesn't it???

leslie

my goodness!

well i see your parent's raised a strong, intelligent person. you set a great example for nurses/people in general also...keep on keeping on!

Personally - pretending race doesn't exist is not the same as creating equality. Race and racism are more than (just) stereotypes and individual prejudice.

Racism is certainly a "learned" phenomenon - I don't think I've ever seen racist children*, have you?

*: And by children, I mean kids. Sandbox. Not teenagers.

Yes racism does exist among children. I've dealt with it first hand.When I say I've been dealing with racism my whole life I do mean my whole life.

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Yes racism does exist among children. I've dealt with it first hand.When I say I've been dealing with racism my whole life I do mean my whole life.

I would guess that Roy means that racism is learned. So little children only use racist words if they have been exposed to them. Little children soak up their environment. I think he means that before children have been exposed to racism they do not know it. Racism is learned. My Unitarian church has a class called "Unlearning Racism" where we examine our unconscious attitudes and our language.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Yes racism does exist among children. I've dealt with it first hand.When I say I've been dealing with racism my whole life I do mean my whole life.

That is so awful I just cannot abide rasicm. When I grew up I just played with my friends it didnt matter a tot what colour we were we were just friends.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

My dd came home from school the other day and said 'I played with ****" when I asked her which little girl was that she said 'oh you know not the one with the white hair, she the one who's black'

I felt she was describing her friend in a way that was so accepting.

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