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Has anyone ever had comments regarding your nationality made by patients?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Not really...except for a French lady that teased us because Americans ruin coke by putting ice in it.

Don't think that's really what you mean though ;)

Sorry if you've had some bad experiences, patients can say some of the rudest things.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've been referred to by some of my elderly patients as "the colored person," "the black nurse," "little girl," and so forth. It has not occurred very frequently when I am within an earshot, but I'll definitely call them on it if they say something that I deem too offensive.

Patients are people with warm blood and emotions, and they get admitted to our healthcare facilities with some of the same preconceived notions as the rest of society. I shall not feel obligated to like or enjoy my patients. However, I must maintain some semblance of professionalism when handling them.

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I personally have not but one of our CNA's was Native American ,very awesome aide, & some of the elderly pts would make comments about her nationality.

One lady that was off her rocker one noc and spit at her and said "Get the hell out of here you damn Indian." She was very naughty that noc spitting in our faces, clawing your arm if she got ahold of it, told one of the nurses she had bad breath. Good times that noc! Sorry got a little off track there!

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Commuter, thats sad, as thats not even a nationality, but more a racial issue. Its horrid to think that here we are, in 2008, claiming to be all tolerant and non-predjudiced, and this still occurs! Cant understand predjudiced people, based on a skin colour....how wicked. How unfounded, how ridiculous that based on the colour of your skin you are judged! I would love to have some colour in me.....my Mam met Emille Ford years ago at a dance in Scotland..wow..if he had been my Daddy, I would have had skin thats not transparent! (would not swap my dad, but thats a by the by!)

I guess, I just think that people should never be made to feel less of a person due to skin colour, be proud of the person you are..and stuff those with the blinkers on!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I am Italian, many times people ask if I am mexican. One time I had a patient tell me "I bet you make great burritos" I smiled and told her "why yes I do, but I make better lasagna!"

I dont think she got it. But we all had a good laugh over it.

I have noticed the older the patients are more likely to question nationality.

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I've been referred to by some of my elderly patients as "the colored person," "the black nurse," "little girl," and so forth. It has not occurred very frequently when I am within an earshot, but I'll definitely call them on it if they say something that I deem too offensive.

Patients are people with warm blood and emotions, and they get admitted to our healthcare facilities with some of the same preconceived notions as the rest of society. I shall not feel obligated to like or enjoy my patients. However, I must maintain some semblance of professionalism when handling them.

I've been called Big Mama and, ironically, little girl. It doesn't bother me, I know they aren't trying to be demeaning. I know the names don't have anything to do with my nationality, but it's the same concept.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I've been called Big Mama and, ironically, little girl. It doesn't bother me, I know they aren't trying to be demeaning. I know the names don't have anything to do with my nationality, but it's the same concept.
I respectfully disagree. To me, it is not the same concept.

Everyone seems to forget that the terms "little boy" and "little girl" have potent historical connotations and are capable of being very loaded when used toward people of color. Some people might think I am being touchy or overly sensitive regarding this issue, but I find the terms offensive.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I respectfully disagree. To me, it is not the same concept.

Everyone seems to forget that the terms "little boy" and "little girl" have potent historical connotations and are capable of being very loaded when used toward people of color. Some people might think I am being touchy or overly sensitive regarding this issue, but I find the terms offensive.

Are you little? They call me little girl all the time but I am 4'11". (and white, yes)

I never heard "little girl" or "little boy" as a racial thing. "BOY" I have heard used that way.

(((((((((( Commuter ))))))))))

You are even going to get pts who refuse to let you care for them if you are a person of color. And you are even going to get management that lets them get their way. It's amazing but I've seen it happen.

If it's the OTHER way around, staff cannot refuse to care for people of color.

I'm really really sorry if you find yourself getting hurt this way. But, some people are just plain stupid. :(

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'll always remember the NH resident who called me "the little Mexican nurse". She was pretty demented and really didn't know one staff member from another, except I was always kind to her and for some reason I stood out in her mind. I was 40 years old (and certainly NOT little at 280 lbs.!) then. But she liked me, and she didn't mean anything derogatory by it, so it never bothered me.

There is, however, a huge difference between that and what some nurses, such as The Commuter, have experienced. Unfortunately, the world is full of bigots, and sometimes they need care.........and we have to treat them as we would any other patient. Which is more than some of them do for us.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
I'll always remember the NH resident who called me "the little Mexican nurse".

I once got criticized for not calling people Mexican.

I live in Texas but am originally from the East Coast. I use the term "Hispanic" because I've known many people whose native language was Spanish but who were not from Mexico. (Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Colombia, the Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Cuba, etc).

This gal- who was not a nurse but who worked with me, could not grasp the concept. In her mind, if you spoke Spanish, you were Mexican, period.

This girl was Hispanic herself, and her husband was Mexican. (He was born there, she was born in Texas).

On one occasion, she was looking at pictures of some ladies I had worked with just before moving.

"How about her- is she Mexican?"

"Well, no, she's of Italian descent, as a matter of fact."

"Well, how about that one there- she looks Mexican!"

"Actually, no, her mother is Korean."

I think, for this person, the world ends in about 500 miles in any direction.

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Specializes in M/S, dialysis, home health, SNF.

I worked recently with an African American nurse who called herself "Big Mama." I personally felt she was demeaning herself.

Another issue is a nurse who has a pouchy belly, and paients ask when her due date is.

People are just people, and we're all products of our environment and upbringing. Not all of them are out to offend others. Some are, for sure, but I once heard a saying that it's a fool who takes offense where none was intended, and a bigger fool who takes offense when it was.

Don't let another person's problem become yours. Just know who you are, good qualities and areas that need improvement, and walk with your head held high.

PS: I never heard of the little boy, little girl thing either.

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