racist comment

banditrn · Feb 26, 2008

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.

Commuter - I've never been aware of any racial overtones to the terms 'little girl/boy'. My husband calls me 'little girl' sometimes, because I'm shorter than he is - and he's almost 68 yo.

I refer to my son's as 'little boy' upon occasion when I want to remind them that even tho they're all bigger than I - I'm STILL superior in every way!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 27, 2008

i'm jewish by birth. hardly anyone knows that, not that i hide it, it just doesn't come up in conversation. i occasionally get comments about "jews" that anger me but i don't say anything. comments such as "cheap as a jew". why do people do that? just ignorant i suppose? :rolleyes: should i reply?

leslie :-D · Feb 27, 2008

i'm jewish by birth. hardly anyone knows that, not that i hide it, it just doesn't come up in conversation. i occasionally get comments about "jews" that anger me but i don't say anything. comments such as "cheap as a jew". why do people do that? just ignorant i suppose? should i reply?

if you're going to reply dutch, i don't think it should be r/t whether you're a jew.

when i am offended by comments, i make a gen'l statement.

these comments do not directly pertain to me, but i still remain offended and say so.

leslie

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 27, 2008

if you're going to reply dutch, i don't think it should be r/t whether you're a jew.
when i am offended by comments, i make a gen'l statement.
these comments do not directly pertain to me, but i still remain offended and say so.
leslie

Could you give me an example leslie? I've heard my mother say "Thanks for that, I'm Jewish", I agree that's not the correct thing to say.

jessiern, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2008

Could you give me an example leslie? I've heard my mother say "Thanks for that, I'm Jewish", I agree that's not the correct thing to say.

Maybe something just as simple as "You really should be careful making comments like that. You never know who is lessoning, and who might me offended." Even mention simply "I know it offends me", without any reason given.

leslie :-D · Feb 27, 2008

Maybe something just as simple as "You really should be careful making comments like that. You never know who is lessoning, and who might me offended." Even mention simply "I know it offends me", without any reason given.

you're much more tactful than me.

i simply tell them, "that's a really ignorant comment".

they always stop it there...

likely to continue the conversation elsewhere.

leslie

KLKRN, RN · Feb 28, 2008

I like earle's chutzba! :)

I used to be such a mouse and kept it all inside when people were ugly to me or just plain ugly verbally. But tonight I encountered a nurse on the oncoming shift whose every word to me reeked of attitude. I don't know if it was personal or not, but she kept it up until I finally told her, "you can tell me that without the attitude."

After she said, "well, I was just saying...that's all." I just gave her my "look" and she backed off.

I find that most people who act ugly are really cowards and crumble when someone stands up to them.

Jo Dirt · Mar 5, 2008

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.

You're being touchy. But then, I'm touchy about certain things, too. Like calling my underwear "panties." If women are equal to men, why the demeaning dictinctions? I'm totally put off and offended by chivalry, sappy poetry and those stupid magazines (like Cosmo) that degrade women. Still, I still believe you are totally justified in your feelings.

My family is very diverse and colorful. I have nieces and nephews mixed with just about every ethnic group except Asian. They are all spoiled brats, I guess that is one trait universal to all nationalities. :uhoh3:

Jo Dirt · Mar 5, 2008

i'm jewish by birth. hardly anyone knows that, not that i hide it, it just doesn't come up in conversation. i occasionally get comments about "jews" that anger me but i don't say anything. comments such as "cheap as a jew". why do people do that? just ignorant i suppose? should i reply?

i had a jewish patient in home health and they called each other names. it was among family, but i still thought it strange.

danissa, LPN, LVN · Mar 5, 2008

You're being touchy. But then, I'm touchy about certain things, too. Like calling my underwear "panties." If women are equal to men, why the demeaning dictinctions? I'm totally put off and offended by chivalry, sappy poetry and those stupid magazines (like Cosmo) that degrade women. Still, I still believe you are totally justified in your feelings.
My family is very diverse and colorful. I have nieces and nephews mixed with just about every ethnic group except Asian. They are all spoiled brats, I guess that is one trait universal to all nationalities.

:uhoh21: Why does a man being a gentleman, soppy poetry and what you call your scanties degrade women????? Things like this dont make women lesser beings than men, neither does reading a magazine. Things like domestic abuse, that degrades women...whatever you choose to call your knickers does not!!!

pattycakeRN · Mar 6, 2008

You're being touchy. But then, I'm touchy about certain things, too. Like calling my underwear "panties." If women are equal to men, why the demeaning dictinctions? I'm totally put off and offended by chivalry, sappy poetry and those stupid magazines (like Cosmo) that degrade women. Still, I still believe you are totally justified in your feelings.
My family is very diverse and colorful. I have nieces and nephews mixed with just about every ethnic group except Asian. They are all spoiled brats, I guess that is one trait universal to all nationalities.

I too am offended by chivalry. And I hate the word panties. Eeech. High five.

XXl-cool · Mar 24, 2008

I had never had any racial issues until now. While helping a blind gentle man eat his lunch, he started commenting on the immigration issues without noticing that I was Hispanic. Once he noticed my brown skin, he asked me if I had a "green card." Several weeks latter while giving care to a female pt. she asked me if I was Mexican. I answered that I was and she proceeded to tell me that she was completely against all of these people coming into our country and she thought they should close the borders. When I get hit with these types of comments and questions I do not know what to answer. I do get upset and offended, but I guess I do not feel any different than the next person. How should I answer?