racist patients

EDnurseNY · Oct 2, 2016

I think it's wrong to give in to BS. My favorite is when females don't want male nurses. Not talking about religious/cultural reasons, just run of the mill idiots. I will NOT change assignments once the shift has started! I also hate when my male co-workers ask me to bedpan, Foley, whatever their female pt. Really! When I've seen more male crotch than a hooker!

I don't think male nurses are any less qualified than female nurses, or that they are not as good as female nurses. I am perfectly fine with having male nurses if I was a patient. As a domestic abuse survivor, if I were a patient that needed a foley, I'd either need a female nurse or a lot of Xanax (and even then). It's not about whether the man has "seen more [female] crotch than a hooker," or anything ideology-related, it's about the fact that I'd have a full blown panic attack and it's not something I can just think away by knowing the guy's a good nurse. I understand women who can't have men perform certain tasks for good reasons and I don't think they're "run of the mill idiots."

As a nurse in my professional duties, I don't mind taking on a task for my male colleagues because the woman can't have them perform some tasks. I won't judge them or get annoyed with them. But maybe that's just me and my level of compassion for the patient.

Edited to add: No, I do not have any problems handling male patients either. When you're a patient, you've vulnerable and have no dignity to begin with. When I'm the nurse, I'm in my professional role. I also pass no judgment on men that can't have me perform certain tasks on them. I don't know all their life experiences and why would I make them relive something because I can't hang up my "but I'm your nurse" ego?

CautiouslyOptimystic · Nov 21, 2016

I am from an area of the country that is predominately Caucasian and have experienced indirect aspects of racism. Many times my patients will either assume I'm the aide or talk to my CNA, who is of the same race, of which I then receive the pleasure of letting them know I am the nurse. Many times most are polite about it but you can still sense it in their behaviors. I don't get mad or hold it against them but instead use it as an opportunity to shine and do what I do best and provide excellent patient care.

RutgersFlower2016 · Nov 21, 2016

Hi-

You are not alone and don't think for one minute that you should have to put up with that behavior from anyone-patient or family member. I have a naturally funny and bubbly personality and try not to let people's negative comments affect me. For example, I sometimes wear a head wrap and people assume that I am Muslim. So being mistaken for Muslim and being the race that I am, I get the scared looks and creepy eyebrow raises on a daily basis. I feel sorry for that person and I wonder how closed off their mind must be, because they will never know how much of an amazing person I am. I often get mistaken for a sales girl when shopping or a nanny when I am in the more prominent parts of my city so, I just look and respond with grace if I have to. I have always said "I am responsible for my own ignorance, I can't be responsible for other people's!"

I hope you work in place where that is not tolerated in anyway. Another thing, never laugh it off, because it's like a silent passport for the individual to do it again to you or someone else. There is a moment to teach something and bigotry should be STOMPED out. This past election has taught me that. Keep shining and keep being lovable you. Never let anyone take that away, less you become like them!!!

Rock on fellow nurse!!!!!!!!

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2016

I'm kind of expecting more blatant racism, as a minority. Certain people feel emboldened by our new president-elect, and will now say and do things they didn't feel safe to carry out before. Expecting it from patients is one thing. What will surprise and sadden me is if colleagues start treating me badly, because they think they can get away with it. I don't think it will happen, but like I said, certain people are emboldened. I had a patient about 2 weeks ago who asked where I was from, which is not uncommon. I gave my boilerplate answer, and she said at the end "Good, at least you won't get deported". My white coworker remarked, out of her earshot, that was a bit rude. I basically told her I am expecting more of this nastiness, and to not be surprised.

I think administration is also anticipating an increase in nastiness, from and towards patients. This week, the CEO of the organization I work for sent a system-wide email basically saying we continue to honor our commitment to our core values, diversity etc, and to take the concerns of our minority patients seriously.

moldyoldyrn · Nov 21, 2016

Being with only those like myself is very boring. Diversity is the core of creativity and richness in life. I will not live in a world nor a place that is not diverse. I love all the opportunity and newness that meeting different people brings. Neil Diamond had a song that spoke of the "the beautiful noise", that is what makes life interesting. All the noise and clamor, the different smells, foods, accents, colors that can be found. As an RN I took care of who ever rolled through the door. I met some of the most interesting people ever. It was always a great experience.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2016

Many times my patients will either assume I'm the aide or talk to my CNA, who is of the same race, of which I then receive the pleasure of letting them know I am the nurse.

Yep, I have also experienced this phenomenon. When I worked in direct patient care, some patients, families and vendors automatically assumed I was a cook, unit secretary, housekeeping staff or nursing assistant until I informed them otherwise.

This is one of the realities of belonging to a racial group that is stereotyped as having lower levels of formal education than persons from other races.