Religious Dilemma?

allnurses Guide · Apr 17, 2017

A beautiful response to a hateful, horrible, growing prejudice. Thank you for sharing.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2017

Ah, to be a student, so newly exposed to the wide variety of horrendous patients you'll have to deal with. I try and treat all patients equally, though I'm definitely warmer than some. When patients start spewing hateful prejudices or political beliefs I disagree with, I tell them, "It does sound like you're frustrated! Tell me more about the back pain- have you tried any over the counter medications?" Redirecting to less controversial topics (weather, sports, weekend plans, April the Giraffe) is a good tactic too.

Avid reader · Apr 17, 2017

Wish I could be so tolerant. Disdain and sarcasm usually is my fallback position and usually because of the limited intelligence of the progenitor I have no complaints. Unfortunately, they never understand, so my wit is wasted but I feel better. I actually never hold it against them because that's the consequences of a limited source of information like Fox and not actually reading. Can you imagine how many people are now emboldened by our President, in that you never actually have to read and still become the President? Shocking!!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2017

Depending on the patient and their behavior determines how I respond. Moving to the south and not being a religious person gave me a lot of issues. Especially because it wasn't that I didn't believe in a God, I just thought he was a jerk and wanted nothing to do with him. It's different now, but I had a lot of patients wanting to save me and give me their opinions on it.

Then I also get a lot of comments about being part Mexican. I don't feel I look Mexican at all. I am not fluent in Spanish, however, I know enough and the basics and because I was raised around Spanish as a child I can enunciate it well, which makes people assume I am fluent. Although I don't look Mexican IMO I apparently look "something". So I get asked a lot and I will respond that I am Half Mexican and Half Norwegian. I had a very offensive patient once in one of my curtains. Everyone in that zone could hear her and she said many things like this man in the article. Conversation went as followed:

Her "Are you mixed with something? You look like you might be"

Me "Yes I am half Mexican and half Norwegian"

Her "Oh wow, I bet that was rough"

Me "How so?"

Her "Crossing that border, was it hard??"

*audible gasp from the curtain room next to her*

Me (without missing a beat and with a completely straight face) "Nah with El Nino it wasn't so bad. The water was barely deep. Now the boat ride from Norway was far worse and took 8 months"

I walked out and the people in the surrounding curtain rooms bellowed out laughing along with the people at the nurses station.

The patient, didn't have a clue and believed that. She later said she has people like me that work on her yard and she always felt bad, but that maybe their journey wasn't as bad either like mine. :| :|

Trauma Columnist · Apr 18, 2017

Moved to Nursing and Spirituality

offlabel · Apr 20, 2017

Muslim, white boy, gay, just a girl, Christian....people don't change their stripes because they get sick and come to the hospital. The point here is what? Be a professional, set firm limits and do your job?

Got it.

offlabel · Apr 20, 2017

Wish I could be so tolerant. Disdain and sarcasm usually is my fallback position and usually because of the limited intelligence of the progenitor I have no complaints. Unfortunately, they never understand, so my wit is wasted but I feel better. I actually never hold it against them because that's the consequences of a limited source of information like Fox and not actually reading. Can you imagine how many people are now emboldened by our President, in that you never actually have to read and still become the President? Shocking!!

So the only intolerance is toward Muslims and whomever doesn't watch Fox or didn't vote for DJT? Spare me. Ignorance knows no bounds. I've been physically attacked by patients for having white skin, but I don't blame that on the news or the president. Some people need serious help and intelligence has little if nothing to do with it. Not recognizing that is a big problem.

Avid reader · Apr 22, 2017

So the only intolerance is toward Muslims and whomever doesn't watch Fox or didn't vote for DJT? Spare me. Ignorance knows no bounds. I've been physically attacked by patients for having white skin, but I don't blame that on the news or the president. Some people need serious help and intelligence has little if nothing to do with it. Not recognizing that is a big problem.

Intelligence is what allows you to utilize the fund of knowledge you possess if you took the time to put it there. It allows you to differentiate between what's nonsense and immoral and what isn't. Acquiring the right knowledge isn't always tertiary in nature, it can come from anywhere. Hence the quip, Fox television. It streams a singular viewpoint and from its current implosions, it is again highlighted as to its bias and intolerance. I suggest you read the post again and utilize some intelligence to discern that it's about the intolerance towards a Muslim that I have a problem with. Somewhat akin to me judging you, that you maybe impetuous because you are unable to recognize that I don't subscribe to Fox's views or am I a fan of the president's conduct so far.

allnurses Guide · Apr 22, 2017

A patient says something hateful, and here's what a Muslim medical student does - The Washington Post
Interesting conundrum?

What I see there is a bigoted, most likely poorly educated man spouting his warped belief system, but I would say there is difference between that and personally attacking the medical student. I know there are horrible people who might someday find themselves under my care. I'd rather they not share this in my presence, but at that point our ethical standards prevail.

I wish the accumulation of knowledge would rid people of their poisonous attitudes, but I've learned through experience the very inhumane mental process resulting in someone asserting that 1.6 billion Muslims are terrorists who want to kill us pretty much assures dismantling that has very little chance of success.

You always hope for a conversion through a kind act. In that sense the article gave me a glimmer of optimism.

offlabel · Apr 22, 2017

Intelligence is what allows you to utilize the fund of knowledge you possess if you took the time to put it there. It allows you to differentiate between what's nonsense and immoral and what isn't.QUOTE]
Intelligence and a well formed conscience are two different entities. An uneducated wage earner in a developing country is able to make better moral judgments than a Princeton Professor like Peter Singer.
My point is that conflating a particular point of view with intelligence can sometimes betray an underlying ignorance. Just sayin'.

Avid reader · Apr 23, 2017

Intelligence is what allows you to utilize the fund of knowledge you possess if you took the time to put it there. It allows you to differentiate between what's nonsense and immoral and what isn't.QUOTE]
Intelligence and a well formed conscience are two different entities. An uneducated wage earner in a developing country is able to make better moral judgments than a Princeton Professor like Peter Singer.
My point is that conflating a particular point of view with intelligence can sometimes betray an underlying ignorance. Just sayin'.
Isn't that somewhat paradoxical? The uneducated wage earner is actually displaying intelligence which is the ability to differentiate information, analyze or porifice. Tertiary obtained information doesn't necessarily make you intelligent unless you can formulate that information into distinct acceptable behaviors conducive to society. In his environment the low wage earner has learnt to treat others respectfully and as he would like to be treated. That ability of assessment of surrounding interactions and information optimally, is what defines intelligence for me.
I think Mr Singer deserves the respect of having a point of view however confused he may be. He concludes as an academic without the subsequent humanity required for an overall opinion. Unfortunately I wonder if he does it for the attention and following monies or maybe he is pathological?