Shocked At Nurses Actions Tonight

[PMFB-RN]

I work part time at a local SNF / rehab faciliety. On PM and NOC shift it is staffed with 3 or 4 LPNs and one RN charge nurse (tonight it was me). One of our LPNs is a sweet young girl from a very small town near by. She is in a BSN program to become an RN as well. She was late to work and I assinged her to care for a new admit who is recovering from a serious MVA. She took report and went to meet her patient. She came back out of the room about 5 min later very upset. She demanded to know why I hadn't told her the patient was a muslim in report. I asked her why it mattered. She said that "those people are all trying to kill us!" and she couldn't understand why the patient was even admited or even given medical care in America! She flatly refused to provide care for this person. Nothing I said to her had any affect on her. She actually got angry at me for trying to explain why this person needs and deserves nurses care.

I ended up sending her home without pay and doing to work myself. I am only part time at this place and while I supervise LPNs and CNAs I am not their boss with the power to hire and fire. I did write a letter to the DON explaining the stuation and recomending that the LPN be fired. I also intend to inform our state board of nursing of her actions. I had another LPN who heard the whole thing write down what she had heard and submit it to the DON as well.

I consider her to have abandoned a patient that she had taken report and accepted responsibiliety for.

I understand that she is from a small, all white town and know from previous conversations with her that she has never so much as had a conversation with an african america person or any other minority except the Amish (many in this area). She aslo claims to be a very devout christian and is very involved in her church but I think her attitude is not compatable with nursing.

[PANurseRN1]

There are lots of nurses, quite professional, who do not like what we see happening with regard to homosexuality. There is nothing unprofessional about not jumping on the bandwagon or being less than thrilled at what we see in this arena. We still need to be courteous and give good nursing care. If asked, though, by my patient how I feel about his or her homosexuality, I will speak my peace and give a straight and honest answer.

And you would be way out of line for doing that, not to mention setting up your facility (and yourself) for a lawsuit. It's not your place to "speak your peace" to your pts.

Honestly, I am getting alarmed at some of the posts I'm reading here. :uhoh21:

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

I am also from a small all white town from near Amish country, however I do not have any of these biases. Being from where we are is not an excuse for hate.

[penguin2]

as for the pt with a swastika this may have been put on when they held much different views than they old today, people change, i have seen

die-hard segregationist [sp] hold a black grandchild with love

tattoes are easier to put on than to take off

i don't have any, always been pain sensitive and never had the intestinal fortitude to have one but i have seen those withfirst wives or girlfriends names tattoed on arm

I too, have seen a family ready to disown a daughter for her marriage to a black man & then welcome their grandchild w/open arms- thus mending the whole relationship. Thank God people ARE able to change- if not- where would the hope be for healing & mankind?

[smk1, LPN]

I hear you Dutchgirl but let's get real here: whatever its initial meaning or its roots, the meaning of the swastika is almost exclusively associated with Nazis and Hitler. and it is NOT unreasonable to assume that a person sporting a swastika is someone I don't want to know. Regardless of its origins, IF you are sporting a swastika in this day and time you are sending a message and that message ain't good luck and best wishes.

Next thing you'll be telling me that someone wearing a white hood and sheet and lighting a cross in my front yard is just inviting me to roast some marshmallows!

I have to agree with Sharon. I know, as do many others, that the swastika was not a symbol created by Hitler and his 3rd reich, however I also know that the CURRENT, MOST PROMINENT, and internationally known meaning of this symbol now has taken precedence over its origins. People who know the historical origins of this symbol know full well what the assumption will be from people if they wear the symbol or tatoo it onto their body. So if they choose to do this anyway, then they know exactly what people will "think" they are promoting. Additionally if they were forced to wear it due to prison etc... they still will understand that what is on their body is going to represent something to others and they shouldn't be shocked by the assumptions people make. Now, back to our regularly scheduled thread. I agree with the OP, the LPN was late to work, accepted report, then refused a patient because of bigotry, displayed her insubordination in front of the other staff and potential visitors by spouting her beliefs in the hallway, didn't accept counsel from her supervisor. Yep, she should be fired.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

TrudyRN wrote:

According to what I have read about Wicca and Freemasonry, the swastika and the pentagram (star) are related to devil worship. No offense to anyone, that's just what I have read.

This is so far afield from the original topic I almost let it go.

Having been an Eastern Star member for 40+ years, my spouse is a 32° Mason and an Eastern Star, My daughter is an Eastern Star.....this is patently UNTRUE. And yes offense IS taken.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Closing for a time out.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

According to what I have read about Wicca and Freemasonry, the swastika and the pentagram (star) are related to devil worship. No offense to anyone, that's just what I have read.

Wiccans to not even believe in the devil, so what you've read is incorrect. My ex-spouse is Wiccan and wears a pentagram. Wiccans don't really use the Swastika, for obvious reasons.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Whopps, my bad I didn't read this thread was closed until after I started posting.