Swastikas & Nursing | Refusing care based upon moral objection?

[guest042302019]

As nurses, we work with many types of people.

Some really amazing people.

Some unsavory people.

Some you wouldn't want to be caught dead associating with.

Tonight, I was watching Grey's Anatomy!

I'm way behind the times as I just started only a few weeks ago.

For the die hard fans, I'm on season four so you might remember this episode.

An ambulance T-boned another ambulance.

One of the paramedics injured kept refusing care from the doctors (2 African Americans).

Come to find out the paramedic was a white supremicist and had a HUGE swastika tattooed on his abdomen.

This episode is quite timely because I cared for a very similar patient recently.

Swastika tattoos. Racist comments. The stereotypical white supremacist.

It was quite uncomfortable to say the least.

He assumed that I was like him.

Whenever he spoke about the African American CNAs, he spoke in derogatory terms that I don't feel the need to repeat here.

We've all heard these words before.

It was even more uncomfortable when he assumed I would agree or that I was like him.

He assumed I believed in the same skewed moral values he had about African Americans.

I understand we are supposed to objective during our care.

At the same time, I DO NOT share those racist and hateful views these types of people have.

I've never understood it and I avoid anyone that is like that in my life. Naturally, I cared for this patient the same as anyone else. That's my job.

However, my question is:

Can a nurse refuse to care for a patient based upon moral objection?

[klone, MSN, RN]

It's just a question of where you draw the line, once you accept that there are instances in which refusing care on moral grounds can be acceptable.

I draw the line at - as long as there is a suitable substitute for that nurse to care for the patient. If there isn't, then she's going to have to suck it up.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I've cared for pts with swastikas. It was fine. As long as they do not threaten me. I did have a pt recently a few months ago who used racial slurs during care, and was swinging punches in the air when we tried to care for him. I called security every time I had to care for him. He was high off I don't know what substance. He kept nodding off, then punching the air shouting slurs and profanities.

But he was also sick with DM and a blood clot. Tough night. But I didn't refuse care. I documented so much that night.

But it was difficult to provide timely care.

[Lackofrespect]

I have had patients like that in the OR, cursing jewish and black people while the jewish and black doctors were going to take care of him. That is one stupid person who is going nowhere in life. We just told him its not very smart position to put himself in. People like this are going nowhere in this life and is not worth the breath it takes to discuss. There are a lot of ignorant people out there, if only we could deny them care........

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

I have had patients like that in the OR, cursing jewish and black people while the jewish and black doctors were going to take care of him. That is one stupid person who is going nowhere in life. We just told him its not very smart position to put himself in. People like this are going nowhere in this life and is not worth the breath it takes to discuss. There are a lot of ignorant people out there, if only we could deny them care........

Sometimes they learn better. Sometimes they make amends.

I am glad it is not OK to deny care and perhaps let someone die because they are stupid. Only in self defense or defending another's life could I kill or let someone die.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/swastikas-amp-nursing-1175429-page4.html#post9954087

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm going to go against the grain, but as a black person, I will not put up with racist remarks and derogatory comments from a patient. If the patient is respectful, then we're good to go. But I'm not about to be called the n-word or deal with obscenities for 12 hrs. Nope.

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

I'm going to go against the grain, but as a black person, I will not put up with racist remarks and derogatory comments from a patient. If the patient is respectful, then we're good to go. But I'm not about to be called the n-word or deal with obscenities for 12 hrs. Nope.

Not letting a patient abuse you is completely different from refusing to provide nursing care.

[remotefuse]

This post just reminded me of a patient I had a couple of years ago. He was in his 50's and had racist tattoos everywhere. He just kept apologizing to me, and was so embarrassed about them. Apparently, he'd gotten them when he was much younger and completely regretted it. I actually felt pretty bad for him.

[jaderook01, BSN, RN]

If I refused to care for every single patient with whom I had moral disagreements, I'd likely rarely work.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

In a case of reverse discrimination to what is being described here: one time a nurse on AN swore that she will NEVER allow anyone who has ever had an abortion to take care of her. She honestly didn't get it when people told her that unless nurses and other HCW who have had abortions have a scarlet A on their foreheads, most likely she had already been cared for by such a person.

[bd2rn]

I have, over the years, asked for and received support from colleagues when I have had difficulty managing my feelings about certain unsavory patients. There is everything right about that. I have a few times switched assignments with another nurse so that she could get away from a patient that was behaving inappropriately towards her. I'm getting old enough and sturdy enough that they don't pull that crap on me. It's one of the unexpected, but happy benefits of aging.

[bd2rn]

Food for thought, huh?

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

If I get a Neo-Nazi patient; as long as he/she doesn't jeopardize my safety or try to trigger a reaction out of me, then I will continue to do my nursing duty.