Defending gays and lesbians

[lassy]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:30pm

For months now I've had the displeasure of working with two people who voice their bigoted opinions on any gay or lesbian patients' sexuality. I have threatened them with written complaints, have filed complaints against one of them twice, and taken each aside to personally ask them to refrain from making rude comments out of respect for me and others who don't share their opinions. My manager and our personnel office has been very supportive of my efforts and both people have been notified that their next infraction will result in their termination.

Fortunately for the patients, I've never witnessed any discriminatory behavior toward these patients in terms of direct clinical treatment or hateful remarks. If I had this would make the decision to report these nurses and cause their termination so much easier.

Because of the nationwide nursing shortage, our hospital is dangerously short of nursing help. Clinically, these nurses are among the best I've ever worked with. However, I think professionalism doesn't end with bedside care, and I know that any day now I will be forced, by actions of these particular nurses, to initiate their firing. I truly believe that health care needs to weed out such discriminatory people, but a shortage will put other patients at risk.

I'm quite prepared to work with others who feel I am taking too far because I know this is the right thing. I admire all of you who have lived and worked with this your whole lives. I know my aggravations are nothing compared to what others have suffered, but it's still exhausting to feel like the lone voice screaming out at injustice. Reading some of the thread here that are infused with gay pride are reassuring and inspiring.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:33pm

take the two of them online and show them
this post