An observation on perception and prejudice

[Horse with no Name]

We had two patients in the hospital recently.
One was a couple. They had a new baby. All kinds of nice stuff..blankets from Nordstroms, koozies made with the baby's name on them...really expensive stuff. They took their baby home in a customized (expensive) monogrammed outfit and blanket.
Many of the staff fawned on them because they perceived this was a "good" family. The wreath on their door was massive...covered the entire door.
The other was a single parent. Her room was sparse. There was a small, but pretty, wreath on her door. She dressed her baby in a cute outfit--but it was from Walmart. She wrapped her in a baby blanket from the hospital.
I watched as some of the staff members treated her as they do many that are on Medicaid. Tolerance would be the best word.
Coupled with the fact that the baby was mixed. Their noses turned up at her.

We have some "extra" stuff that we give to the insured patients. Hospital philosophy is that we want the ones that pay to come back.:puke: Anyway, I was readying them both for discharge at the same time. I got the "extras" and I slipped them into the bag of the single parent. My charge nurse was upset and grabbed them and put them in the diaper bag of the couple.
I asked what she was doing...she said those were to go ONLY to the insured patients.
I told her that they were.

The single mother had health insurance. The elite couple did not.

They were the Medicaid family.

The look on her face was priceless. I sincerely doubt it was a lesson learned that would endure longevity. But for the short-term, it was a kick in the pants.

[Warpy]

1. I wish I could tell you how much of that I've seen

but it would depress you, no doubt.

I wish your charge nurse would find another occupation, like screening cases at some heartless insurance giant. She clearly doesn't have what it takes to be around human beings.

I see most racism as classism. People of color are treated barely civilly by professionals because they're perceived to be poor, no matter how much gold and diamond jewelry they're sporting, or what labels are in their clothing. People see a brown or black face and click on "poor, lazy, no account, shiftless, and probably drug addicted." Picking the brains of people who do this has confirmed it.

It may have been a form of justice that the hoity toity Medicaid couple got the extras, they probably needed them. It was just a dirty shame that the single mom got treated so badly.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. great story! nt

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. Oh to have seen that look.

When reality crashes into preconception.

Thanks for a great tale Horse with no name. :hi:

[Cobalt Violet]

4. She needed that kick in the pants.

I'm glad you did it.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Good for you! Way to go. I like your style! n/t

[Straight Shooter]

6. Ka-POW!!!

Best wishes to the mother and her newborn baby. With you as their "guardian angel" advocate on the beginning of their journey together in life, whether they know it or not, they have begun that journey with great blessings.

:thumbsup:

[BeFree]

7. They were the Medicaid family.

Why am I not surprised?