On my shift tonight, while stabilizing her cspine, a patient called me a “dirty black monkey” and said some other colorful words about my family. It was then that I realized I was the only black person in the room.

I know it’s silly, but the hardest part for me was convincing my team I was okay. What to do in these situations?
(By the by, my attending handled it well!!)

I want to thank everyone for their support. I shared this story because it is not mine to bear alone - I’m the target, not a victim. This patient spat at me, pinched me, and the last was the racial slur. Our hospital samples our community. Change starts there.