Power, Silence, and Debriefing: Hidden Harms When Palliative Teams Encounter Racism

Description: This publication describes a sentinel event of a racist comment from a family member about diverse staff during a palliative care consult. The case study provides a vivid description of the event. The authors emphasize that the lack of support expressed by the white staff was as egregious as the comments that were made about members of the team who came from diverse backgrounds.

AACN Domain(s): Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Communication; Ethics

Format: Article

Audience: Associates Level; Baccalaureate Level; Graduate Level; Practicing Nurses

Cost: Available from the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Tips and Suggestions: Recognizing power differentials and what to do about it is helpful in communicating with patients and colleagues. Due to the emotionally charged nature of this resource, faculty should be prepared to debrief with students regarding the implications of these types of situations.

Citation: McKillip, K. M., & Moss, Rev. F. “FLOMO.” (2021). Power, Silence, and Debriefing: Hidden Harms When Palliative Teams Encounter Racism. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 61(6), 1311–1315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.128