Are you afraid to approach minority staff members? WHY?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It's been said that racism and discrimination runs both ways. White nurses complain that minorities gather together and exclude them from conversations. Minorities say that they are passed over for "cream of the crop" jobs that are given to white nurses. Staff members report that minority CNA's and support staff give preferential treatment to their own.

IS THIS ALL TRUE?

Yep, it is. But I want to hear from everyone out there. What's your beef? What's the problem? How can it be addressed?

Don't be shy. Don't be skerred. Are we not professionals? Isn't this the place to discuss these sensitive issues? If you don't contribute how are we going to learn from each other?

So, come on. Leave your inhibitions at the door. Don your flaming suits, get out the dictionaries and thesaurus' and let's get SOME DISCUSSION GOING ON THIS.

Maybe, just maybe we'll learn some great things through discussion. :)

The only thing that chaps my hide is when someone assumes I am a CNA because of my color. I don't have to say a word just walk in the presence of some ignorant people and they assume otherwise. If you do not know my title ask before assumption. I give everyone that same respect I expect it from others too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Critical Care, NICU, Burn.

Wonderful thread! It's interesting to see the responses from around the country. I do think region has a lot of influence on how people are treated/respond to this subject. I could go on and on and on about the different situations I've seen. Live in KS, can really appreciate researchrabbit's response; don't think we've ever met, but you sound like a good shot in the arm for the University! (If you're no longer there, it's a tremendous loss for them:) ). I also tend to greet everyone I see, and I have noticed a BIG difference in responses. The responses are culturally based, usually, and the stoic Germanic/Lutheran WASP types look straight through me as if I'm not there--and I'm white (okay, brunette w/olive complexion). People are just afraid to communicate, I guess; maybe they're afraid friendliness is catching!:roll Personally I try very hard to get along well with my coworkers; I had one bad experience as a GN, but I blamed management more than the CNA involved, plus my lack of maturity at the time. THe long shot was, it made me VERY aware of how I treat nurse techs, unit clerks (HUC's), housekeeping, etc; we're all in this together, these people are often lifesavers themselves and have saved my backside more than once with their willingness to help. Also had a really bad experience with a very angry young woman a couple years ago; even our nurses of color had issues with her. I only took care of her child one am, she told me to leave the room in inappropriate language and continued to harass me even though I never took care of the child again. Took baby home, refused all assistance, took off home apnea monitor, child came back to hospital DOA 10 days after she took her home. Why was she allowed to take infant home even after repeated documentation of her refusal to cooperate? We'll never know for sure, but her threatening behavior may have had a lot to do with it (nobody wanted to incite or agitate her further). The system failed her, us and the child. :o Sorry this is so long.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Teshiee

The only thing that chaps my hide is when someone assumes I am a CNA because of my color. I don't have to say a word just walk in the presence of some ignorant people and they assume otherwise. If you do not know my title ask before assumption. I give everyone that same respect I expect it from others too.

That would really upset me too...........unfortunately I have seen people(many times the families of patients)assume that if you are anything but white than you are an aide. Give me a break!! I also work with a nurse that is Chinese and we had a patient tell her to "get back to her own country"...........I was appalled but I have to say that she handled it wonderfully. Actually she was born here in the US, so she is in HER country and this patient is the one who was an immigrant.......she didn't stoop herself to that level of saying that but she did let it be known that she was born and raised here in the US. We as Americans seem to base so much on not only what color we are, but what we look like, how we talk etc............I'm sure that we've all seen this happen. Very sad that in this day and age this occurs.

Anyways, teshiee, I wanted to agree with ya on this one. I would be upset too.

JUDE

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is the most pleasant thread on race I have ever read.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have never had a problem working with any one of any race as long as they spoke English and could both at least if we understand each other, have been great friends and coworkers. This may be because Mom brought me up well and I was born in LA. and around all types of people.

I will never forget the day when a black family did state they felt because I was white. I could not give proper care to there dad Made me cry. He and I were very close and talked all the time. He was dying on the cancer ward and was a very interesting Old man he had been dean at a collage.

This girl I worked with was My friend and She was Black. named Kisha. The family went to her and stated they wanted her instead the stated they felt I couldn't care for there Dad as well being white. Kisha turned around and stated to them that there Dad and I were very close and I was his nurse and couldn't get better care from anyone and they needed to deal with there prejudging. I finally was able to win the family around after Kisha stated what She did. They saw my concern and great respect for there Dad and allowed me to my job. I will always be in Kisha debet for what she did for me. I was able to take care of him until he died.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks, Jude!!! Honestly anyone who has been in a diverse culture is really blessed because it adds so much spice to the health profession. I really love to see a mixture of people. You learn so much from one another. I say one love one love irie irie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by TheLionessRN

I do remember a certain unit clerk that I worked with until she quit due to illness...she had been written up a number of times for inaccuracies and serious mistakes in transcription, and for laziness and bad attitude. About 15 years ago, she hired a lawyer and threatened a lawsuit when she was almost fired for some error she made. She accused the hospital of racism, and they didn't fire her out of fear.

That kind of behavior makes me livid, and I don't understand it at all...from either standpoint.

Yes, It sickens me too when the "Racism" card is used as a poor defense for trifling work behavior. However, I would be interested to know how many other unit assistants made the same amount of errors, mistakes and so on, but where not written up.

A foul behavior doesn't make a foul worker, just as a nicey-nice behavior doesn't make a stellar worker. I'm not defending a bad attitude in anyone, just mentioning that in this situation, would she have been written up as much if she was sweet as syrup? Would she have been afforded the "New", "Nice" or "Give her a break because ______" card, if she performed poorly but was nice? Or did she make it easy because of her rotten attitude.....?

While we are on attitudes...

Attitude is sometimes interpreted in different ways by different people. Most often "Attitude" is a perception defined by one's own idea's of what is acceptable or not. People at my job are used to me being the upbeat, talkative person. On days that I'm just chilling or not feeling so lively, I'm often asked "Are you OK". or "What's wrong?". I have answered nothing and was latter told I was having an "attitude day".

:confused:

I am a hard person to read if I'm not smiling. Usually, I'm just minding my own little business, doing what needs to be done in my day. I'm not rude to staff who approach me, I'm just not as bubbly all the time. This doesn't deem me to have an attitude, just because someone thinks I'm less threatening if I'm smiling all the time. I can't speak for all blacks on this issue, but from experience I feel when we're not smiling, its perceived that we become intimidating....Why? We do not have to smile all the time to be approachable, happy and cool. Just something to think about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

Race has nothing to do with nursing at all

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.
Originally posted by FutureRN_Mandi

Race has nothing to do with nursing at all

I've got to disagree with you there Mandi - in an ideal world it wouldn't matter, but in reality it can affect the way my patients view me,and their care and any preconceptions my coworkers and I may have will affect our working relationship. So it's much better to drag this out in the open, discuss and acknowlege cultural differences in attitudes and work it out together.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by bagladyrn

I've got to disagree with you there Mandi - in an ideal world it wouldn't matter, but in reality it can affect the way my patients view me,and their care and any preconceptions my coworkers and I may have will affect our working relationship. So it's much better to drag this out in the open, discuss and acknowlege cultural differences in attitudes and work it out together.

Well said, bagladyrn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In reply to the minority issue, unfortunely it is alive and well in MS, I am sorry to say, i.e. this black nurse was informed by her white D.O.N. that she never talked at least quote "you come to work and you don't talk to anyone except to talk about work."So to make along story short she was told in essence she did not fit in @ this faculity.I have had so many of these experiences and know soo many people who has had them, that I find myself truly questioning my profession.It seems that if you want to take care of pts,provide care and not discuss your personal life or other peoples,you are in the wrong business.Another question unrelated, when did it become up to us as nurses to be able to decide if a pt is really in pain and needed pain meds,ordered by the MD.Enough ,for now thanks for allowing me to vent.:confused: :confused: :confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by LasVegasRN

This is the most pleasant thread on race I have ever read.

You are so right girlfriend! green1.gif

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment