Racism in the workplace

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Not to be a downer or anything but I have noticed some harsh things said about patients and sometimes even co workers in my unit when they think no one else can hear them. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Specializes in Critical Care, Surgical ICU.

My parents and grandparents marched too long and put up with too much for me to take things for granted.

I totally agree with this!

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I work in a very diverse setting, patients and staff. There are times when I am the only person of "non-color" on my shift. I have worked there for 14 years. We for the most part all get along quite well, most people realizing we are all working to take care of PEOPLE of all races, colors and creeds. We have had a few bad eggs, and people don't like the BEHAVIOR. Those people are not well liked and treated as such.

We had a patient over the weekend tell a staff member that she needed to "go back to where you came from where you make $6.00 per hour. You don't belong here, I do". The RN was Filapino, the patient black. ALL of the staff members were upset. Everyone thought that the patient was disrespectful and they all stuck together on this. A quote from a CNA was "we all work too hard for him to say some s*** like that".

Racism is everywhere, we all have to decide if we are going to feed into it or not.

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, and now office nursing.

In my wing, racism seems to go both ways- Too bad people forget that NONE of us are true americans- only American Indians can say "go back to where you came from". All of our ancestors came over on a boat. I treat everyone equal- no matter what color-Since I live in Southern florida, we have quite a mixture of culture- mostly hispanics, jamaican and blacks. Color is only skin deep- we are all the same underneath. Too bad so many forget that!

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What would you do if you felt that you were not being granted an interview because your name was "foreign" or obviously insinuated a particular religion or race?? I am so tempted to call up the HR dept and call them on it. I have applied to 1 hospital for over 2 years as a CNA or Unit Secretary and have never been called by the HR rep. The positions remain open for months. I know that I have the experience, educational background and skills but am CERTAIN that is discrimination. I am extremely frustrated and am increasingly angry.

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This is what I don't understand. We have an African American student in our class and, last semester, she would not shut up. It's was so disruptive to the point that you could not hear the lecture.

Finally, after several warnings, the teachers put her on probation. And then she claimed she was a victim of racism!

Spike Lee's documentary featured African American citizens who were claiming that the New Orleans levees were intentionally bombed in the black neighborhoods to save the white neighborhoods.

Intentionally bombed by whom? New Orleans government has been run by African Americans for nearly 30 years now.

Sometimes it gets to the point that everything is "racist" even when it's not. I don't see how this helps us solve or address the real problems of racism.

:typing

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I am white...and usually the minority on the culturally diverse unit I work on. There are times I am the only white person working on the unit....and my coworkers are sure to point it out. Sometimes they call me the white girl...I usually just laugh it off. Sometimes it bother's me, as I would never label a coworker.

What bother's me is when coworker's start talking to each other in a language I don't understand. I think in general most people are bothered by this.

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You made me laugh! :chuckle :D

But, seriously, anonymity is the true beauty of the world wide web.

So did I Commuter. And I agree with you about the WWW. I am black female in Tx also and I do worry about the racism and if it could possibly stop others from seeing what God has gifted me with as a nurse (to be of course, not a nurse yet)

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Specializes in ICU,ER.
Sometimes it gets to the point that everything is "racist" even when it's not. I don't see how this helps us solve or address the real problems of racism.

You know, I have to agree with you on this.

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This is what I don't understand. We have an African American student in our class and, last semester, she would not shut up. It's was so disruptive to the point that you could not hear the lecture.

Finally, after several warnings, the teachers put her on probation. And then she claimed she was a victim of racism!

Spike Lee's documentary featured African American citizens who were claiming that the New Orleasn levees were intentionally bombed in the black neighborhoods to save the white neighborhoods.

Intentionally bombed by whom? New Orleans government has been run by African Americans for nearly 30 years now.

Sometimes it gets to the point that everything is "racist" even when it's not. I don't see how this helps us solve or address the real problems of racism.

:typing

I am black and I feel you... It REALLY bothers me when we use the race card because it really discredits us when we need to use it. Racism exists, some places.. and so does ignorance and rudeness.. I know rude blacks, whites, and the like.. just chalk it up as a rude "person" who tried to use what they knew best to get out of being called out for being loud.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

My husband works in the federal penitentiary. He was telling me about this white guy at work. When he finished his story asked him how badly was the guy bruised. He said there was no confrontation or physical assault and asked me why I asked. My reply was that he referred to the man as "a white guy at work". Being in a violent place, I assumed the mention of his race was to explain the severe discolorations after an assault. My point was that I knew none of the guys at his job, so what difference does it make whether he was white or black. His reply to me was, "Smart ass." I am multi-racial as many of us are even though the color of the skin may only say one particular color. My grandmother was white, grandfathers...1 black; 1 indian, another grandmother black. I take offense to any type of racism because you never really know your true origins; only as far back as your family tree was DOCUMENTED. The key is to not show your emotions or your anger because if you gave energy to that type of stuff, you probably would be mad EVERY SINGLE DAY!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
In 50 years we will all be such ethnic mutts there may not even be a race anymore. Who knows, we might have to concentrate on peoples character instead of skin color!!!!

There are three major phenotypes (sub-types) of humans: Caucasian, African, Asian.

As a biologist, I know that one of the essential elements of maintaining phenotypical diversity is 'genetic isolation'. Without relatively absolute genetic isolation, phenotypes tend to breed into a dominant cross-phenotype over time.

This is what you are talking about. It really is a small world. Give it 10 generations. Phenotypes only exist in a genetic vacuum.

As it is, when any form asks me my race, I check 'other' and write in: American.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
There are three major phenotypes (sub-types) of humans: Caucasian, African, Asian.

As a biologist, I know that one of the essential elements of maintaining phenotypical diversity is 'genetic isolation'. Without relatively absolute genetic isolation, phenotypes tend to breed into a dominant cross-phenotype over time.

This is what you are talking about. It really is a small world. Give it 10 generations. Phenotypes only exist in a genetic vacuum.

As it is, when any form asks me my race, I check 'other' and write in: American.

~faith,

Timothy.

I need you to help me with A&P. I guess everybody knows by now that I need help with A&P.icon10.gif If you were amy brother, I would call you an egghead. But since you are unrelated, it must be just plain ingenuity.
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