Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by Spoiled1

Commuter,

I am starting to notice the same thing here...not a lot of African-Americans, but a lot of Africans. Interesting...

I am hoping to work in an ICU and I am sure there will be few if any African American people there

You are correct there does seem to be more of our African brothers in nursing than African Americans. Also, ICU is a beast of a different color. There are very few AfrAm of any color, orientation, or gender. At least that's the case here in MD.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

I'm not too far way here in NC, and I am willing to put money on the fact if chosen for an ICU job I will be more than likely the only woman of color. The ICUs here have few women of color, and almost no men of color. I wonder how we could promote more diversity in the nursing profession??

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by firechalice

ICU is a beast of a different color. There are very few AfrAm of any color, orientation, or gender. At least that's the case here in MD.

In my geographic region (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas), the black nurses and other racial-ethnic minorities tend to congregate the very physically demanding hospital units such as med/surg, telemetry, ortho/neuro, acute rehab, inpatient hospice, subacute, the ER, and transitional care. The Caucasian nurses can also be found in the aforementioned units, but you'll see them predominantly in the ICU, L&D, pediatrics, the OR, the radiology suites, and other specialties.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

In my geographic region (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas), the black nurses and other racial-ethnic minorities tend to congregate the very physically demanding hospital units such as med/surg, telemetry, ortho/neuro, acute rehab, inpatient hospice, subacute, the ER, and transitional care. The Caucasian nurses can also be found in the aforementioned units, but you'll see them predominantly in the ICU, L&D, pediatrics, the OR, the radiology suites, and other specialties.

I'm familiar with that area. I only worked at one hospital and then I was one of three AfrAm male nurses and the others were not in ICU. I was the only AfrAm male in any of the ICUs. Its challenging sometimes.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Spoiled1Re: Any black male nurses out there?
Commuter,

I am starting to notice the same thing here...not a lot of African-Americans, but a lot of Africans. Interesting...

I am hoping to work in an ICU and I am sure there will be few if any African American people there
I am begining to think that AA are more discriminatory than any group.I never hear whites talk about "german immigrants, Danish etc immigrants", but for AA's Africans are not 'black'. Remember at first Obama wasn't black too( Bob Rush). As an African and an American, do I still need to provide some bona fides to qualify as a black man.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by Ken02

I am begining to think that AA are more discriminatory than any group.I never hear whites talk about "german immigrants, Danish etc immigrants", but for AA's Africans are not 'black'. Remember at first Obama wasn't black too( Bob Rush). As an African and an American, do I still need to provide some bona fides to qualify as a black man.

Racially, we're all the same (read: we're all black).

Culturally, African Immigrants and AAs are drastically different. Something must be very wrong if you cannot admit that we grew up immersed in divergent cultures. It is not about being discriminatory.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by Ken02

Spoiled1Re: Any black male nurses out there?
Commuter,

I am starting to notice the same thing here...not a lot of African-Americans, but a lot of Africans. Interesting...

I am hoping to work in an ICU and I am sure there will be few if any African American people there
I am begining to think that AA are more discriminatory than any group.I never hear whites talk about "german immigrants, Danish etc immigrants", but for AA's Africans are not 'black'. Remember at first Obama wasn't black too( Bob Rush). As an African and an American, do I still need to provide some bona fides to qualify as a black man.

I agree, culturally, we are vastly different and when white Americans want to make a distinction then it may be mentioned that he/she is French, British, or German. There is not question as to whether or not Africans are black or whether are not they are African Americans. Both are true. It's only relevant as a matter of cultural diversity. My Egyptian concierge says that he is black but he emphasizes that he is also EGYPTIAN. Our frame of reference (slavery, jim crow, islam, christianity, PORK ;>) is different though our values are very similar.

Many Africans may have come from a place were everyone looked the same so color may not have been much of an issue. Discrimination may have resulted from socioeconomic status in those countries. Well here in America, how you look has often affected your socioeconomic status and looking "black" has not been conducive to upward mobility. Yes, we do need to grow as we have racisim within our own communities but we know where it has come from and understand that it is likely to be worse as we face others outside of the African diaspora who base their judgment on what they have seen through the eyes of the media.

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Hey yall,
I am a black male student actually enrolled in SC. I must say that there arent many here in sc either. I mean its one thing to be a nurse and a man and be black lord. More people of minority should really step up to the plate. Im sure that many dont want to be classified as something that their social groups would isolate as a punk or whatever. But hey I say I love it and with little support but myself right now im taking my pride and putting my all in it. I havent even finished high school yet so im enrolled in pre-nursing classes and about to start online high school diploma classes at accred. online school. So im staying very busy. I need some male nursing associates is what I need. Since I dont have any regular friends that i can relate to since im away from home! Anyone need associates?

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Greetings, all. I'm a young american african ( american being the adjective, since I AM a person of African decent that just happened to be born in America, without being so political, lol) & as my screen name implies, I am a lady. I'm jus lookn around here & I simply must chime in! I'll first issue a disclaimer, I dont mean to offend anyone & I apologize in advance if I do. Furthermore, in my perfect Utopia, there is only 1 race, the human race, now lets get real. The bottom line is that when someone of another race lays eyes on us, ( particularly Caucus mountain people) we are all blacks. So why all the segregation within the race? United we stand, divided we fall is what I say. Brothers, I commend you for all of your hard work & - know a lack of familiar faces can make you a bit uncomfortable, but know that there is nothing more beautiful than you you in business mode( well, maybe child birth). But I'm biased, my father looks like you!

Re: Any black male nurses out there?

Originally Posted by Ladyashleyd

The bottom line is that when someone of another race lays eyes on us, ( particularly Caucus mountain people) we are all blacks. So why all the segregation within the race? United we stand, divided we fall is what I say.

Ladyasheleyd, I agree with you. When others see us we are seen as black. When i see us, all I see is a beautiful black people full of diversity, different values, faiths, and creeds. We are different within our race because of culture--even down to the smallest family unit. We are no different from any other race of people. Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans are all Hispanic but they are different. Unified in some causes and diverse in others. The French, Germans, British and plain old white Americans are no different. African Americans whose parents were slaves or have been here for generations have a unique perspective of what it means to be American. Many people born in Africa think we have had it easy and won't let go of the past. At least this is what some have told me. We all struggle for equality because we are all black but not all of us see the same past.

For example, I was told by a Nigerian woman that she once told an African American girl.."at least my father sent me over here and I didn't come on a ship". I cannot remember what that was in response to but I can remember that she said that. I was stunned. My response was because of the struggle those who came on a ship you can enjoy the freedoms offered here in America.