Tired of discrimination

Nurses Relations

Published

Hi, Im RN and I'm also ESL (English second language) speaker and I cover my hair (for religious purposes). And I'n tired of being treated as crap by my management. I work for the same place for 4 years, as an aid, TMA and then RN. What I've notice that if you re not white American you will never be promoted, you will not get hours you want, you will be treated like crap. Of course all management is white americans. And as soon as one comes on the floor they soon get promoted to office/better schedule job.

I'm venting. Today the DON was on my floor, showing place around and didn't even say HI to me, while I was running around working short stuffed. She did find time to say HI and friendly chat with housekeeper who, guess what? White American lady.

I'm tired of being treated like a crap just because of the way I look and my accent. I think I'm good professional and want to be judged by my performance and not appearance.

Specializes in CCM, PHN.

Oh, and I also was born & raised in MN. And worked in LTCs there. MN is one of the most welcoming states in the country of immigrants and people of different faiths, it's WAY more progressive than people know. Why do you think there are TONS of Somalis, refugees, Hmong, Eritreans, Muslims, etc., everywhere? We threw open our gates to MANY refugees in the 90s and now. I have never encountered any kind of obvious, in-your-face, direct forms of discrimination in any work place there. Sure - there's some passive aggressive racism that goes on, but that goes on everywhere.

You need to toughen up, develop a nice, dark, cynical sense of humor and just grow up a little. Not everything is about your head scarf.

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Specializes in LTC.
What is this crap? Are you people for real? I love how almost every post is undermining the OP because they don't believe racial discrimination exists anymore when it is clearly happening in this very thread. The feeling I get from the responses is people believe the OP is at fault because she is upset. What's I'm hearing is "Those people scream 'Discrimination!' every time they don't get their way. They're taking away white privilege and causing us to be treated just like everyone else! Boohoo!" Yeah, you don't think it exists because you don't understand it because it's never happened to you because you have the privilege of being white in a predominantly white society. People get passed over promotions, jobs, and lots of other things because of their race and/or religion ALL THE TIME. Who are you to decide whether the OP is really being discriminated against or not? You don't know her, and you don't know the people she works with. You've decided she's being passed over for promotions, or even a hello from coworkers because of her attitude in one angry post. I have seen so many angry rants and venting articles by nurses who've had bad days at work or are dealing with a hostile work environment and nobody denies that their experiences are real. But this person says she's being racially discriminated against and is upset about it, and all of a sudden she's full of crap and people like her are oppressing white Americans. Get over yourselves and have some empathy for someone who has to struggle in a society with people like you in it.[/quote']

Thank you so much for saying this.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I love how almost every post is undermining the OP because they don't believe racial discrimination exists anymore, when it is clearly happening in this very thread.

The feeling I get from the responses is people believe the OP is at fault because she is upset.

But this person says she's being racially discriminated against and is upset about it, and all of a sudden she's full of crap and people like her are oppressing white Americans.

Please enlighten us all to the specific examples of discrimination happening in this thread. That's a fairly large accusation, so be clear.

I don't think anyone said the OP was as fault for being upset?

She is being racially discriminated against just because she says so and everyone should blindly accept that and enable her? Is it that shocking that a bunch of nurses would ask for clarification/evidence? Would you say that referring to different subsets of Americans by skin color is racist?

Do you think if we took race entirely out of the picture, that a RN with poor written skills who has been working less than six months in their role should expect a promotion? Do you think perhaps some more time in the job, a higher degree, improved communication might improve the chances of promotion?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
One of the OP's complaints was that she was passed over for promotion and she has surmised that the reason is discrimination because of her religion, race, country of origin or whatever.[/quote']

Education, experience, and professionalism apparently are less important than race.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

OP, if you are interested in moving up at your place of employment you should let your manager know. Tell them why you are interested and ask if there are any improvements or things that you can do to get there.

I am a white female and have been discriminated against, too. I don't mean to downplay your situation, but racism is everywhere. I think it is very natural to feel anger and hate towards people who are different. I think the best way to deal with it is by not showing that hate in return. So while you feel upset that you are treated differently at work, don't let that be your focus. Instead, focus on accomplishing your goals.

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I know about "gut" feelings and agree that it is a personal experience. I ALWAYS do a "self check" first and go from that point. Thinking it through or talking it out with someone who I trust!

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
OP, if you are interested in moving up at your place of employment you should let your manager know. Tell them why you are interested and ask if there are any improvements or things that you can do to get there.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to get ahead, and are interested in positions that others are obtaining, you need to go to those in charge and show interest, and ask what you need to do to advance.

We all deal with bias. I have pale skin, red hair and blue eyes, and dealt with prejudice because I am not Christian. In nursing school, I had a teacher that felt that students with IBD had no business becoming nurses, and tried to fail me. In high school, I was discouraged from attending college despite having excellent grades, because I was from a lower class family.

I currently work in in one of the highest ranked hospitals in the world. I have worked in three of the top ranked hospitals in this nation, and have excellent reviews from them.

You find many people are antagonized by the charges of racism or religious discriminations. Most of us have experienced bias in many forms over our lifetimes and have had to overcome it. Many people ( more often women ) think that if they go with the flow and think that advancement will just come to them - and get defensive when it doesn't .

So discover what is expected of you and exceed those expectations.

One thing, please improve your spelling and grammar. While many of us have mistakes in our posts , some of your mistakes make it difficult to understand your posts. In many workplaces, poor communication will bar you from advancement.

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

You're in MN? I'm in MN and where I'm at is a VERY racially and culturally diverse place. We have on the unit I work at: Hispanic nurses, Hmong Nurses, Somail Nurses Ethiopian Nurses, African Nurses, African American nurses and we're all treated the same regardless. You don't get promoted unless you have some experience under your belt, and if the gal who did get promoted-who had the same amount of experience as you did, then unfortunately she knows someone who knows someone. That's how it works in that case. It may be the facility you're at- muscle through it, get your one year of experience and move on to somewhere better. I'll tell you though, at the hosptial I work at, it's true- white middle-class/upper class nurses are becoming the minority and the nurses who get the special treatment are the ones who have worked at said facility since 1976 and they've earned it.

I have no doubt you're picking up hostile vibes- but mind that you're not putting them out there too. That just spirals and nobody is happy.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

.....oh this is going to be one of those good post....:sneaky:

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
Please enlighten us all to the specific examples of discrimination happening in this thread. That's a fairly large accusation, so be clear.

I don't think anyone said the OP was as fault for being upset?

She is being racially discriminated against just because she says so and everyone should blindly accept that and enable her? Is it that shocking that a bunch of nurses would ask for clarification/evidence? Would you say that referring to different subsets of Americans by skin color is racist?

Do you think if we took race entirely out of the picture, that a RN with poor written skills who has been working less than six months in their role should expect a promotion? Do you think perhaps some more time in the job, a higher degree, improved communication might improve the chances of promotion?

very well stated, great assessment

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if the gal who did get promoted-who had the same amount of experience as you did, then unfortunately she knows someone who knows someone.
Or perhaps she has a more pleasant disposition, is better spoken, is more diligent, etc.
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As a white person 'of a certain age' I have had the very good fortune of never experiencing racial discrimination. However I have been subjected to other types of bias ... particularly gender bias and (now) ageism. As a result, I have come to realize that perception of 'discrimination' is a personal experience. It is a gut feeling. People who have experienced it are much more sensitive to those 'vibes' than the very fortunate/clueless people who have never been on the receiving end. Just like a victim of assault, becomes extremely vigilant to the slightest signs of aggression in any interaction, individuals who have experienced discrimination are much more sensitive to it in the future. Granted, that experience could cause a person to become hyper-sensitive to the the slightest indication of bias.... but I believe that those of us who are not in the same 'skin' simply aren't tuned in to the same vibes. As a result of my own experiences & reflection on this issue, I no longer attempt to dissuade anyone that their feelings of bias/discrimination are wrong or mistaken. It would be like telling them they are not really cold or fearful. Just sayin' . . .[/quote']

Thank you. Well said!

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