Racism in nursing

[KCIN]

Please share your experiences.I am not a white female nurse, and occasions have risen where I have suspected that I was victimized because of my race.I just moved on and ignored it, because people who have a problem such as racism, # 1, may not even be aware that they are discriminating and #2, if they are, are probably too comfortable in their attitudes to want to change it.

those complaints about you that reach the managers about your attitude problems or your mistakes, if any, are usually exaggerated and petty. i really find it disgusting, when the same folks cuddle up to a minority doctor or other 'higher-up' who has authority over them, yet are unmerciful to those over whom they have power.

[live4today, RN]

Hi cursenurse :)

Go for it woman! :chuckle You will cherish the looks on their faces for the rest of the shift when you do. They dont' know what's coming, and so quite naturally it catches them off guard. Then, after you let them know that you ARE the nurse, continue to treat them with kindness. Many will warm up to you caring for them, but I've had a few that didn't, so another nurse would volunteer to give up a patient in exchange for the one who simply can't let go of the racism they are used to living with...and apparently enjoy staying that way. That is certainly their choice to have a nurse they are "comfortable with"...I've survived a lot of abuse in my life, so racial abuse doesn't hold much weight to the other. I'm a survivor! :)

Hey, let me know what reaction you get when you try that, okay? Send me a "PM" and let me know. :)

[danu3]

cheerfuldoer said:

I've had patients refuse me as a nurse because I'm not white. I've had problems with staff for the same reason. I'm often mistaken by patients and staff that don't already know I'm a RN for being a CNA, housekeeping, secretary. When they ask me to get the nurse, I walk away and return by saying, you needed to see the nurse. :chuckle

Let me enhance this, I don't know how ethical it is however...

When you come back and see a surprise look... say something like "Oh, that was my twic sister/brother Jane/John... s/he said you wanted a RN..."

-Dan

[live4today, RN]

danu3 said:

Let me enhance this, I don't know how ethical it is however...

When you come back and see a surprise look... say something like "Oh, that was my twic sister/brother Jane/John... s/he said you wanted a RN..."

-Dan

That's a good one Dan!

Don't know that I would try that. Ethically it would get me fired or pulled on the red carpet by the nurse manager at best, especially in today's world of nursing where SOME patients and SOME visitors love nothing more than to tattle on nurses and get them in trouble. 

Still funny though!

[underwatergirl]

Interesting topic...I feel for the OP if the case maybe related to racisim. I agree with the person that nursing isn't immune to it...

However, if something a person does or says offends someone, can it always be chalked upto racisim???

Let me tell you this story, there was this friend of mine (color) who worked at a hospital. She would tell me all the time how she was discriminated against...eventually I took a position there...What I saw was this...several nurses were just plain cruel to people of all colors. However my friends was not doing her job...was being insubordinate. She deserved to be writen up...one night after work I had asked why she did what she did...this was her comment.."No one can fire me, I am a black women" I said flat to her face that doesn't give her a right not to do her job...well I lost a friend, and I also eventually left that hospital...I heard through the grape vine that she was fired and brought a class action suit against the hospital, lost because the hospital was in the right.

I think racisim is something that has gone in a bad direct...what I mean by that is we trade one race for another when it comes to certain issues...In america we have a nursing organization only opened to a particular race...I was curious being of opposite race if I would be allowed to join..well nope I wasn't, I kinda figured I wouldn't be allowed to, but hey I was just discriminated against!

True end to discrimination and beginning of equality..is every one is treated the same, minority to majority...race to race...sex to sex...no special considerations...no hiring one before the other, no resisting punishment when it is due. That is true equality...America has went in a different direction...Now there is a new racisim coming abroad...another 20 years like this and trouble will break.

Each race and sex as it's own special considerations...so if you allow organizations for one, the other must be allowed organizations. What individuals do isn't right, however we can not set society factors on individuals.

To the OP, what I would recommend is right down what has happened with you and this other person. If it is not the NM, good then go to the NM. However watch this person do they do it to other people too??? Purhaps people of other color than your own??? Sometimes we are quick to jump to conclusions before examining all evidence...If you find this person does it only to you...then I say confront him/her...ask them why...take it to their manager...if still the problem persists, I am sure you know the numbers to call. I also request that you give us the full details of the situation, if you are comfortable enough to.

I wish you the best,

Annette

[nelcoy4]

I agree with many of the posts here. I sometimes go through a lot because my age more than my race. I use to feel like my looks is a doulbe edge sword. I'm black and I look like I'm 16 years old. I had patients refuse me because I'm black or that I look to young. I had patients say so many racial slurs. ( I have never heard so my racial slurs said to my face untill I began nursing). I've had co-workers talk to me like I have dumb, dumb on my head or like I'm a child. Also at certain places I have work you see the cliques, (white nurses, women of color nurses, and the CNAs). I even had people of my own race say that, "I'm so proud of you for finishing school and blah, blah blah, but is there a older nurse working"

The point is that 3 years ago, I used to really get upset. After awhile it pushed me to work harder on educating myself and developing people skills. I treat everybody equaly at work and don't get in any cliques. I'm not saying that I try to be super-nurse. When I look back on it I see that it made a stronger person. I know when a patients calls me a racial or any other type of name it is out of ignorance or they are in pain or lost of control because of their disease. It doesn't make it right, but I let it roll of my back. Now co-workers I tend to still get a little upset, but I now vent when I get home or I will speak to them privately. I'm sorry if there is any spelling errors I was on a roll. To the nurse that started this topic, please don't let this people get you down. I'm not saying to be a pushover and let people talk to you any old way, but stand up for yourself in a way that will demand respect, but not get you in trouble with mangement. Thanks you guys for listening

[danu3]

This is totally offtopic but it reminded me when I was in high school where we have an Asian club. The advisor of the club is white. The president of the Asian club is black! The presendent of the club grew up with us as kids and so psychologically we were actually not really aware of his race. He is an extremely likeable guy and that's how he got to be the presendent of the club. The club made a rule change which basically say anyone can join who has an interest in Asian culture (so you don't have to be Asian to join).

One time we had an exchange program with Japan where they send us some of their students over and we send them ours. Well, the presendent of our club is one of the student we send over.

After he left for Japan, someone went "Hey, did you notice we just send a black person from an Asian club to Japan and we didn't tell them?" We all sort of went "Oh no..."

Well, it turned out ok after our hosts in Japan got over the initial shock.

-Dan

[cursenurse]

Nicmac4 said:

I agree with many of the posts here. I sometimes go through a lot because my age more than my race. I use to feel like my looks is a doulbe edge sword. I'm black and I look like I'm 16 years old. I had patients refuse me because I'm black or that I look to young. I had patients say so many racial slurs. ( I have never heard so my racial slurs said to my face untill I began nursing). I've had co-workers talk to me like I have dumb, dumb on my head or like I'm a child. Also at certain places I have work you see the cliques, (white nurses, women of color nurses, and the CNAs). I even had people of my own race say that, "I'm so proud of you for finishing school and blah, blah blah, but is there a older nurse working"

The point is that 3 years ago, I used to really get upset. After awhile it pushed me to work harder on educating myself and developing people skills. I treat everybody equaly at work and don't get in any cliques. I'm not saying that I try to be super-nurse. When I look back on it I see that it made a stronger person. I know when a patients calls me a racial or any other type of name it is out of ignorance or they are in pain or lost of control because of their disease. It doesn't make it right, but I let it roll of my back. Now co-workers I tend to still get a little upset, but I now vent when I get home or I will speak to them privately. I'm sorry if there is any spelling errors I was on a roll. To the nurse that started this topic, please don't let this people get you down. I'm not saying to be a pushover and let people talk to you any old way, but stand up for yourself in a way that will demand respect, but not get you in trouble with mangement. Thanks you guys for listening

I am so sorry for what you encounter at work. it is so unbelievable that you are facing so much racism. are you the only black person working there? it is so unreal that your pt's react like that when being cared for by a black professional. I don't understand, have they never seen black people; what planet are they from? I am a black nurse who has worked in inner city facilities and places very far out (one in a city known for having a high percentage of KKK members), and have never encountered anything like what you're talking about. maybe you should change jobs. I know that minority nurses are very much welcomed in inner city hospitals. you should go work somewhere where you will be appreciated. being in pain or being unhappy is no reason for pt's to be rude or offensive, I think that any racial slurs made by pt's or visitors should be addressed. no one should have to live like that.

[nelcoy4]

Now I work in Philadelphia and I don't encounter racism that much. I get more the age stuff. The places where I really encountered racism was at two small upper class white communities in Cali when I was a travel nurse. At one of the hospitals I was the only black in the hosp and at the other it was 1 on staff and 3 travelers in the hospital. It wasn't a totally bad experience there and there was some nice people that really welcomed me. Also management was supported me when I told them some of the stories.

[Geeg]

If someone is accusing you of making errors, it doesn't mean squat, unless there is documented proof.

[jenna3uc]

CHATSDALE said:

I personally think that there is probably less racism in nursing than in most other professions..basically because we have to depend on each other in emergencies

I have worked with asian, black, redneck, cajun, gay m/f, canadian, english and just about anything that you can think of in between..

some of the nurses were outstanding..some I suspected found their licenses in a box of cracker jack..but it had no relation to sex, race, sexual preference, point of orgin, level of education, pigamentation etc

I hope that op finds some smarter nurses to work with

what exactly is "REDNECK"?

[AlisonF]

CHATSDALE said:

I personally think that there is probably less racism in nursing than in most other professions..basically because we have to depend on each other in emergencies

I have worked with asian, black, redneck, cajun, gay m/f, canadian, english and just about anything that you can think of in between..

some of the nurses were outstanding..some I suspected found their licenses in a box of cracker jack..but it had no relation to sex, race, sexual preference, point of orgin, level of education, pigamentation etc

I hope that op finds some smarter nurses to work with

I too am a nurse in the deep south (the big easy) and as a black woman who is over forty and have had quite a few occupations before nursing, I can say that I personally have experienced more racism in nursing than any of my other occupations combined. From the patient who takes one look at you and says,"where are the white nurses?" to the doctor who gets this "funny look" on his face when he realizes that the head nurse he has to deal with is black. In a racists eye, no person of color is competent no matter what their qualifications are.

[AlisonF]

jenna3uc said:

what exactly is "REDNECK"?

A redneck is a white, person who typically lives in a rural area and is a bigot. They are typically violent towards non-whites and drive around with the dixie flag on their car or truck. Needless to say, we are full of them here in the deep south.