Re: If you are a hispanic nurse or you know someone who is a hispanic nurse...
I am colombian and very light skinned. It's always hilarious to me when patients (and fellow staff-nurses, aides, and MD's) seemed so shocked when I speak to them in Spanish. "I thought you were white" has been said to me on more than one occasion. "You speak Spanish and English so well." is another. My favorite was when I told someone I was from Colombia and they asked, "What part of Mexico is that?". When I responded that it wasn't a part of Mexico, they looked baffled and asked, "Then where is it?" trying my hardest to not be a smartie pants I said to them in my sweetest voice, "It's one of the other 20 countries in the world that use Spanish as its native language." Geez, funny how we all gravitate towards stereotypes (I don't exclude myself in this observation)!
Anyway, at my particular hospital in Southern California being hispanic facilitates communication with my patients, and while not making me fully culturally competent (this takes, in my opinion, years of advanced studies in sociology!) much more culturally aware. I would say that about 45% of my hospital staff is either hispanic, asian, or middle eastern. And it rocks! And as hurtful as experiencing someone elses prejudice may be, try and teach others about your culture. I never miss an opportunity to speak of the beauty of Colombia, and I always give my coworkers Colombian coffee! I try not to feel hurt with negative or derogatory comments about hispanics (or any other culture). I have family in Kansas City, Mo. (Colombian as well), and midwesterners do tend to be standoffish at first, but eventually they see where your coming from...and now they beg for my uncles and cousins to invite them over for ajiaco and arepa colombiana (traditional foods).
Suerte (good luck)!
Nursing News