Are you afraid to approach minority staff members? WHY?

[LasVegasRN]

It's been said that racism and discrimination runs both ways. White nurses complain that minorities gather together and exclude them from conversations. Minorities say that they are passed over for "cream of the crop" jobs that are given to white nurses. Staff members report that minority CNA's and support staff give preferential treatment to their own.

IS THIS ALL TRUE?

Yep, it is. But I want to hear from everyone out there. What's your beef? What's the problem? How can it be addressed?

Don't be shy. Don't be skerred. Are we not professionals? Isn't this the place to discuss these sensitive issues? If you don't contribute how are we going to learn from each other?

So, come on. Leave your inhibitions at the door. Don your flaming suits, get out the dictionaries and thesaurus' and let's get SOME DISCUSSION GOING ON THIS.

Maybe, just maybe we'll learn some great things through discussion. :)

[Alley Cat]

Originally posted by rebelwaclause

. People at my job are used to me being the upbeat, talkative person. On days that I'm just chilling or not feeling so lively, I'm often asked "Are you OK". or "What's wrong?". I have answered nothing and was latter told I was having an "attitude day".

I am a hard person to read if I'm not smiling. Usually, I'm just minding my own little business, doing what needs to be done in my day. I'm not rude to staff who approach me, I'm just not as bubbly all the time. This doesn't deem me to have an attitude, just because someone thinks I'm less threatening if I'm smiling all the time.

You know, I get the same thing from people I work with--it's like if one person is the designated upbeat person, you can't ever be any other way (but everybody else can sure have a bad day:stone !) Frankly, some days I just don't DO bubbly!:angryfire

[Alley Cat]

Originally posted by rebelwaclause

. People at my job are used to me being the upbeat, talkative person. On days that I'm just chilling or not feeling so lively, I'm often asked "Are you OK". or "What's wrong?". I have answered nothing and was latter told I was having an "attitude day".

I am a hard person to read if I'm not smiling. Usually, I'm just minding my own little business, doing what needs to be done in my day. I'm not rude to staff who approach me, I'm just not as bubbly all the time. This doesn't deem me to have an attitude, just because someone thinks I'm less threatening if I'm smiling all the time.

You know, I get the same thing from people I work with--it's like if one person is the designated upbeat person, you can't ever be any other way (but everybody else can sure have a bad day:stone !) Frankly, some days I just don't DO bubbly!:angryfire

[w8liftinglady]

Originally posted by bagladyrn

I've got to disagree with you there Mandi - in an ideal world it wouldn't matter, but in reality it can affect the way my patients view me,and their care and any preconceptions my coworkers and I may have will affect our working relationship. So it's much better to drag this out in the open, discuss and acknowlege cultural differences in attitudes and work it out together.

I agree 100%.Recently,we had a situation where I work(Texas).A patient was complaining to her family about staff abusing her,hurting her,and the family was understandably livid.Upon investigation,there appeared a trend...all the complaints were against the Black CNAs,Black nurses.I asked the patient if she would just prefer to have white caregivers-and she denied having an issue with it.I approached the staff as a whole,gave them my observations,and allowed them to decide whether they would like to be assigned to this patient or not.Most chose not.Unfortunately,most of my staff who happen to be Black have been subject to some kind of workplace hostility due to their race.I have found that the best approach is a direct,honest approach-with all my staff.The more you push racism into the open,the less power it has over you.Coincidentally,since the above-mentioned patient has had her caregiver mix changed,there have been no further complaints from her.It's not fair to place your staff in a situation that will be hostile to them from the get-go.

[rebelwaclause, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by bagladyrn

I've got to disagree with you there Mandi - in an ideal world it wouldn't matter, but in reality it can affect the way my patients view me,and their care and any preconceptions my coworkers and I may have will affect our working relationship. So it's much better to drag this out in the open, discuss and acknowlege cultural differences in attitudes and work it out together.

^5 bagladyrn