Assumptions

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I recently had a conversation at my new employer with the director of social services. We were just shooting the breeze, getting to know one another, and began discussing which shift we would work as this a new unit in a hospital When I told her that I am scheduled for days, her response was (very jovial)... OH GREAT!! well be working together... I LOVE the techs---- you guys are the front line........ I was surprised and a bit annoyed at her assumption and chose to ignore that comment. She then said something else again repeating the word tech. I looked at her and said I'm not a tech, I'm an RN. I was angry and hurt, but she will never know that. I cut the conversation short at that point. But it continues to resonate... I can only assume her assumptions was based on my race. I really don't think if I had been a white woman, she would have assumed I was a tech. Im still annoyed... Now I have to figure out a way to work with her without showing my content for her ignorance.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Take the high road. She will (obviously) figure out the reality of your position. You can always choose to believe that her assumption was due to factors other than race. And taking the high road often involves assuming the best of others.

If that doesn't work for you, write her off as one amongst the uneducated ignoramuses. Still taking the high road.....

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

After you clearly corrected her, did she call you a tech again? If not, please don't hold a grudge. Work is hard enough as it is to harbor resentment towards someone who made an honest mistake.

I have two cousins who are Physicians. They get called Nurses all of the time because they are female. Or they get called Miss/Mrs____ instead of Doctor ____. They just politely correct the people making the assumptions. Trust me, if they held grudges for the number of times it happens to them----they would be hurt, bitter and angry all of the time.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I get called "doctor" (or "doctora") all the time by my patients. I can only assume that it's due to my fabulous knowledge of disease process rather than lack of understanding of the advanced autonomous role of nurses. :)

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

Your assumption could be right or wrong but I would have called the person out on it (not in a rude way). Ask them why they presumed one way or the other instead of building up any type of bitterness.

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Well, might it be that you look young for your age?? I don't assume I know the title of anyone. Where I work, there is a mixture of races holding various positions. If you were white, or whatever, what she did might still have been insulting. If she would have said that to me (I'm white), I would take it as a sign of her being presumptuous and hasty.

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I would just take the high road and let it go. IMO there are more important things in the world to get worked up over.

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She may have made the assumption based on your race, but even if she did, I'm pretty sure she didn't mean anything against you. It's possible that in her limited experience (and we all view the world prejudicially based on our experience to filter out all the extra crap coming at us constantly) she has interacted with more non-white techs than non-white nurses. So maybe she has a bias based on her own limited viewpoint. What would you call that- availability bias?

It wouldn't hurt to correct her, and even call her out on her mistake, maybe once you feel more comfortable around her. Like with a light tone, say "hey, why did you assume I am a tech, and not an RN? I'm just curious." Or something like that. Oftentimes people are not aware of their own biases, and nicely reminding them can help them be more judicial in the future.

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Perhaps you are a little sensative about this? Maybe they just assumed this based on your age? If someone assumed I was a tech I wouldn't be offended, especially if they complimented techs in the same sentence.

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Once I was thought to be a secretary or clerk by a visitor (wasn't wearing scrubs that day). Sorry....I was the department's nurse manager :)

People goof. We move on! :D

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Get rid of that chip on your shoulder, you will be much better off. You haven't even started your position and you are discussing (perceived) racial issues.

You' ve posted about many problems already in your short career.

Must wonder where the attitude problem originates.

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You realize you're assuming about her assumptions?

I'm a white RN and I've been mistaken for a tech before. While racism is not dead, there could be a myriad of reasons she said tech (such as high tech turnover).

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