This may come off as more of a vent, but I see white new grads, some with less nursing and healthcare education than myself, getting jobs, some of them highly coveted specialties. Yet here I am, with a BSN, magna cum laude, three years health care experience, new grad getting pushed aside. I interview well, but apparently not good enough. I am starting to feel bitter and can't help but wonder if my race might play a role. Other black new grads (BSNs too) are having a much harder time getting a job than white new grads.
Any black nurses want to comment on this phenomenon?
I am starting to look outside of my state, but I am not sure where to start. Preferably a place that is diverse.
Pretty sure this is a very racist thread. Flip it around.... "I'm a white new grad and all these black grads are getting hired, but not me" hmmmm, fire suit on? Yeah smh
Why do you, a complete stranger require so much proof? Do you regularly grill people who have different perceptions/experiences, etc?
I am disheartened to see a nurse with this level of empathy.
Trying not to violate TOS here, I apologize in advance:
This poster has tried to minimize my experiences on another thread about gun control; he attempted to minimize my experience as a gun violence survivor; so I'm not surprised of how he derives his belief system.
Pretty sure this is a very racist thread. Flip it around.... "I'm a white new grad and all these black grads are getting hired, but not me" hmmmm, fire suit on? Yeah smh
No it would be like affirmative action going wrong! This is not a racist thread it is merely explaining the peril of AAs who may be getting passed over in the health care industry.
For the record, I am the one who brought up privilege in this thread and I am white. "White privilege" is not a simple concept that is born of "reverse discrimination". Those of us who are younger did not experience the civil rights movement at its beginning. We can't even begin to understand the implications of racial segregation and degradation that existed only a couple of generations before us. We have come a very long way since then. White privilege has decreased, but to deny it exists only means you've missed it. You were looking the other way, or you didn't recognize it when it was in front of you.
That young lady's court case regarding the Texas universities - is it at the Supreme Court because the lower courts didn't agree with her position? Something to consider. Maybe she wasn't discriminated against.
I hate the term "reverse discrimination". Discrimination is discrimination. If a white person is discriminated against, it doesn't get its own special term. We don't get our own word just because we're white.
I'm white and I live in the South (I have in one place or another my entire life) and this is so true. My mother's family is from up north, and it's crazy how much more racism I've seen up there than where I live. In my town and every other small town within 45 minutes' driving distance of me, everything is shared. There are predominantly white/predominantly black neighborhoods, but nobody of any color is going to get odd looks for walking into any store we have in town. On my visits up north, my grandma would overtly tell me I wasn't allowed to go to a shopping center or strip mall somewhere because "that's the black mall". I was shocked at first. I thought surely there was no way she was serious. Then my mother told me we really weren't allowed to tell grandma we went shopping there or she'd get upset and worry. Holy crap.
People like to joke that, where I live, the population is half white, half black, and half hispanic. That's largely true. There's only one middle school, only one high school, so there is no opportunity for segregation. We all live together and thrive together because we have to, and while there will always be ignorant people who muck it up, it isn't tolerated well, especially in a skilled work environment like the hospital.
As far as privilege goes, I really do believe it's something you can't see until you don't have it. I'm white, but I grew up dirt poor in a crappy trailer park; thus, I got labeled as "white trash". Money and access to all that it buys were privileges I didn't have. I didn't like it then, but I value that experience now. It's helped me open my eyes to the privileges I did have and understand those who had even less than I did.
I appreciate that you can share your experiences and have understanding of how there is an uphill battle; and there are plenty that are doing well, but are behind the curve and still have challenges because of label and preconceived, erroneous notions.
I'm curious as to what is "up north", because there are pockets of places where there are poor whites and blacks that are in the same neighborhoods and draw from their experiences; where as there are some that are racist.
I recall a time that "busing" still occurred in the 90s in my city; that one high school was known as it being RACIST, an would chase black kids down the street, and blatantly call them the 'N' word without hesitation; granted, the area is predominantly black as of the previous latest Census, as we as the surrounding area, but had controversy at one are hospital where they sent all there black employees home from a maternity ward because they didn't want ANY black people taking care of his baby; I knew several of those workers that got sent home; I worked on a different unit.
Amongst those particular issue that do occur, I will reiterate that I still did not have difficulties finding a job and have been able to pave a way; I have also been able to have many of my same race that are educators, managers, and upwardly mobile in this career, as well as work with a very diverse group of nurses and organizations where that everyone is supported, regardless of race.
I appreciate that you can share your experiences and have understanding of how there is an uphill battle; and there are plenty that are doing well, but are behind the curve and still have challenges because of label and preconceived, erroneous notions.
I'm curious as to what is "up north", because there are pockets of places where there are poor whites and blacks that are in the same neighborhoods and draw from their experiences; where as there are some that are racist.
I recall a time that "busing" still occurred in the 90s in my city; that one high school was known as it being RACIST, an would chase black kids down the street, and blatantly call them the 'N' word without hesitation; granted, the area is predominantly black as of the previous latest Census, as we as the surrounding area, but had controversy at one are hospital where they sent all there black employees home from a maternity ward because they didn't want ANY black people taking care of his baby; I knew several of those workers that got sent home; I worked on a different unit.
Amongst those particular issue that do occur, I will reiterate that I still did not have difficulties finding a job and have been able to pave a way; I have also been able to have many of my same race that are educators, managers, and upwardly mobile in this career, as well as work with a very diverse group of nurses and organizations where that everyone is supported, regardless of race.
Good gosh, busing still happened up to the '90's?? When I saw this in Milwaukee it was '70, maybe '71. I know for sure it was before '73 as that's when we moved. All the information I've read just on this thread makes me realize how very ignorant of modern racism I have been. Just because I haven't witnessed it myself sure as heck doesn't mean it isn't happening.
I think the South is great for minorities. I am always shocked by how racist people from the northern states are in general. My boyfriend is from the north, and some of the things that come out of his mouth I would NEVER say, ever. Where I live now is pretty integrated - I would say at least 40% of the couples I see walking down the street are mixed couples. All of my jobs have been in the South, and I'm used to at least half of my fellow RNs being minorities. Some of my jobs have been mostly minorities and very few white people, especially in the city I moved to for my first nursing job, which was something like 50% black, 35% white, and 15% other. If you go to a place where minorities are a higher percentage of the population, you will generally find them in higher percentages in the workforce.
Keep in mind that what I'm about to say is just my personal opinion, everyone is entitled to one and you don't have to agree with me but I just thought I would throw it out there.
I agree 100% that "white privilege" is out there and being a middle-class, white male I have been on the receiving end of white privilege my entire life. That is not to say I haven't been prejudged for other things but I digress. I don't agree with white privilege or support treating anyone differently because of the color of their skin, where they were born, what religion/faith they subscribe to, how someone expresses their gender or any other factor then the content of their character and their work ethic but I am not naive enough to say that prejudice doesn't exist. The first way to fight prejudice is to address the fact that it exists and make a conscious effort to combat it. I don't claim to be some sort of champion of diversity or have all the answers but I think that is important to have a multicultural team of healthcare providers that more closely represents the population of the patients that we serve. Research has found that patients who are treated by providers of the same race and speak the same language are more likely to be receptive to the healthcare advice provided and remain medication complaint. This means that our healthcare team needs to be diverse in terms of race, religion, culture, gender, age, veteran status, language of communication etc.
To the OP, I would suggest that you consider abbreviating your first name on job applications because it may grant you more call-backs/interviews. Experiments where applicants with "ethic sounding names" that abbreviated their first name on resumes were more likely to get call-backs/interviews from potential employers than the same applicants who displayed their full name on the same resume. Should we have a world that this is required? Absolutely not, but the only way to change this is to promote diversity in our teams and open the door for future applicants. As a person in a position to hire new applicants I seek out applicants that promote diversity in my team but being in a specialty (psychiatric/mental health nursing) I find that I have a limited pool of interested applicants.
Prejudice is not something that we like to talk about and we would rather pretend that it doesn't exist but it does and the best that we can do is to acknowledge its existence, identify our own prejudices and then make a conscious effort to combat it and make decisions (whether that is hiring practices or how we approach interacting with others) free from prejudice.
Regardless where you are from in The United States each individual has a story to tell about being discriminated against, and it should not be down played because an individual has not experience their experience. I admire this sight because this where we all can learn from one another and work through this. I think for starters is looking in the mirror and start change from within. Not everyone is going to treat people fair and I say they are missing out and need not to be in any position of power; because they are ignorant and are doing this nation no favors!!! The only way to address this issue is talk about it and expose it for the injustice malice intent it is!!!!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Regardless where you are from in The United States each individual has a story to tell about being discriminated against, and it should not be down played because an individual has not experience their experience. I admire this sight because this where we all can learn from one another and work through this.
Well said. At the very least we can understand this basic concept and refrain from repeatedly attempting to invalidate someone's very right to express herself and ask for feedback from people in similar situations.
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
And anyone who ignores and dismisses racial inequality and pretends white privilege doesn't exist and that all black people are just a bunch of whiners who play victim is incredibly...racist.
IS there racial inequality....you betcha.
However, what people are reacting to is the term used.
The words 'white privilege' suggests EVERY white person is guilty of creating the racial inequality that exists. The stray white male or female on the street did not create racial inequality however, the term 'white privilege' pins it squarely on their backs.
Essentially they are being held accountable for 'privilege' that many- on this thread- say they did not even realize that they had.....
And by extension should there also be an Asian Privilege, because that race of folks work hard and are absolutely admitted more often to the Ivey's..proportionally.
Or should their be a Latino Privilege because of the upswing of hiring Spanish speaking nurse.
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
Unless you live in the south. Reverse discrimination is real. I have seen both sides of this. I have lived all over and have seen a variety of treatment. Let me tell you, when you don't fit the mold of whatever that majority may be, you will be discriminated against. It happened to me. I couldn't change it. I moved along to where I knew I'd be more comfortable and not be mistreated.
I am white.
I have to agree, I have lived all over the country and seen all forms of racial discrimination.
Nurse2BeCam, ADN
239 Posts
Pretty sure this is a very racist thread. Flip it around.... "I'm a white new grad and all these black grads are getting hired, but not me" hmmmm, fire suit on? Yeah smh