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.
Here we go again, I am black and the world is wronging me all the time.
I got news for you there are people with your same qualifications, white, black, purple, it doesn't matter everyone is having a hard time getting a job, it has nothing to do with your skin color!!
Should I start a thread "I am white and no one will hire me!"?
I am so sick of this racial stuff being used as a scape goat anytime someone can't get what they want! Enough is enough!!
Some excellent comments in a very interesting thread. Having lived many places, including for multiple years overseas in three distinctly different countries I have little experience with different ethnicities and cultures.
Appreciate all the very on topic comments. Please cont and remember debate the topic, not the poster. :)
Several years ago, at a fast food place, a clerk swiped my ATM card. It didn't immediately go through. She loudly announced, "There's no money on this card!" After a second swipe the purchase went through. At the time there was more than $50,000 in that account. This is not the first time a clerk or cashier has incorrectly swiped my card and erroneously concluded there was "no money."
I've had solicitors knock on my front door and ask to speak to the lady of the house. Even after telling them I'm the 'lady' of the house, they rephrase: "I need to speak to the homeowner." Annoyed, I confirm I'm the homeowner, and a surprised look overcomes the solicitors' faces. I should mention I live in an upscale suburb.
I've been followed in stores and accused of stealing. I no longer pay for purchases with personal checks because, even though the account has a five-figure balance, merchants think I am broke and have insufficient funds to cover the amount.
Due to stereotypes regarding educational attainment, I am often presumed to be one of the cooks, housekeepers, dietary aides, or clerks.
When I moved South I applied in person for a nursing position that had openings for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. I go in and told them I was applying for an opening. They immediately passed me the CNA application. I told them I'm not a CNA but a nurse. She then passes me the LPN application. I told her I'm an RN. She had a surprised look on her face when I voluntarily told her with a BSN too.
When I moved into my house and met one of my neighbors, I caught her completely off guard when I told her nope the entire house was mine. For one, I don't look like I'm in my 30's and two, single black women are capable of purchasing big homes. I'm just not into little cottage homes.
I went to the gov site attempted to verify that statement. I was not able to find it, however, upon reflection I can guess it is true. Overall, the white population is 65%, so it stands to reason that the sheer numbers of those benefiting would be more, however, I wonder % wise how it pans out?
Actually, where she grew up would determine if she was a minority. There are many cities in Texas, San Antonio, and some along the border where Latino is the majority and white is the minority.
We could also talk about DC, black is the majority.
I do not understand the racial dynamics of America.
Most hispanics in this area appear "white".
Why call them hispanic if,physically speaking,they appear white like Northern European Swedes?
Also,DC is no longer majority black;they are gentrifying like NYC.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Most hispanics in this area appear "white".
Why call them hispanic if,physically speaking,they appear white like Northern European Swedes?
Many Hispanics are white, such as the ones from southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, etc).
Also, Hispanics can be from any race. There are many black Puerto Ricans, Cubans and Dominicans. There are many Mexicans and Cubans who appear to be of European extraction due to fair skin, blond hair and light-colored eyes.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Eye-opening the troubles and situations folks find themselves in, just due to color/race. I am horrified. The stories about bank cards being "refused due to no money" and cops profiling people of color, people of color being followed in stores, and being assumed to be shoplifters, being refused housing and basic rights others enjoy without a thought------ just remind me that I am indeed undeservedly fortunate not to have experienced such humiliation and pain. I am truly sorry for what people go through for NO GOOD reason. I am humbled by your experiences. But most of all, I am impressed with your spirits. You are strong people and folks like me are learning from you. My eyes and ears are open, but most of all, my heart is wide open, to your feelings, impressions and experiences.
I have also been followed around and harassed in stores. One time was so bad I turned to the woman and stated that "not all black people steal" and called the manager. This was in a store where my mother and I have dropped hundreds of dollars before. My mother was furious, as was I.
Folks, you don't have to be black in order to show sympathy and compassion. I am a heterosexual female, yet I realize that in a very homophobic society, I have heterosexual privilege. I do not have to worry about my future partner and I being denied the marital rights and all the benefits that come with being married. I can join the military without having to hide my sexuality (see "don't ask, don't tell), and I can see heterosexual couples represented in media in a large variety. I do, however, sympathize with LQBT people and couples, and I would never dismiss their experiences with homophobia and inequality.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Truly, it does not. White privilege is not a conscious, intentional act. I mean, maybe sometimes it is, but it exists without intentional effort so often that many people fail to even recognize it.
Look at the posts on this thread. People are considering name changes simply because a white-sounding name gives them a better chance of getting in the door. Why? Because even a name of all things comes with it a connotation of race. A name on top of a page can distract from what is written below it.
That is the epitome of white privilege. You didn't do that. Neither did I. Acknowledging it doesn't mean you're part of the problem. Acknowledging it means you can consciously make an effort to break that cycle if ever you're in a position to. As a previous poster stated, being racially aware isn't racist. In fact, if you approach it in the right way, being racially aware can help you be an advocate of change. As you can see here, that is needed.
You certainly can be racially aware, but it never seems to be enough. I have no control over my ancestry. I can say that I make conscious efforts to be racially sensitive, but I can guarantee that somewhere down the road someone will say, "Yeah sure."
I have experienced extreme persecution (yes, persecution) from the time I was a small child into the first ten years of my nursing career because of my religion. I was assaulted by a teacher, verbally abused in front of my classmates by several teachers, had my job threatened by several employers. In two cases I had to get help from an attorney. I guess that wouldn't be good enough for some (not naming anyone in particular) here.
So, I'm sorry I'm fish-belly white. I really am. I mean no harm.
If you read my previous thread, you would realize that it was MY dream job and of course I was disappointed (as just about anyone would, duh). I have only gone on one interview since and my application is still in review. I'm not too proud for anything. I am ready to get my foot in the door. I don't have "chip" on my shoulder, but that is what a person ignorant of white privilege does; accuses the minority of having a "chip" on the shoulder and invalidating his or her reality.
Yeah, it is my thread and I welcome different views. What I do NOT welcome is bigotry, racism and dismissiveness of the struggle that millions of people of color face everyday. But hey, if you want to put your head in the sand, have it at.
Pot meet kettle. You will not tolerate bigotry and racism, but have been spouting "white" privilege in many of your posts. I'm sorry if you don't realize it, but that comment is, in itself, RACIST. Racism goes both ways and the only thing you've proved is that you are, in fact, racist against "whites" and their so-called "privilege".
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I have taken some time recently to study up on exactly what "white privilege" means. White from birth, the very term at first raised my hackles. It seemed prematurely judgmental of me out of fear of me being prematurely judgmental of others. Undoubtedly there are times it has been used that way, but in the true, intellectual sense, the sense that is the topic of discussion in this thread, is more socialistic. Ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist really DOES exacerbate this very real problem.
If we really do CARE about a more peaceful, equitable world in which skin color is no more a nuance than being blond or brunette or redhead, we MUST confront this natural phenomenon that exists within our lives. It isn't a bad thing. It just is. It has evolved over time based on a lengthy history of a shameful American past - slavery - and the overturning of that way of life. This many years later, it still isn't completed. Strides have been made. Look at us, talking about it like big people here. However, more must be done. I believe that starts with each individual and in the case of my own life, with me.
We don't need people with black skin to tell us having fair skin results in an easier life. We already know that. There is no need to be defensive about it. I don't think anyone is even asking us to apologize....but we DO need to recognize! It is truth for today's world. How can we fix this broken world if we deny its brokenness?? We can expand that privilege to include more. It is true, not all whites have a privileged life and not all blacks are fighting their way up from the bottom, but each of those statements have some truth in them. Deny it and let evil do its insidious work, just as the quote says. "All it takes for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing."
I read this and it made so much sense. I have teen and young 20something boys. I worry about them a lot. But it is glaringly obvious to me the things I do NOT worry about when I worry about them. Go ahead. Read the below. It may open your eyes.
Pot meet kettle. You will not tolerate bigotry and racism, but have been spouting "white" privilege in many of your posts. I'm sorry if you don't realize it, but that comment is, in itself, RACIST. Racism goes both ways and the only thing you've proved is that you are, in fact, racist against "whites" and their so-called "privilege".
No, it isn't "racist." If you read my last post, you would see that I talked about having heterosexual privilege. Does recognizing heterosexual privilege mean that I am being heterophobic? Nope. It is telling the truth.
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