Do diversity programs work?

[vivicaq]

I am sure many of you have diversity programs in place but do they really work?

Is personality formed by age 7 and Do you believe that for the most part we are a product of our enviroment.

Do you look at your co-worker and see your differences?

[qt2168]

Sounds like an assignment to me.

[qt2168]

We do not use these programs at my work so I do not know. I do not usually notice diffrence in my coworkers and myself unless I do not get a joke that everyone else got!

[DirtyBlackSocks]

flashbacks to my interpersonal communication course...hehe

I treat racism and bigotry the same way I treat drug addicts - they have to want to change before they're going to change. Being forced into a program because of where you work isn't going to do much if you don't want it in the first place.

As far as where people get said behavior from - it's completely different from family to family.

[tfleuter, BSN, RN]

I think diversity training has perhaps taught some individuals to keep their racism and bigotry to themselves and those the feel comfortable voicing their opinions to. I have a hard time believing that these programs actually do much to change the way people treat think about each other though. You can still treat someone unfairly while saying the "right things" with a smile on your face. For instance, you may not tell your coworkers how you feel about that (feel in the blank) showing up in the ER without insurance or ability to pay, but you might be extra slow to provide him care or pain medication because you've decided he doesn't "deserve" your services based on race/ethnicity/religion ect...

[vivicaq]

Do you have a hard time accepting the fact that people from foreign countries have come here and done very well and even surpassed you? especially those that you have classified as coming from the third world

[regularRN]

There are three worlds?

[mammac5]

In the jobs I've had in the past (lots!) or in nursing school now, I see only two kinds of people: 1) Those who want to do a great job, and 2) those who punch in so they can be paid to complain about why they can't do a great job. I think these two groups can exist in any color, any religion, any socioeconomic group, and any sexual orientation.