Do diversity programs work?

starval3 · Apr 1, 2010

No. I lived in Miami and they just cause problems. Just be blind and interview the people and go with integrity, education, experience, but not with colors. You'll be sorry.

caliotter3 · Apr 1, 2010

I saw the consequences of diversity programs the entire time I was in the military. Can not say that it was a positive program. Only managed to cause dissention with those who were somehow hurt because of them. Also was in a program where a group was expressly recruited due to a complaint. The rest of those in the program, were held back waiting while the new group was being rounded up. Then, when the ball got rolling so to speak, it became evident that the new group was being treated in a manner noticeably different than the original group. Special interest groupings with special treatment programs almost always make things worse for the congregate group as a whole. It does not create a harmonious atmosphere to favor some over others, no matter what the reason. Everyone should be treated equally.

Intern67 · Apr 1, 2010

Hi to all,
Please give me your opinnion on diversity programs, Please try to be as detailed as possible. Also feel free to share you experiences.

While no program is going to be perfect, I am pretty happy the 1964 Civil Rights Act and other diversity acts that did things like giving women the right to vote were passed.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Apr 1, 2010

The only diversity program I've experienced was at my first college. It actively encouraged segregation. I was the only black student who wasn't from the 'hood (I grew up in a New England mill town), and no one knew what to make of me. The only close black friend I made was a guy from Connecticut who had been in the navy. Most of my friends were white kids from mill towns.

Most of the diversity training I've had has come from living and working with people from different cultures. I grew up in a town full of French Canadians, but my first job out of high school was in a factory full of Puerto Ricans, Laotians, and Vietnamese. My last job had a lot of Brazilians, Haitians, and Turks (the World Cup was BIG deal).

RNperdiem, RN · Apr 1, 2010

I have never heard of this in nursing.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 1, 2010

It seems that there may be some confusion - what posters seem to be describing are "affirmative action" programs.. which take deliberate steps to manipulate the composition of a particular group (nurses, managers, truck drivers, students, Baptists, etc) based on a set of criteria. The criteria are usually set up to give preferential treatement to a group that is currently in a minority. Affirmative actions can include a variety of things.. like giving "points" to increase an applicant's interview scores; setting different cut (passing) scores on a qualification exam based on minority status, etc.

Diversity programs, on the other hand, are more general. They are designed to affect the culture/environment. Activities can include educating staff about different cultures, having 'cultural appreciation' pot lucks where everyone brings their own ethnic foods, etc. The goal is for everyone to have a better understanding and appreciation of cultures/ethnicities that are different from their own.

I doubt whether anyone has a beef with Diversity programs. It's affirmative action that gets people riled up because they are inherently unfair in that anyone who is not a member of the targeted group is not treated equitably. There have been several landmark legal cases ruling against affirmative action in academic settings (e.g., the Bakke case in 1978) that basically outlawed using a single criteria (race, in this case) as a deciding factor for admissions.

I am all for programs that promote and encourage diversity - not so much for affirmative action because I have never seen one that really works.

nyteshade, BSN · Apr 1, 2010

Learning to see beyond someone's skin color starts at home. No work program or college class can teach that...and potluck lunch doesn't count either!

Just to throw something out there that bugs me...

Not every Hispanic believes in "mal de ojo" or evil eye like I've seen in nursing textbooks!!! Makes me cringe everytime I see that! :uhoh3:

VivaRN · Apr 1, 2010

The university system I am affiliated with has an amazing "raising awareness about diversity" program that I am participating in and I think they want to expand it. They're doing research on it to show the impact.

The program consists of facilitated small groups (approx. 10 people) meeting once a week or every other week. We do readings and watch films about race relations, including historical background and issues that have occurred in the university system. The group itself is diverse with regard to nationality, ethnicity, religion sexual orientation, and also contains people from throughout the university system: students, faculty, staff, healthcare workers.

The group is seen as a safe space where different viewpoints can be explored and respected. Dinner/lunch is provided. I have enjoyed it thus far and learned a lot about others' experiences. I think it is effective because of the sustained contact with different people and the ability to "get below the surface". The facilitators do a great job.