Finding a job in NE area as an AA

[xtclass08]

So this thread is really just a vent. I graduated May 3rd and immediately took the boards nearly a week later. I passed, and then I immediately started applying to NP jobs. I was pessimistic in the beginning because I thought that since I attended an online university (despite the fact that it was a pretty good school), I would have trouble landing a job in this particular area since there was so many great nursing schools in the area (i.e UConn, UMass, Farfield, Quinnipiac, Yale etc). However, it was quite the opposite.. I received so many call backs, phone interviews, and scheduled a ridiculous amount of in-person interviews. Unfortunately none of those in-person interviews resulted in me being hired. It was really puzzling to me because these individuals sounded so eager to get me in and hire me, but the moment they met me their demeanors changed immediately. At first I thought that I must be doing something inappropriate in the in-person interview process, but what? I was dressed appropriately with dress pants a button down dress shirt and a business jacket or sweater. My shoes were appropriate. I had no inappropriate tattoos or piercings showing. I arrived 15 minutes before the the interview. I brought extra resumes and typed questions. I made sure to smile and make everyone feel comfortable. I just did not get why the in-person interviews always resulted in the cold shoulder. I shrugged off the idea that it had to do with my race, but I kept getting this uneasy feeling that people were "surprised" when they met me. Then I talked to another minority NP who informed me that it didn't necessarily have to do with race, but who the practice's patient population felt "most comfortable with". NE has a very large population of whites (higher than the national average, and not a lot of A.A (Especially in my area which is Avon). So naturally practitioners will tend to see a substantial amount of older caucasian adults. She said that this population feels most comfortable around white male practitioners unfortunately and if the patients do not feel comfortable around you they will not want to see you which means you are not an asset to their practice. So armed with that information, I decided to look for AA physicians and NP to practice with. I found a total of 3. One of which I already new of before hand. She is a pediatrician and hired me on the spot without applying (go figure!), and that would be great if my background was mostly adults and geri and peds is not my strong point. Another physician was an internist who works under a contract, along with 5 or 6 other physician, with Yale and they don't really need NPs at his practice since they use residents. The last one was definitely a no go since he was no longer practicing medicine and was a convicted felon for sexual assault charges. Now I know plenty of NPs who have had to wait a year or more to find someone to hire them (but they are usually ANPs or AGNPs) so I should give it some time. Plus I can always work peds if necessary, but I am so very frustrated and angry with what has occurred so far with my finding-a-job process. It would be different if I received little to no call-backs, or if when I did receive a call-back I never got asked to actually come in an interview, but that's not the case, and sometimes when I do come in for an interview they tell me the most apparent lies. Its almost insulting. Ugh!!! Okay I am done with this vent. Am I the only one experiencing this? And is that one NP right?

[xtclass08]

Hi Sonia,

Thanks for your response. I definitely hear you. I too have considered that fact and have gone over and over what I.can do differently but nothing really sticks out. Since May I would actually have to go back through all my emails and my schedule to determine how many phone calls and interviews I've schedule but i know it's at least 15.....and that from mid-May until now and does not include places like pain management clinics that contacted me. Also, I NEVER mention the MinuteClinic. I didn't even put it on my resume because I didn't consider it to be an adequate clinical rotation

[Lisalis]

First I want to congratulate you on your achievement. That is a great accomplishment. I am so sorry for your experiences but unfortunately race still is and will always be a determining factor in America. You should humbly accept the pediatric np position. You may enjoy that specialty.

[TammyG]

Racial discrimination is illegal, regardless of whether it is driven by the local population's "preference" in providers. In fact, that kind of thinking just allows such ridiculous and unfounded prejudice to continue.

I really liked zmansc's suggestion of bringing it up directly, but non-confrontationally. Providers who are so uninformed that they will make a decision based on their beliefs as to their patients' preferences may be uninformed enough that they will discuss this with you. It also maybe a way for you to open the door to discussion about race in general in their practice. They may be willing to talk about a small subset of their patients who, perhaps, "have never had an experience with a provider of color" and how you might deal with that. After all, aren't we taught today in all these sensitivity and diversity classes that acknowledging and talking about our differences is better than ignoring them. Only through discussion and interaction will we be able to understand what is driving these feelings and perhaps change them.

That said, obviously you can't file EEOC complaints against all these people, which will do nothing to help you get a job. I agree with the poster who suggested that you take the peds job you were offered, to get your foot in the door and get some experience. Or, are there providers (of any race) that serve minority populations within driving distance of your house?

It is sad that you are dealing with this in 2014. When I was a floor nurse in an affluent white community, I was shocked at some of the outright prejudice (thankfully rare) that was expressed by some elderly patients toward nurses and CNAs of color. Many of these patients had some dementia or delirium and lost their inhibitions. The hospital's way of dealing with it was to refuse to make staffing changes and suggest that they can find another hospital. I know it upset the nurses. I think that, as a white person, I can't really appreciate how harmful that type of prejudice is.

Good luck and please tell us how things are going.

[xtclass08]

Hello all,

so I finally found a new job with a community health center that serves the indigent population. The pay isn't that great but it's definitely a learning opportunity since they have a very sick patient population. I was told that what you see in that clinic is stuff most people only see in textbooks..... and they repay 50k in student loans so I'll take the pay cut. Anyways, thanks you guys for all the words of encouragement and advice!!

[Psychcns]

Congratulations!!

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Congrats!

[kanzi monkey]

I was going to say "come to Mass!" But then it sounds like you got a fine opportunity. Where I work, some days it seems there is no "dominant ethnicity". And in this country, that means (for better or worse) there are a lot of poor and sick members in our community. You are going to learn so much. I wish you all the best.