anyone feel there black or muslim sounding name holds them back

SonyaSN2010 · Sep 17, 2009

You are in charge of your destiny. Don't allow a few people to dictate what you want to do with your career. There are plenty of RN's with different sounding names, that may or may not be black--elevating in their position. Don't give up!

angel337, MSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

it will only hinder you if you let it. i work with plenty of african, indian, and women with "black" names and they do just fine. if you have a nickname that your family uses and if you don't mind, have people call you by that, but don't ever be intimidated or feel threatened because people are uncomfortable with your name. educate them.

MarathonerPN · Sep 17, 2009

The "white Lpn" doesnt have anything to do with her ignorance and rudeness. She could be anything and still rude.

cocoaNYC · Sep 17, 2009

My name is very generic and quite American, but people still mispronounce it. I am a Muslim who wears a head scarf and quite frankly people will respond to whatever you "put out." I do not make the head scarf a big deal, and I allow whatever insecurities other people have - be their own. Eventually they would either get over it, or they won't. Either way, they have no power or control over my success in this life.

I would have never had a conversation with a professor regarding my name sounding too black, or foreign. Yes, it absolutely occurs that people discriminate based upon name before seeing or interacting with a person; however, it does not seem to be an issue in your case because I believe you are working as a nurse.

If you are ashamed of your name, shame will cloud your every life's experience. I also would not go by a nickname, or change my name at all.

Don't loose any sleep over this issue, and have faith.

Christina08 · Sep 17, 2009

Hey, do not even pay attention to those kind of people. I am not muslim and black, nor American at all but a lot of people would not even bother to pronounce my name when they see it. But I do not make a big deal of it. So, my advice to you: just do what you need to do and don't let people put you down. Good luck!

summerrose_10 · Sep 17, 2009

I agree with cocoaNYC, people respond to what you put out there.

My preceptor was from puertorico and english her second language. Not only did I roll my eyes alot, at my inability to pronounce her name ( I eventually got it), she was patient and persistent in teaching, but we laughed histerically at how she pronounced words, and how I heard what she said. She had a great sense of humor, as do most of our other co-workers :jester: , and she certainly left a large void in our department when she moved on up the ladder.

So hang in there smartnurse1982, don't let little minds slow you down. Perhaps some of the people you have issues with feel threatened by you. Thats their problem, not yours.:heartbeat Racism can begin or END with you:yeah:

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 17, 2009

I have heard some nursing instructors say some really ridiculous things, this will go on the list. You only want to work with people that can judge you only for your ability and nothing else.

kemkem · Sep 18, 2009

I have the exact opposite problem! My first name is actually russian but it is very common among the hispanic/latin community and I live in an area that is HIGHLY populated with hipanics. My last name used to be very generic/american but ever since I got married, my last name has changed and my husband (who is black) has an italian last name (go figure).

So now I have a latin first AND last name. . . I'm black! It doesn't help that my middle name (which is on ALL of my documents) is very 'molly homemaker'. . . Maybe even what the politically incorrect would call a "white" name. When I was engaged, one of my former coworkers, upon hearing what my future name would be, warned me that when people who hadn't met me before were expecting me, they would be very surprised when I walked in the room.

She could not have been more right. I am job hunting and every time I tell someone my name or go into an interview, they look at me funny and ask me to repeat my name like TEN times!

This is very disconcerting as it makes me wonder , had my name been something else say. . . more "black", would I have gotten a call back?

RN1982 · Sep 18, 2009

The only person that can make you feel inferior is you.

Karynica, RN · Sep 18, 2009

That professor needs a reality check. I had a very Italian name all during nursing school and people were always asking me if I was Italian. No, but I can speak Spanish if you'd like. Also people liked saying my 'then' last name A LOT. They liked the way it rolled off their tongue LOL.

My daughters both have non-American names, one Hispanic and the other Italian. I don't know of any time anyone has ever asked them about their last names. My oldest is a very smart young lady who works in the medical field and doesn't let anyone get her down because of her skin color or her last name.

One thing I can't tolerate and that is racism. When my oldest was very young people would walk up to me in the grocery store and ask me if my kids belonged to me! When they found out they were actually mine they would spout off with "my goodness, then they must look like their father!" I wanted to can those people.

pca_85 · Sep 19, 2009

I'm Russian-here since I was six and speak both English and Russian flawlessly-when I worked agency and showed up, the supervisor had made a bet as to whether id be able to speak English or not, if I was fresh of the boat, etc. Why would she think thats ok? So I told her I do. In english, then Russian, then Spanish, then German, then Grench, then Hebrew, then Greek, then Italian. That shut her up. People are so ignorant.