Are you afraid to approach minority staff members? WHY?

Nurses General Nursing

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It's been said that racism and discrimination runs both ways. White nurses complain that minorities gather together and exclude them from conversations. Minorities say that they are passed over for "cream of the crop" jobs that are given to white nurses. Staff members report that minority CNA's and support staff give preferential treatment to their own.

IS THIS ALL TRUE?

Yep, it is. But I want to hear from everyone out there. What's your beef? What's the problem? How can it be addressed?

Don't be shy. Don't be skerred. Are we not professionals? Isn't this the place to discuss these sensitive issues? If you don't contribute how are we going to learn from each other?

So, come on. Leave your inhibitions at the door. Don your flaming suits, get out the dictionaries and thesaurus' and let's get SOME DISCUSSION GOING ON THIS.

Maybe, just maybe we'll learn some great things through discussion. :)

Originally posted by LasVegasRN

Maybe in a couple of years I'll be Noir Humanoid. WHO KNOWS. I'll be one of those crotchety old hags grumbling to myself in the nursing home and pinching the male CNA's butts. Happily. :D

Thanks for my laugh of the day!!! :)

Why do I find these things when I have to start getting ready for work! Okay, just two minutes...

Where I live/work the majority of people are either hispanic or native american.

We have two black people in management positions, the admin is hispanic, don is white, another nurse in management is native american, a good ethnic mix I guess? All I know is that they all do a great job and I couldn't think of any better people to do what they are doing! Most of the workers are hispanic/native american. Many of the people have 'mixed' families! I've never seen any problem related to race... I take that back there was one time when we all had to get fingerprinted a few years back and there was no place for hispanic as a race... one of the girls who is hispanic said, "I'm not checking white, I'll check other, I hate whites!" I told her to go to a real city where more than two cultures are represented and she see just how 'white' she was! A nurse was moving back to NYC and needed volunteer drivers... this girl was one of them and when she came back she was telling me about meeting some guys from spain and when she told them she was spanish they laughed at her and said she was not spanish, she was a white girl! I explained that they were probably right off the boat and her family has been here for generations! I don't understand that prejudice? We're our ancestors not all from Europe? Because mine were Irish/Italian and hers were Spanish does it really make us all that different? What gives her the right to consider me 'white'?

Maybe someone could help me answer this one...

One other time I worked with a black man whom I got into this discussion with... First it had to do with him going to gay bars with his friends... unhuh... he said if a guy came on to him he'd hit him... I said, then stay out of gay bars and just think about it... I have girls come on to me at work... should I hit them too? Then it went into race... he said he believed that the races should be kept seperate... I asked what about Marti Luther King and his speech I have a dream... He said the new thought was not anything like his I have a dream speech and then went on to justify keeping the races seperate... I told him that eventurally there would be only one race, a nice blended race! He disagreed and I had to point out, just look around you at work! Would you have seen so many blended families even twenty years ago, a hundred years ago... I do believe that if this planet survives then we will be one race and I really do think it is a good thing! One less thing to fight about...

Now can I get ready in 15 minutes?

Specializes in OB.

Please keep in mind that racism and prejudice and assumptions about the characteristics of "other" races cuts in all direction, NOT just from the whites,anglos, caucasians, whatever label you prefer toward others. Any time you make assumptions as to my attitude from my appearance, you are guilty of racism. If you want to know what I (individual) think of you (individual) ask - I'll tell you. And I won't be guilty of another form of predjudice by withholding my opinion for fear of being labelled.

Yes, I have lived in places where I was clearly a minority and been on the receiving end of poor treatment. Sadly, it bounced back on the people who were perpetuating it - for example, while living on the reservation, the teachers were pleased to have a child (my son) who came from the cultural matrix which enabled him to test well on standardized tests. They saw this as a way to get the materials which would benefit many children in the schools who did not qualify on paper as gifited simply because many did not learn English until starting school and approached testing from a different experience. Unfortunately, the local school board refused to get the appropriate teaching materials because the child in question was not native american, even though he lived in this community and was a registered student of the school. So a whole group of students lost out, and the already underserved hospital lost another nurse when I had to move away to help my son academically.

I am impressed that this discussion is taking place! I am not a nurse myself, but I conduct diversity trainings with nurses quite frequently and it can be VERY challenging.

It is especially difficult for me to be objective when someone is complaining about Hispanic staff members (or minorities in general for that matter). I think most of the time the confusion comes from a lack of respect and lack of understanding about diverse cultures.

I also followed the discussion about staff speaking languages other than English on the job. I was surprised to see how many people seemed bothered by this.

I work in a hospital in the SF Bay Area where the pain assessment scale that is posted over every bed is in 6 languages (not including the smiley/crying faces). I feel no friction with any staff person, but I get very edgy about a certain "type" of black patient. Sometimes it is the family member who demonstrates this "type" of racist behavior, ie the I'm-looking-for-this-white-nurse-to=be-a-racist-and by golly, I'm going to find it. Lunch tray doesn't get picked up quick enough, it's because I'm black. Not enough chairs in the room for the visitors, it's because I'm black. This behavior is recognized by staff of all backgrounds; we call it" the race card". It makes me uncomfortable and I don't like the way I cope with my discomfort. Sometimes I avoid, sometimes I ass-kiss, sometimes I bend over backwards, sometimes I "delegate". Whatever I end up doing to prevent entanglement with this chip-on-the-shoulder sub-group, I feel like a phony. I never feel this with Asians or Hispanics or non-English-speaking white people. But the Black Bigots are alive and well playing the race card.

Originally posted by Streamlined

Whatever I end up doing to prevent entanglement with this chip-on-the-shoulder sub-group, I feel like a phony.

Do you discuss the problem with the patient/family?

Letting people know where you're coming from often will clear the air, deflate an attitude problem, and you will not feel like a phony.

If the person is threatening or angry enough to frighten you, then call security.

Hi , This is my first time to do this. Yes I do think there is discrimination in our profession. I have been an LVN/LPN in the south (Tx. & Ok.) for 15 yrs. I am a white woman from S.D. and prior to moving south had never met any minorities except native Americans. I couldn't understand why I was treated with so much disrespect esp. by African Americans. All I ask of them or anyone is to do the job in which they were payed to do. There is this one NA at my job that will get in my face to try to intimidate me if I ask her anything. I am ultimately responsible for making sure that our clients/pts are properly taken care of. I was brought up with the concept that we are all the same under our skin and that all people should be treated with respect. Am I wrong? What do you think I should do about this person? I have gone the gambit as far as trying to talk to her about it as well as writing her up. Thus far nothing is working.

Prior to going to nsg. school I was a chef so I know first hand about discrimination!!!

I work with many nationalities. I don't really pay much attention to it, nor do I hear too much. There is the occasional racist remark if someone is unhappy with someone or something, but overall, I don't hear too much one way or the other. We have directors and managers of all nationalities. Can't say I see too much discrimination in the promotion area. I know it exists, and I am lucky I guess to work where I do....

I am embarrassed to say that I see plenty of racism in rural South Carolina where I live.

I am not a SC native and have lived on the coast from New Jersey down to Miami for the last 20 years, and have traveled and lived outside the country -- so maybe I see my town/community more objectively than they see themselves.

I think that the black/white situation doesn't need much comment. My community is the examplar of the old south, but I can see some enlightenment happening.

Many Mexicans have come here for the peach and strawberry crops and now live here year round. With some exceptions, the feeling is that they are here taking local jobs, and hitting on the women.

And we have a growing Asian community, as well. One of my classmates is Asian. She is one of the bravest and hard-working people I have met, but there are some in the class who have trouble finding a common ground.

All of that being said, I think that a race/culture community whether it be black, white, Asian, etc, has its own identity and sometimes that identity includes a collective prejudice against another group, but I believe the challenge is to make a difference on a one-to-one basis and thereby influence the collective identity of the group.

I have seen a lot of posts in that thread that show just that -- a willingness to see people as the individuals that they are. I'm proud of you guys.

Good responses all around. I don't believe the 'ostrich' approach works regarding racism, sexism, agism...or any other 'ism of your choice. It is human nature to be fearful, cautious... what have you...towards a group who is 'different', IMO. We must communicate honestly and freely or things won't change and more bigotry results.

I have zero tolerance for a situation where one race or group 'bullies' another or refuses to work with the rest, or gossips about them. Ignorance and fear can lead to vicious behavior if unchecked.

I must admit I like a uniform standard of expectation to exist in the workplace and I feel resentful when one 'group' has a lower or higher standard than another. I wonder if this is due to management's fear of being labeled racist...so they do not address problems early on....and then the problem intensifies and causes MORE problems . It also involves their tendency to overwork the best workers...it's less work for them. :(

In my experience management is particularly afraid to discipline minority workers who NEED disciplining....and the problem escalates.

I have attempted to deal with minority staff who are stealing, lying and refusing to do their job...and have been told to 'drop it' by upper management. These behaviors don't seem tolerated in non minorities... and THIS type of situation aggravates racial tensions when observed occuring over a period of time.

"Why can she take coffee and orange juice home to her kids from the kitchen?" I couldn't get away with that!!!" becomes the theme.

But I also see some non minority 'favorites' who are not properly disciplined...regardless of race...and this can ALSO cause similar problems amongst the staff.... so we're back to a 'uniform standard' for all . Nobody likes someone ..individual or group....getting 'preferential treatment.'

Not to 'light a fire' here, but I wonder if affirmative action has done much, much more to hurt American race relations than it has truly helped minorities.

I can and will work with anyone who is competent and caring. :)

Great discussion...keep it going! :roll

Lol, all this talk about these that don't like those and so on and so on. Love cuts through racial stuff quick, especially in a health care setting. I'm sorry to sound vain. Others can hate you because of the way you look, but they can not stop you from loving them. Once the PT/coworker is exposed to love, these situations reduce. Of course there are hardboiled racists and the like. Focus on the big sky and the big love.

Originally posted by nursegoodguy

I do believe that if this planet survives then we will be one race and I really do think it is a good thing! One less thing to fight about...

I think this bears repeating.

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