Has any MUSLIM registered nurse encounter some discrimination in the US/Canada?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

Ibrahim, I think that it would depend more on your country of origin than being a Muslim. We have a lot of Pakistanis in this area (it isn't very diverse) and they are mostly Muslim and immigrants.

I do have a friend who works in Alabama and wears the hijab. The only thing she gets is curiosity. Someone actually asked her if she's a nun.

:)

cocoy2go · Sep 9, 2008

Hi

I am British so that should not be a problem.

Regards

Ibrahim

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2008

Hi
I am British so that should not be a problem.
Regards
Ibrahim

It'll happen, in insha'Allah. I don't think anyone trying to come to North America has an easy time of it.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 10, 2008

I can't answer for what goes on south of the border, but let me tell you that in my part of Canada, probably 40% of the medical staff of most hospitals are people of Middle Eastern, Asian or subcontinental origin. I work in a world-renowned university hospital that attracts people from all over the world to residencies and fellowships. If you're intelligent, educated and can make yourself understood, we don't care if you're Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Shintoist, Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, agnostic or atheist. I don't think I've ever asked anyone what God they prayed to. I abhor racial profiling... and that applies in all directions.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Pretty much the same south of the border. We do not ask nurses or doctors thier religion.

My husband and I both had to submit to a body search when we flew back from England. I suspect it had to do with our one way ticket. I don't think their was a racial profiling

cocoy2go · Sep 10, 2008

Hi to all of you

I just hope that I am wrong as I am trying to find excuses for the delay from the embassy to submit my work permit.

I just hope that I am wrong.

Ibrahim

cocoy2go · Sep 10, 2008

hi

I hope that I am judged by my life experience and skills rather than my religion in any country. Thats one of the reasons I never wanted to move to the States.

Ibrahim

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Ibrahim, all I can say is that, from your comments about how you perceive Muslims to be treated here, misperceptions prevail about us just as some of us here are misinformed.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

I doubt if they'd be body searching you at work. And, I doubt if you'd really encounter any overt prejudice.

You will encounter a great deal of diversity in the workplace and the usual assortment of people, a few of whom will be opinionated loudmouths about various subjects.

It's true that some people don't like the Muslim religion, but the same thing can be said for Mormons, Atheists, Catholics, and so forth. Yes, an occasional rude person might make an obnoxious comment, but for the most part people will judge you on your character.

starbin, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Few months after the tragedy of 9-11, one of our family friends (a physician) had to fly to Buffalo, NY for a conference. He already had a hotel reservation for the night. When he reached the hotel at 8 PM to check in, the receptionist told him that the room wasn't available. Our friend presented the printout of the confirmed reservation, and his identification. But the person said it was a mistake, and they don't have any vacant rooms.

Then the receptionist asked him to wait, and made few phone calls from inside the room. After 5-10 minutes, 3 cops came in and started inquiring our friend about who he was, why he was there etc. He provided the details of the purpose of his visit, who he was, where he worked, and whatever they asked for- then the manager apologized, and escorted him to the hotel room.

I think body searches at the airports are random. However, the people of Indian subcontinent and middle east are more often the targets because of their names, looks/color/dress or whatever reason.

Discrimination due to religion and race is illegal in this country, so it doesn't happen overtly. People show their curiosity and sometimes make offensive comments too- pretending that having a different faith than theirs is some kind of sin. This kind of comments come often from your co-workers and sometimes (very rarely) from your patients. I take their comments not as racial/religious discrimination but just as ignorance and poverty of their knowledge about the rest of the world. No offense to anybody- but majority of Americans have no clue of how diverse the outside world is. Many people have been brain washed with the notion that "Islam is bad". This affects the people of the subcontinent in their everyday life, no matter whether you are a bad/good person.

These things do happen, but I don't get mad at the public for being concerned about their security. Public has been tailored by the media and the political parties to feel threatened and unsafe in presence of people who have a different appearance/religion/color/language. This is just part of life, I do my best to make people feel comfortable with me, and develop trust. It is very difficult to change the attitude, but we can still try.

starbin, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Hi to all of you
I just hope that I am wrong as I am trying to find excuses for the delay from the embassy to submit my work permit.
I just hope that I am wrong.
Ibrahim

Having said all that bitter/sweet experience Muslim and muslim looking non-muslim people have to go through in everyday life, I still can't agree that the delay in processing of your application was due to your religion. In recent years, the DHS has become more strict in enforcing the law to facilitate legal immigration, and discourage/stop illegal immigration. As a result, the applicants go through various background checks and other stuff. And, also the volume of immigrant applications has been more than double, slowing the process and reaching the caps quickly.