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

World International

Published

Hi to all of you

I am UK trained nurse and I would like to mention that I have been body search on a couple of occasions when I went through US customs. My cousin who works for Air Canada mentioned to me that I will be body search each time I crossed the US border as I have got a MUSLIM name. The airline Air Canada put a code on my boarding pass and she knew instantly when she saw my pass that i will be body search. I know you may be thinking that I have a beard and i am arab looking .....muslim terrorist stereotype... but I look Chinese or Asian as you call it in the US/Canada.

I am applying to come to work in Canada as a RN and i have already submitted my application in May 2008 and did my medical exam in June 2008 and still now I dont know the outcome. I have sent several emails to the embassy and they wont even reply to my emails. When i phoned the embassy they took my details and put me directly on voicemail so I cant ask anyone about my case.

I wonder if the delay is due to the embassy checking on me as I am a MUSLIM. If thats the case i prefer not to go there as I dont want to work in a country who does not treat me as equal.

Has any MUSLIM nurses encountered any form of discrimination in their application for work permits or for immigration purposes? or in their workplaces in US/Canada?

Ibrahim

Hi

Please to meet you. My other half is a Pinoy from Tolosa. small village 25 kms from Tacloban. She is a liver specialist nurse in the same hospital as mine.

I may try the States one day but now it is because all my relatives are all over Canada. Its good to be not far from them as I have been the only one in my family who stay behind in the UK.

Regards. Bye for now

Ibrahim

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear Ibster,

Congratulations:up:!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering if you could tell me how nurses are treated in the UK, for example do you get fair treatment in staffing ratio (how many nurse to patients) and scheduling? How is your nurse manager:devil:? And what are the educational requirements in UK, here nurses can have an associates or bachelors degree. So i know you mentioned you did a 3 year program, was that a hospital diploma? hope to hear soon!:typing

Labvah.

I work nights too! 12 hr shifts. But I am in the weekender program so I only work weekends. Nights is tough Im usually::yawn:.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Dear Ibster,

Congratulations:up:!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering if you could tell me how nurses are treated in the UK, for example do you get fair treatment in staffing ratio (how many nurse to patients) and scheduling? How is your nurse manager:devil:? And what are the educational requirements in UK, here nurses can have an associates or bachelors degree. So i know you mentioned you did a 3 year program, was that a hospital diploma? hope to hear soon!:typing

Labvah.

I work nights too! 12 hr shifts. But I am in the weekender program so I only work weekends. Nights is tough Im usually::yawn:.

Nurse training is done at universities and are in either Midwifery or mental health, Paeds or general adult, the training is more specialized. Midwifery is usually separate where the others tend to have a foundation 18 months and then split off into their specialties. If you look for universities in the UK and into health studies you can find what the set out is like. Training is either Diploma or Degree

I can talk about the hospitals I worked out and the ratio was on average 2 RN and 3 assistants for 28-30 patients. We worked 3 shifts, morning (7.30-14.30), pm (1.30-21.00) and nights (20.30-07.30). I used to like night duty as we did 7 nights on and had 7 nights off which did not come out of holiday allowance. I had some good managers who was very supportive on their staff and then others who was terrible and didn't support the staff

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Salamu Alykum,

A little Advice coming from a Muslimah born and raised in the US, unfortunatly YOU WILL ENCOUNTER RACISIM AND DISCRIMINATION~ but that tends to go away once people get to know you...it will bother you only if you let it.

I wish you the best of luck!

Haneen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Salamu Alykum,

A little Advice coming from a Muslimah born and raised in the US, unfortunatly YOU WILL ENCOUNTER RACISIM AND DISCRIMINATION~ but that tends to go away once people get to know you...it will bother you only if you let it.

I wish you the best of luck!

Haneen

I agree. It really depends on the area in the US that you are in but there are still some misconceptions (and bad feelings) toward Muslims. Not trying to make this political but one presidential candidate's workers supposedly asked Muslim women to not sit behind their national candidate.

After 9/11 a great doctor I used to work with (this doctor and their family are huge in the community) was afraid to go to the mall with his family.

Having said that, the good in our country far outnumber the bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephro, ICU, LTC and counting.
I agree. It really depends on the area in the US that you are in but there are still some misconceptions (and bad feelings) toward Muslims. Not trying to make this political but one presidential candidate's workers supposedly asked Muslim women to not sit behind their national candidate.

After 9/11 a great doctor I used to work with (this doctor and their family are huge in the community) was afraid to go to the mall with his family.

Having said that, the good in our country far outnumber the bad.

Religion has been a big political issue in this country. Anybody who isn't deaf or blind must have heard/read the non-sense arguments about whether or not Barrack Obama is a Muslim. American public is misinformed about Islam, and many people think Islam means terror. Hopefully, things will change for good, and we will see religious harmony one day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.
Good luck and congatulations for Canada (I still feel that the US is a LOT more tolerant compared to other western countries though)

PS. I :redbeathe NY

I disagree - besides you can't even get into the USA as a nurse right now because of retrogression.

Canada is great & at least you won't be one major illness away from possible bankruptcy here :-D - looking forward to seeing you at FMC Ibs!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are aware that Canada has Muslim MPs in the government?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment