Is it me, or...?

Extra Pickles · Nov 28, 2016

there really isn't anything to say here is there? you know what the conditions at your job are like and you've already planned your resignation. No point to the thread then really, because some will say there is racism at your job and some will say it's in your head but none of that matters because you're quitting. good luck in your next job!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Nov 28, 2016

Racism knows no boundaries. Any one race can form an alliance and decide to 'payback' any or all others. I believe African-Americans are more verbal about racism because we've endured it for so long. But you have to have more proof to claim racism other than the obvious. Perhaps there is something that your former charge nurse was doing to the Filipino group of nurses that you did not see or was not a recipient of since you were not Filipino. Perhaps your former charge nurse used that opportunity to 'pay them back'. You would not know this because the Filipino group (or any other group, for that matter) would not share certain things with groups who they feel are different from them.

There is too much to speculate about, and not enough evidence collection to take to the suits to end this kind of crap. People simple place their labels and move on and instead of fighting these illegal (discriminatory) practices. In the United States, discrimination is against the law. Gather your evidence and stand up for yourself; your rights as an employee. Employers have to address allegations of discrimination and head it off or risk losing federal funding. But, if it's just he-said-she-said as your proof, you're as mobile as a double amputee....no leg to stand on. Pull your assignments and be prepared to show how compare to others' assignments and behaviors and how it places the patients as risk for harm. If you can prove this, you won't have to quit your job. Your managers would handle this according to the policies of the facility. You are protected against racial and other discriminatory practices, hostile and harassing work environments, etc. Otherwise, the witnesses to these illegal practices are leaving and no longer available to say, yes, this group of nurses did/is doing this to us.

You said so yourself that they approached management as a group. So, why are you guys not doing the same if you feel they are wrong? At the very least, ALL of you should be able to come to the same table as members of one community (NURSES) and work this out for the good of the patients first, and each other second. If you took actual documentation or others with similar experiences as what you described to your managers, I dare say something will be done.

I'm here in the Deep South. Either it's not happening at my job (which is a strong probability), or I simply am too focused on my patients and don't give a s*** about much else (also a strong probability). In any case, I'm sorry this is happening to you but you do have recourses other than leaving.

Asystole RN · Nov 28, 2016

I have personally found that 90% of the time when someone cries racism it is they themselves who are projecting the racism.

There is nothing in your story that points to racism. That is not to say that there is not a serious workplace cultural issue, just that nothing you have pointed to says racism.

If that group was black, or white would you have considered them racist or just a workplace clique? People with a common language, culture, national origin, favorite basketball team, and maybe even those who share the same fondness for underwater basket weaving may bond together due to a common interest or experience outside of race.

Just because a social group shares the same race and may or may not get along with those outside of the social group do not automatically attribute that to racism.

Stop thinking of them as a race, start thinking of them as a social clique like any other and combating the issue that way. How do you normally handle social cliques and gain acceptance into the group? You will find your efforts to be much more productive.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 28, 2016

I live and work in the most diverse (evidence in the most recent census) city in the US. In days of yore (e.g., 80's and 90's) it was not uncommon to have a single ethnic group associated with specific shifts. I recall a well-known hospital in which many units had the same pattern... the 3-11 shift was almost entirely Filipino & Indian nurses on the 11-7 shift. They naturally spoke their native dialects when conversing with one another, but were careful to use English in front of patients or other staff members. I don't recall any nastiness. In fact, I learned a lot about their culture, beliefs, and (yummy) food.

As more emphasis was placed on recognition of diversity, the organization made a conscious effort toward integrating different cultures & elimination of those 'same ethnicity' shifts as new staff was hired. But it was done with sensitivity and transparency. I recall specific cultural appreciation activities led by joint-appointment nursing faculty during this time. There were some culture clashes, but vigilant leadership & shared governance managed to diffuse any potential problems very quickly. Any instances of disrespect were met with zero tolerance.

Based on recent conversations with colleagues, there have been some changes over time. More overt expressions of disrespect & 'isms' focusing on group differences. Increased complaints about "them" (whatever group is being singled out). Managers are apparently slower to respond and very reluctant to take action for fear of inciting even more ill will.

I don't have any answers - just very sad to see it happening.

herewegoagain7 · Nov 28, 2016

I have personally found that 90% of the time when someone cries racism it is they themselves who are projecting the racism.
There is nothing in your story that points to racism. That is not to say that there is not a serious workplace cultural issue, just that nothing you have pointed to says racism.
If that group was black, or white would you have considered them racist or just a workplace clique? People with a common language, culture, national origin, favorite basketball team, and maybe even those who share the same fondness for underwater basket weaving may bond together due to a common interest or experience outside of race.
Just because a social group shares the same race and may or may not get along with those outside of the social group do not automatically attribute that to racism.
Stop thinking of them as a race, start thinking of them as a social clique like any other and combating the issue that way. How do you normally handle social cliques and gain acceptance into the group? You will find your efforts to be much more productive.

I am projecting racism? I am a minority. And all the stereotypes about my race aren't positive. Ha!

On a serious note, if it isn't racism, there's definitely an unfair bias in that sense. This is beyond tagalog, Manny Pacquiao, and pancit.

I have take illegal and unethical action to gain their acceptance. I've acted as their mule and scapegoat, at one point. You cannot say I never tried. I want my soul back. I need a new beginning. There's no winning here.

Asystole RN · Nov 28, 2016

I am projecting racism? I am a minority. And all the stereotypes about my race aren't positive. Ha!
On a serious note, if it isn't racism, there's definitely an unfair bias in that sense. This is beyond tagalog, Manny Pacquiao, and pancit.
I have take illegal and unethical action to gain their acceptance. I've acted as their mule and scapegoat, at one point. You cannot say I never tried. I want my soul back. I need a new beginning. There's no winning here.

Are you saying that minorities cannot be racist or that certain minorities are predispositioned to not be racist? Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to be accusatory, everyone in the entire world is ethnocentric to a degree. It is natural, biological, even normal. Just keep in mind when you form the idea of "other" based upon race that should automatically trigger a self awareness.

Is there anything those nurses have done that you can point to as being racist other than the social group themselves sharing the same race?

There likely is an unhealthy workplace culture that is allowing for a hostile clique, definitely not unheard of. I would recommend that when you look at that social group you visualize them as just that and not a group of X race out to get every other race.

I would recommend documenting the perceived issues and communicating those frustrations in a clear, non-emotional manner. Bring it up to your manager, if that does not resolve the issue then elevate it. It is critical that you have specific situations of perceived unfair treatment documented and that you bring it up in a clear and non-threatening, non-emotional manner.

Sour Lemon · Nov 28, 2016

Before an African American coworker of mine quit, she told me I should complete a year and leave the hospital because the people in power are racists. I didn't think anything of it, at first. I was a new graduate three months in.
I'm probably going to receive heat over this thread. All you have is my word that I am not a bigot.
There is a strong Filipino presence on my unit. The favoritism among their own has no bounds.
For example:
There is no balance in the assignments, favoring the Filipino nurse. The distributions are unsafe, but ignored.
I reported two Filipino nurses once for trying to conceal an event and was retaliated, against. Yes, there was harm done to the patient. A 3rd Filipino nurse told me "We cover each other, here. If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."
A (recently promoted) non-Filipino charge nurse was stripped of her CN title because she wasn't Filipino. Apparently, "they" spoke to the director in mass and demonstrated their disapproval. She quit two weeks later, before I was able to ask WHY/WHAT transpired.
I am not the only person who notices, as eight nurses have left. All new graduates and non-Filipino. I have been here about a year, now. My two week notice is in the works. I live in Northern California and only hope my new work environment is different. Had to get this off my chest.

A few thoughts...

California is a tough market for new grads and the first job they accept is typically not their dream job. It seems pretty normal for them to move on after gaining a minimal amount of experience. I'm not surprised that all eight new grads have bailed.

It's natural for people who are friendly with each other to help each other out. I've had to speak up a few times and request that an assignment be changed to create more balance. It's not that I felt I was targeted for a heavy assignment, but more that day shift nurses were doing favors for their night shift friends. I was simply "collateral damage". After speaking up a few times, they became more mindful. And I didn't even have to be aggressive about it. A simple, "Hey guys, this is a really demanding group. Do you think we can break them up?" worked just fine.

I work with a lot of Filipino nurses and find them to be pleasant, inclusive and cooperative in general. They can be pretty cohesive as a group, but it's a group that's easy to break into. They are also less likely to write each other up and call attention to each others mistakes ....but those traits seem to extend outside of their group, too. I actually prefer direct communication to write-ups, so it works for me.

I wouldn't give too much consideration to what you're heard. Just get to know people as they are and make up your own mind.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Nov 28, 2016

Seems kind of odd that you start your story describing the race of every person. Does it really matter?

ComeTogether, LPN · Dec 3, 2016

African American

racists.

I am not a bigot.

Filipino presence
Filipino nurse

I reported two Filipino nurses

A 3rd Filipino nurse
non-Filipino

she wasn't Filipino.

non-Filipino
.
Hi, kettle? This is the pot. You're black.

Davey Do · Dec 3, 2016

No point to the thread then really

Oh contraire mon frÃ¨re!

Had to get this off my chest.

Here we have a member getting something off their chest and seeking other perspectives. These are the first two steps of problem-solving; identifying the problem and gathering data.

We will not change the situation in this thread, but as a result of this input, herewegoagin, myself, and others will have gained insights we would have not elsewise had. Perhaps we can use these insights to better ourselves and have a change of consciousness as the result of an illuminating revelation! The world will be a better place!

I applaud all for participating and sharing in this interesting discussion. Thank you, you are happening!

nutella, MSN, RN · Dec 3, 2016

Every organization/workplace has it's own culture and that can be very specifically related to the people who work there but also to leadership and the overall values of the organization.

What I want to point out is this:

If a majority of workers are "non-white" but you do not see any of them in leadership position, which includes in my opinion also charge nurses, educators, nurse manager and such, what is going on?

Sometimes people who apply to leadership positions do not have the right skills or education, but I have worked in very diverse workplaces and in workplaces predominantly "white" and my overall feeling has been that some of those places are not willing to accept leadership when the person who applied and interviews "is different". Naturally, when you have a group of employees doing the bedside work, but put somebody in charge who is of a different culture or has different values, things collide easily.

It sounds that you are a new graduate student and there are probably other things going on in that organization that you are not aware of. For many years, hospitals and facilities had to look for qualified candidates outside of the US or for qualified candidates who are from a different country and would take a job that others would not. In the meantime, some things have changed and now there are a lot of more graduates from the US who apply for jobs previously regarding as "below"or "not good enough", which seems to reduce the hiring of foreign workers. People stick together. Perhaps you feel excluded, I do not know. It has been my experience that some groups are just very tightly knit and that is not necessarily based on culture/language or race - it can be job based as well ! For example ICU teams are known to be hard to integrate into. It is whatever people connects. In nursing, you also have the situation that if you work as a "team" you usually get through your shift better and without additional stress because people will cover each other for breaks, go to each others call lights, help each other out. I am not from the US originally and easily identifiable as "foreign" and never had problems to integrate into any diverse work group, diverse environment. I worked with nurses from Asian countries and had no problem at all. I think like everywhere in life - you have to do your part as well.

You assume the charge nurse was demoted because she is not Filipino but I want to give a different perspective. When you have the majority of workers from a specific group, it can be better to have leadership that is accepted by this group. That is where group interviews are important. You want a person as a leader who is accepted by most people who do the bedside work. There must have been some other problem, which is why that group spoke up. It seems that they are all valued employees and that leadership values their input. I would look at it more along the "the charge nurse was just not a a good fit" line instead of blaming some form of "racism".

Baseline is that we all need to get along. Generally speaking, stereotyping often leads to a view that is limited as it excludes other possibilities. You seem to be unhappy at your workplace, new graduates have a hard time in most work places - it is a tough transition and a lot of new grads are not sufficiently prepared to integrate themselves into diverse work places and in addition lack the work experience and struggle to find their way into the profession. It is definitely important to find a workplace that is a good fit overall for you. When you write about the fact that you reported something and now being retaliated against it is more a reflection of how the "culture of safety" is realized in the workplace and not so much an indicator that "race" or heritage is to blame.