Hello, everyone out there in the world of allnurses.com I just need to get something that's been bothering me for a while off of my chest. I just want to talk about this issue especially affecting minority nurses. And that issue is that it can be hard to be a nurse of color.
I am part Somoan/part African-American and consider myself Black for the most part. Well, I just feel that after all these years, minority nurses still don't get as much respect as their white colleagues.
Always being mistaken for for support staff even though my name tag boldly states who I am and my credentials. And I even feel that sometimes, patients feel insulted by me being their nurse. It seems like that when I first go into the patient's room, before I can introduce myself properly, they always assume I am a CNA. After I explain that I am their nurse, they seem to loose that "glow". It's like they don't want ME to be their nurse. And when a previous nurse that happens to be white reports how pleasant a patient was, I don't get that "pleasant" behavior from the same patient.
We as nurses know that patients can often be demanding, rude, and downright ridiculous with any nurse. But, to the minority nurses out there, do you sometimes feel that you are being treated with less respect because your a minority? Do you feel like you get treated differently from the other nurses by the same patient?
And whoever used the word "whine" to say what whites are doing - if that isn't insensitive I don't know what is. It trivializes our experiences and feelings and we don't like that any more than you do. So it would be appreciated if you would try to show respect to us, just as you want shown to you.
I did.
I am a white woman. When you speak of "our" experiences and "our" feelings, please include me out.
Ok Trudy, the "THEM" that you're talking about are probably just a small handful. I don't know their number. I just know I see it frequently where I work and have worked.
I hope that you don't think their representative of the whole. The sit-ins, water hoses etc. are a very real part my immediate family's history. I see that you are the same age as my parents. Maybe you didn't participate in burning crosses, but don't you think that some of those that did are still around and pass that ignorance on to their children? Of course. Did I say something that made you think otherwise? And in regards your statement about majorites being excluded to let minorities into certain colleges and institutions, why is it so hard to believe that mionorities may get into these institurions based soley on academics. My brother went to an Ivy league, and he's had to deal with people who don't think that he'd there based on good grades and hard work, and that's a shame.
Please re-read my post. You have read into it something that I did not say at all.I said not a single word aboutyour brother'sacademic ability.I was talking about quotas. And to meet a quota, it requires that someone else be excluded if there is a finite number of spots that can be filled. Peace.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
It would be appreciated if you would try to show respect to us, just as you want shown to you.
This thread is not about an "us versus them" issue, Trudy. This thread is about the various difficulties faced by nurses of color. Additionally, not all people of color have this stereotypical "us versus them" mentality.
However, the abovementioned quote demonstrates that you might possess that "us versus them" manner of looking at the world.
This thread is not about an "us versus them" issue, Trudy. This thread is about the various difficulties faced by nurses of color. Additionally, not all people of color have this stereotypical "us versus them" mentality.
However, the abovementioned quote demonstrates that you might possess that "us versus them" manner of looking at the world.
the "us" is about the nurses of color who have come here to discuss their tribulations in the workplace.
those remaining, would be "them", whether they are white, asian, hispanic, etc.
us vs. them is specific to this thread.
i don't see it as divisive as you're implying.
perhaps i'm seeing it too literally with "us" being a specified group and "them" being everyone else.
i don't see the value in trying to create any ill-will.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
the "us" is about the nurses of color who have come here to discuss their tribulations in the workplace.
those remaining, would be "them", whether they are white, asian, hispanic, etc.
So, you don't regard Asian people and non-white Hispanic persons as people of color? African-American people, at least in my humble opinion, are not the only persons of color. :)
i don't see the value in trying to create any ill-will.
I am not attempting to conjure up any ill will or hard feelings.
So, you don't regard Asian people and non-white Hispanic persons as people of color? African-American people, at least in my humble opinion, are not the only persons of color. :)
i am so confused.
i thought identifying oneself as an aa, was interchangeable with "person of color".
now i'm learning that asians, non-white hispanics et al, are also classified as "persons of color"???
While I don't know for certain anyone's intent, I honestly don't think that is meant in a derogatory manner. I think it is simply the vast age difference that causes an elderly person to refer to those so much younger than them as such. I have a CRNA at work who is truly not much older than me (I'm 41) who refers to me as 'kid' on occasion. I do not take offense, I take it as a sweet compliment. I do tend to look much younger than my age and as a 20-something that was such a bad thing to me but now I recognize that it was a wonderful gift LOLOL I just hope I can maintain that well into old-age ROFL
Recognize, though, that history has rendered the terms "boy" and "girl" very loaded when applied to black men and women. The term "kid" is not at all analogous to the term "boy/girl", especially when applied to a black person.
As a white man, I have found it charming on the few occasions when an elderly black woman has referred to me as "child" even though I'm now in my 40's. That term is not at all loaded.
i thought identifying oneself as an aa, was interchangeable with "person of color".
now i'm learning that asians, non-white hispanics et al, are also classified as "persons of color"???
please, anyone, educate me.
because i'm lost.
leslie
I don't know that I can educate you but certainly African-American is a much more restrictive category than "person of color" since many folks from the Pacific islands (think Haiti or Jamaica) are very, very dark.
I don't know how much pigmentation it takes to be considered a "person of color", though.
Recognize, though, that history has rendered the terms "boy" and "girl" very loaded when applied to black men and women. The term "kid" is not at all analogous to the term "boy/girl", especially when applied to a black person.
As a white man, I have found it charming on the few occasions when an elderly black woman has referred to me as "child" even though I'm now in my 40's. That term is not at all loaded.
You are right. It's been so long since I've heard it used that way that I forgot the historical connotations it can render. Perhaps too, I am looking for things to be positive even when they aren't :)
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
I did.
I am a white woman. When you speak of "our" experiences and "our" feelings, please include me out.
You most decidedly do not speak for me.