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?
Specializes in Med/Surg, Critical Care and Emergency nu.
I feel your pain and frustration. I've been a nurse for over 15 years and worked all areas as staff nurse, supervisor and manager. At times I would be the only African American. I would never let that deter me for one minute. I always kept in mind that I was hired to do a job and that was what I was going to do. If someone had an issue with color, it was there problem. Even in the 21st century, color race and gender still have issues everywhere, not just in nursing. Hold your HEAD up High and recognize that you are in a wonderful profession. A patient doesn't care who gave them the shot to ease the pain, but who cared enough to be with them at their worst time.
You are right, I don't know how it is to be a nurse of any other color than my tan, pinky self (no one is really white). However, if you read all my posts-my intention is to say that unfortunately, there will always be someone that doesn't like you as a person(whatever their reason). Is it color sometimes? yes Is it many other factors? Could be. When I say get over it, it is with regards to those people who are prejudice-education might change them or not. Their responses to "their prejudices and views" are not in your control and it shouldn't rule your life or how your perceive yourself and others.
I don't think we ever really "get over" certain things. We learn how to keep going in spite of pain and cruelty. And hopefully the pain lessens with time, the great healer. But it is still part of our experience, part of us, shapes how we view life.
As I always told my husband when we were newer-weds and still argued sometimes, you can't hurt me without hurting yourself. We are one flesh. Well, all of humankind is one flesh so when we hurt each other, we are actually hurting ourselves. Even if we succeed in wounding someone else, we are wounded on a certain level, too.
I have an in-law who is Asian. She once accused my son of not liking her because she is Asian. I know for a fact that I have always taught my kids to be students of every culture, to sample all that life has to offer in the way of foods, music, etc. from other lands, to visit every type of religious service they could, etc. Just to be sure, I asked her about it because I was angry and amazed that she'd made the accusation and also wanted to know why she made it. Her response: He doesn't call me "Aunt _____." I had tried to teach him to do so but he was in the habit of calling my brother by his first name, per my brother's request, therefore, he figured all aunts and uncles were to be addressed by their first names. So you see how easy it is to assume that someone dislikes us when they actually do. I know there's still plenty of the real hate around, I'm just sharing an example of how easy it is to misperceive and to accuse someone who is innocent of any wrongdoing.
I feel your pain and frustration. I've been a nurse for over 15 years and worked all areas as staff nurse, supervisor and manager. At times I would be the only African American. I would never let that deter me for one minute. I always kept in mind that I was hired to do a job and that was what I was going to do. If someone had an issue with color, it was there problem. Even in the 21st century, color race and gender still have issues everywhere, not just in nursing. Hold your HEAD up High and recognize that you are in a wonderful profession. A patient doesn't care who gave them the shot to ease the pain, but who cared enough to be with them at their worst time.
BIG thanks to you for this post - I live in SC, so I can honestly say that if we are in the South and can believe it and live it, anyone can.:balloons:
I once was called the N word while a work, my response: I laughed and told the pt HONEY I'M BLACK AND I LIVE IN WEST VIRGINIA IF YOU WANT TO INSULT ME YOU BETTER DO BETTER THAN THAT the patient was so mad that I did not get mad their head nearly exploded which made me laugh even harder.
:D
Trudy, perhaps we misunderstood one another. You last message was different (to me, anyway) than your earlier ones.
music it look like you have led a interesting life
your comment that we are the same inside, well we are all the same on-line tht is why i love it so
my g-g-gmother was a indentured servant and she was beaten by the family that held her contract - she ran away and joined a wagon train going to california where she met and married a man who owned land and had servants, mostly chinese, hispanic, indian and she was MEANER to her servants than the boston family was to her sometimes empathy is not a good teacher
Specializes in med-surg, geriatrics, adult homecare.
THANX for addressing this topic...I am a male RN(white)and as a traveler worked at a Native facility in Alaska for a while, 13 weeks. While there, I was "reminded" at least 2-3 times a week that I was "taking a native nurses job." I became known as "the white boy" in ICU:uhoh3:. So...Relax...Prejudice is not just toward "your kind"...It can be against us ALL. Male/Female/Black/White/Native/Hispanic/ectectect...
Just found this thread,so pardon,if I am a little late getting to it. I am African American.I do agree with you that predjudice can be directed against anyone, other than black people. However,I think this is going to take a little cultural sensititivity on your part, and a lot of the other white nurses out there to make certain realizations.First, the poster, was in a very unique situation,in Alaska. For the first time in his life,perhaps,you were surrounded by a culture that you could not assimilate into,because he stood out, because of your obviously different physical feautures. This is what exactly happens to black people everyday in this country. There is not isolated pockets of racism against a few blacks here and there.We are targeted as a group of people,all day and everyday. Racism is historical in this country,and is still very much alive and well. We make easy targets :because just as the poster could not assimilate well into the native Alaskian culture,because of his obviously white appearance,so it is for blacks, who are targeted easily by skin color,as we do stand out from the white predominant culture because of ourskin tone.
I hope my stating things this way will help all to broaden their prespectives,because I know not all white people are predjudice. At the same time,if you have a narrow view on the way things are,as opposed to the way they actually are,then you cannot hope to change what you do not aknowledge.
The predjudice spoken here by black nurses and other nurses of color is not imaginary.You do not have to use the N word to discriminate. AIt shows up in attitude,how assignments are given,and condescending tonal expressions.Then there are those accidental overheard conversations,or those subtle raciists remarks,along with negative attitudes,and unnecessarily giving every black nurse that comes along a hard time. My yardstick for judgeing predjudice and racism,is seeing an individual nurse or a group of nurses consistenly mistreating every black nurse in some way,that crosses their path,in the aforementioned ways and others besides. I hope the white nurses will take time to step back,and observe how black nurses are being treated in their workplace,and become less myopic about this ongoing problem.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The predjudice spoken here by black nurses and other nurses of color is not imaginary. You do not have to use the N word to discriminate. It shows up in attitude, how assignments are given, and condescending tonal expressions. Then there are those accidental overheard conversations, or those subtle raciists remarks, along with negative attitudes, and unnecessarily giving every black nurse that comes along a hard time. My yardstick for judgeing predjudice and racism, is seeing an individual nurse or a group of nurses consistenly mistreating every black nurse in some way, that crosses their path, in the aforementioned ways and others besides.
Specializes in med-surg, geriatrics, adult homecare.
And this is what I want to suggest. Call people on it when they say or do something that you think is disrespectful or shows racism or prejudice. Do not assume what their attitude is. Get it out in the open, talk it out, discuss it. Do not just accept it, ostensibly, then stew about it.
"Mary, I saw you roll your eyes when you learned I am your nurse. Why did you do that?"
"Doctor, you seem surprised that I am the RN. Were you? If so, why? Let me assure you that I am a graduate of ABC Nursing College and am duly licensed by this state, I have received the facility's orientation, and am fully willing to and capable of assisting you and caring for your patients. How may I help you?"
"Patient Smith, you say you don't want a black/colored/brown/Asian/Hispanic/Pacific Islander/Native American/male/homosexual/Jewish/Catholic/Protestant/Muslim/atheist/
other minority nurse. Why is that? It hurts my feelings a lot that you don't trust me enough to even give me a chance to show you what a caring and skilled, intelligent nurse I am. I want very much to help you. Will you allow me to do that? If you try it for a while and still don't like it, we can always get you a different nurse but please do give me a chance."
Call people on it in a courteous, confident way. If they respond positively, great. If not, keep on doing your thing and maybe they'll eventually come around. What else can you really do?
I truly hope this thread does not die .When I was thinking about it today,I realized that in all my years of nursing,I had not dialogied not even once about issues of racism, with any other white nurse, hat are faced by African American nurses. I am sure the majority of the causcian nurses have never dialogued with black nurses and other minority nurses. This is bad because communication is important here. Doing so,will not polarize us,but bring us together and attune us more into each other needs. I also feel a lot of misconceptions can be cleared up via communicating.
There are those times when you know intuitively communication is impossible with some people.Trying to have a dialogue,with a racist patient,I do not feel will work,or is appropriate. First of all,why would I want to ask a racist patient to "give me a chance" ? :nono:I would find personally doing so would be very demeaning.I ask if any white nurse in here would put themselves in a position of a beggar to a patient if they expressed for whatever the reason,they did not want your nursing services that day, or for the rest of their stay ? Being able to dialogue with such a person would not change their way of thinking,and if you really think about it,I am there to do a job,and not try to change anyone. Also patients hold a lot of power,and such a conversation, could be used against me. All I need is some patient making a complaint that I upset him,caused them undue stress,etc. etc. I am not going to give a patient who is predjudice,that kind pf power to level false accusations against me. I would more appreciate a supportive nurse manager,who would talk to the patient and state clearly,his wishes would be taken care of at this time,but this cannot be an ongoing situation,as assignments are not made by color preferences.That would send a message to the patient that racial intolerance is not practiced here.
Once, I saw a elderly white man accompanied by his two daughters upon admission to his room. It was not long,before I saw the same patient loaded on a stretcher headed for another empty bed on the unit.This was not my patient,but the nurse who had him told me the family did not want him in the room with a black patient. This white daughter was obviously suffering from some kind of white guilt,because later on,she walked over to me,and looked me straight in the face,saying,"sorry." Now the black gentlemen in the room,was the type of roommate you would want your elderly parent to be with.He was quiet,mentally intact,so did not scream ,out,and was continent,so the oom always smelled nice. I wished the supervisor who was on that evening was supportive and told that daughter rooms are not given out on the basis of color.Some white nurses on this board are in positions where they can show there black nurses and others of color,
they have a value system which they stand up for.Workplaces policies and procedures are as good as the people who are willing to stand up and enforce them.
...I had not dialogied not even once about issues of racism, with any other white nurse, hat are faced by African American nurses. I am sure the majority of the causcian nurses have never dialogued with black nurses and other minority nurses. This is bad because communication is important here. Doing so,will not polarize us,but bring us together and attune us more into each other needs. I also feel a lot of misconceptions can be cleared up via communicating.
Amen to that.
I agree whole-heartedly with what you write here. That's why it saddens me when I see a thread like this become polarized.
You say, "Doing so (communicating) will not polarize us." That is sometimes true. Other times - and from what I've read in various discussions on various websites, perhaps even often times - the tone of the discussion creates increases the polarization.
Perhaps such discussions are better done face-to-face, within the context of existing relationships rather than anonymously on internet boards.
Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.
When I took a job in another state,I landed square in the middle of a unit where I was the token "white girl"....believe me, prejudice isn't indigenous to dark skin/ gender/ sexual orientation/ gender/ or even age....that is why some of our Constitutional writers envisioned "all being created equal" ...."having certain inalieable rights....pursuit of happiness...etc..." Unfortunately, in my instance, I found it ironic that I was the NATIVE AMERICAN, and the ones who treated me as the outsider were the immigrants!! HA! It's too weird for words....
I guess it just shows that some of this negativity is innate in people, no matter where they come from, and no matter what their ethnicity....
It took some time, but by some I have been embraced....by others, I will always be the "token white girl"....
Personally, it doesn't matter...my patients see a competent and caring person at their bedside...AND THAT IS WHAT I AM THERE FOR....
I am sorry so many have felt this....and for some, it has been generations...
My grandmother was a midwife, in the days when a black woman could not deliver her child in a "white" hospital.....my grandmother delivered many of these women/babies.....and almost put the hospital out of business, because she was so good at what she did, even the white community would request her instead of the white sheet wearin' doctors....it does go to show you that goodness, truth, and a kind heart can go a long long way in this world...way to go!! Grandma!!
.thumb.jpg.755b83f43c9f3860c778e2fcb2022ecb.jpg){kind=small}
:D 
synnag44
3 Posts
I feel your pain and frustration. I've been a nurse for over 15 years and worked all areas as staff nurse, supervisor and manager. At times I would be the only African American. I would never let that deter me for one minute. I always kept in mind that I was hired to do a job and that was what I was going to do. If someone had an issue with color, it was there problem. Even in the 21st century, color race and gender still have issues everywhere, not just in nursing. Hold your HEAD up High and recognize that you are in a wonderful profession. A patient doesn't care who gave them the shot to ease the pain, but who cared enough to be with them at their worst time.