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?
I can say that I have experienced jaw-dropping faces as I explained that I was student nurse associate to patients and family members of patients. Moreover, now that I am an RN, some really freak out black/white/whomever, all the same. People constantly think that I am so young to be a nurse because I am 26 but look 19-20 (good genes, and I won't apologize for that). However, I do feel that people do discriminate regardless of race. Most people are shocked when I tell them that I do not have kids yet, as if every pretty/ugly African American woman at the age of teen and up are out there just bearing kids. I also experience staff that do underestimate me because of my innocent and youthful look and feel that they can take advantage of me. For me, people who think in these shallow ways, I just laugh at them in my mind because they are missing out by stereotyping. Some automatically suggest that I live in the inner city and become shocked when they find out that I live in a very nice suburb. People will always assume so I will never cease to stop shocking them!
Racism is alive and well. I've dealt with it in restaurants (not being seated for over an hour and people coming in behind me getting seated immediately and noticing the pattern of the type of people who were waiting for long periods of time). I've been followed in department stores, pulled over and given a hard time for no good reason by the cops because of the neighborhood I was driving in. Automatically put in remedial classes in middle and high school because the teachers just "assumed" I would need them (if they would have bothered to look at my transcripts they would have seen honors classes and honor role GPA). REfused service at a auto shop, asked for ID to use my credit card when I didn't hear the clerk ask anyone else for ID that was in line, I've been assumed to be the housecleaner at my own home when people have knocked on the door (I live in a middle class/primarily white area). Called names, The list goes on and on. Things have gotten better over the years, but that doesn't mean that we don't have a long (very long) way to go. It isn't dwelling on it to simply state what is.
I am Caucasian and yes I agree you are treated differently and sometimes very badly. I do not think this is limited to people of color who are nurses. I believe it is people of color in general. Perhaps it is more apparent because you are in a profession. It is ok for you to be a servant in an "unskilled" line of work but to put you in something more "dignified" it brings out the worst in people.
PLEASE understand I do not think of CNAs, housekeepers, servents, or any other so called unskilled as actually being unskilled. Nor do I consider nursing or another profession as more "dignified" or "refined"
You want to go there? Then I guess we have to go there....
Let me tell you about one night when I was working...I must let you know that I work in Adult Psych (inpatient) and it's all about interaction. Anyway, a patient asked for some medication to help him sleep "But I don't want you to give it. I want the OTHER nurse to give it."
My response?...as I so comfortably sat on my rusty-dusty at the Nurses Station, "Fine. You have a choice. You can wait here until the other nurse returns from her break and I will just sit here comfortably OR... you can allow me to give you the medication." What choice did you think he made?---HA!
Or how about the infamous "N" word being hurled at me with some other florid obsenities. Like my girlfriend and colleague says, "No eye contact. No verbal intervention. WALK AWAY."
Oh, I know some of you purists would say, "Where's the limit-setting? Where's the respect? How can you provide appropriate role-modelling and behavioral teaching if you walk away from the situation?"
Yeah, you're right.
I learned a looooong time ago to pick my battles selectively after all, "I had a patient who was a skinhead once"...but that's a whole different story and he did turn himself around.
But getting back to being right. I learned to let it go. Being right 100% of the time can cause THIS NURSE stress and burnout. Some situations I sigh and think to myself, "How unfortunate for this human being to miss-out on the nuturing, humor and healing that THIS NURSE can give."
Child, please. At this stage of my life, I'm hitchin'-it, pitchin'-it and switchin-it ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Some situations I sigh and think to myself, "How unfortunate for this human being to miss-out on the nuturing, humor and healing that THIS NURSE can give."
Some situations I sigh and think to myself, "How unfortunate for this human being to miss-out on the nuturing, humor and healing that THIS NURSE can give."
I meant "nurturing."
SHOWBIZRN
No, even when you're reeaaallly mad, don't neuter him!
But I think you have yourself well under control.
As a middle-aged woman I can agree that trying to teach pigs to sing is frustrating and fruitless. Plus, it irritates the pig.
It saddens me that there are so many people living in such ignorance. You want to know what the treatment of African Americans in the past has to do with today. You call it "dwelling on things". As an African American woman, try walking in my shoes and learn how it affects me daily and see if its easy to forget the past, when you are reminded of it everyday.
I work as a travel and agency nurse and frequently work in new environments. I am constantly assumed to be the CNA upon arrival, by the staff mostly as well as patients/families at times. No one bothers to notice the RN on my badge. There are times where I have introduced myself as the new travel nurse or ageny RN, yet still certain people of the caucasian persuasion do not hear my words, because they already know in their mind who I am.
I have dealt with racist families. Some who will outright ask for a white nurse, as well as those that will speak with a condescending attitude, attempt to question if I am doing things correctly and make complaints over minor things (starting an NGT feed at 1150, instead of 1200 or giving a 1800 med at 1820), just because they have a problem with my color.
Taking it out of the hospital, to everyday occurences. Such as how when African Americans go missing, its not a big deal, not national news, often times won't make the local news. But when its a white individual, the story is all over CNN, The Today Show and everywhere else. Has anyone ever noticed when a crime is reported on the local news and the suspect is at large. When the suspect is black, that is always emphasized, looking for a black male, 6 foot, 200 lbs. However if its a white male, race isnt mentioned? Then they are just looking for a 6 foot, 200 lb male, wearing a red hat. Has anyone noticed when there is a crime commited by a black person against a white person, the press eats it up? However the same crime commited against people of the same race gets no coverage. Prime example, the story of that pregnant white woman, whose black police officer husband was arrested for the crime. The story had an incredible amount of coverage.
About 2 months ago, I was standing outside of a restaurant in the parking lot with 2 of my friends talking. A truck of 3 white men drove by, rolled their window down and yelled "die ni**ers die" and kept on driving.
I can tell you about how last year, I was pulled over for a DWB(driving while black). The officer claims that he thought my registration was expired. Although it clearly states on the back license plate, it expires 04/08. I was questioned about whose car I was driving immediately.He then went on to ask what I do for a living, and where I get enough money to afford my car (of course a black female cant possibly own a mercedes). After spending and eternity, running my license and registration after having absolutely no reason for pulling me over, he had to let me go.
Im an avid spades player, I play spades on yahoo games frequently. I use the black female icon to represent me while I play. I cannot tell you the number of times I have been called the N word, whore, welfare queen, drug addict, or accused of having multiple children by many men. Usually this is set off by just winning a game. I could go on and on, but Im sure its pointless, as you will never make the connection to African Americans being enslaved and the negative/racist way that my people continue to be perceived and treated. Im sure we should just get over it since it was SOO many years ago and what we go through today is minor.
Im never surprised when these white celebrities get caught using racial slurs, i.e. Michael Richardson, Paris Hilton, Dog the Bounty Hunter. Just reading the statement made by this poster and the users that thank her for her comments, its quite obvious the attitudes you have. Either you walk around with your head in the clouds and dont notice the prejudice and racism that exists in this country or I suspect that you yourself are a thinly veiled racist, just too cowardly to admit it. Open your eyes,get your head out of your @ss and realize that African Americans go through alot of nonsense at the hands of white people in this country, whether or not you encounter it in your everyday life, doesnt negate what IS happening.
I feel your pain and am very sorry for all these really horrible things you have experienced. Please know that there are lots of Caucasians who are not racists. Also, please know that there are plenty of times when whites feel the prejudice, too, coming at them in reverse discrimination incidents. For instance, a black man that I work with makes a point of remarking every time we are together, which is 5 times every week, that "we in the hood" do this, think that, whatever he's talking about but "you in the burbs" do the opposite. And it's always a put down of whites. For instance, he says that blacks who grow up in poverty know how to deal with things like the electricity being shut off far better than a white person could handle being without electricity. He thinks whites would "freak" but says he and his neighbors just plug a cord into the neighbor's outlet and go on with life as usual. This is a real quote of his. I am not making this up. It's totally out of place on the job, first of all, as the topic of power outages and inability to pay bills is not related to our patients. Secondly, I don't know why he thinks that or how he can make such a broad generalization about the 2 races. He has made many similar statements, always comparing the races and being uncomplimentary about whites. One of these days, I might ask him why he thinks that but I already know that he is just speaking from his personal view, not backed up by any scientific facts. I keep my eye on the target, which is being able to make a living and support my family but I don't like his remarks and I think he is creating a hostile workplace for me. Yes, he is nice many times and we do get along pretty well over all. But I know that he would think I was racist if I made statements like that so I wonder why he makes them in my hearing. He might not mean it to be hurtful but doesn't he know that it is hurtful?
Also, I have my kids in Christian school and I often hear remarks about how soft private school kids are from him. I just want them to have the best possible education and be in a Christian setting. I am not trying to keep them apart from other races. Their school has about 65% Blacks, Latinos, Hispanics, Native Americans, people from the Semitic and Arab groups, and various groups of Asians, actually, so the kids are all exposed to lots of different cultures, which I definitely find to be a plus. Our local schools are not accredited at this time, there is tremendous political maneuvering going on, and their is a lot of gang stuff and I simply did not want my kids in all of that. We are on scholarship, too, as I am not wealthy. I think this man is jealous, despite my explaining the above to him. Furthermore, I have told him that I would help him apply and get scholarship funding for his own kids if he would like. So far, no go.
I have no issues white, black, yellow, green or blue.. but my mother recently had a hospital visit and an oriental nurse refused to administer her pain meds even though it was prescribed and time for their administration. She said the pain is mind over matter and refused multiple times to administer them throughout her shift. My mother the next morning told me and was convinced the oriental nurse was using her own culture and beliefs to "care" for my mother. I was not there and will never really know what caused the nurse to refuse my mothers pain meds, but after a complaint to the charge nurse we scored two free movie passes, lol... but hardly worth the pain my mother suffered that night, not to mention the absolute zero sleep she got.
"Mind over matter" ... after shattering your humorous in seven places. thats a good one, huh?!
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I have no issues white, black, yellow, green or blue.. but my mother recently had a hospital visit and an oriental nurse refused to administer her pain meds even though it was prescribed and time for their administration. She said the pain is mind over matter and refused multiple times to administer them throughout her shift. My mother the next morning told me and was convinced the oriental nurse was using her own culture and beliefs to "care" for my mother. I was not there and will never really know what caused the nurse to refuse my mothers pain meds, but after a complaint to the charge nurse we scored two free movie passes, lol... but hardly worth the pain my mother suffered that night, not to mention the absolute zero sleep she got.
"Mind over matter" ... after shattering your humorous in seven places. thats a good one, huh?!
I would have requested a new nurse after the very first time she told ME how to deal with MY pain. Not because she was oriental, but because she was violating my basic rights as a patient.
I had something similar happen when I started my new job. I was orienting and was pretty bored so I was answering call lights and chatting with patients.
One patient made some very racial comments about her nurse the night before, basically stating she felt she was treated differently because she was white and her nurse was Jamaican. I found out later in the conversation that this woman was very afraid of her procedure the next day, and had voiced this to the nurse. The nurse in turn told her that fear was the DEVIL and that she WAS going to have a bad outcome if she didn't look to God.
Yes I work in a religious hospital, but I thought this assumption on the patient's beliefs and her right to have fear was out of line.
Something I have learned in life is, we all have our systems of beliefs that work for US, but as a nurse you generally have to set those aside and deal with your patients as they come.
(This post primarily in response to the quoted post and did not really address the OP, please do not take offense)
I have no issues white, black, yellow, green or blue.. but my mother recently had a hospital visit and an oriental nurse refused to administer her pain meds even though it was prescribed and time for their administration. She said the pain is mind over matter and refused multiple times to administer them throughout her shift. My mother the next morning told me and was convinced the oriental nurse was using her own culture and beliefs to "care" for my mother. I was not there and will never really know what caused the nurse to refuse my mothers pain meds, but after a complaint to the charge nurse we scored two free movie passes, lol... but hardly worth the pain my mother suffered that night, not to mention the absolute zero sleep she got.
"Mind over matter" ... after shattering your humorous in seven places. thats a good one, huh?!
Sorry, Angstudentnurse, for whoever said "oriental". Times do change, don't they? When I was growing up, the correct term was "Oriental". Not so long ago, it changed to "Asian". Just like the preferred term for Negroes was "black" or Afro-American. Now it's different. I guess not everyone can keep up with all the changes but I hope they do not mean to be insulting with whatever term they use, however outdated it might be. Can we try to assume they meant to harm and think positively?
And good luck with your studies? How far along are you? How's it all going?
I would have requested a new nurse after the very first time she told ME how to deal with MY pain. Not because she was oriental, but because she was violating my basic rights as a patient.
I had something similar happen when I started my new job. I was orienting and was pretty bored so I was answering call lights and chatting with patients.
One patient made some very racial comments about her nurse the night before, basically stating she felt she was treated differently because she was white and her nurse was Jamaican. I found out later in the conversation that this woman was very afraid of her procedure the next day, and had voiced this to the nurse. The nurse in turn told her that fear was the DEVIL and that she WAS going to have a bad outcome if she didn't look to God.
Yes I work in a religious hospital, but I thought this assumption on the patient's beliefs and her right to have fear was out of line.
Something I have learned in life is, we all have our systems of beliefs that work for US, but as a nurse you generally have to set those aside and deal with your patients as they come.
(This post primarily in response to the quoted post and did not really address the OP, please do not take offense)
Wow. I don't think the nurse meant any harm. I think she was just sharing her personal beliefs and trying to help by doing so. The other nurse who withheld pain med - wow, that's certainly not the way most of us have been taught to practice Nursing. I do wish that the patient would have called her family, the doctor, or the supervisor and not spent the night in pain. No, she should not have to make the call but it would have been warranted and helpful. God, there's just no end to the amazing things people do.
This is a real quote of his. I am not making this up. It's totally out of place on the job, first of all, as the topic of power outages and inability to pay bills is not related to our patients. Secondly, I don't know why he thinks that or how he can make such a broad generalization about the 2 races. He has made many similar statements, always comparing the races and being uncomplimentary about whites. One of these days, I might ask him why he thinks that but I already know that he is just speaking from his personal view, not backed up by any scientific facts. I keep my eye on the target, which is being able to make a living and support my family but I don't like his remarks and I think he is creating a hostile workplace for me. Yes, he is nice many times and we do get along pretty well over all. But I know that he would think I was racist if I made statements like that so I wonder why he makes them in my hearing. He might not mean it to be hurtful but doesn't he know that it is hurtful? 
RNroseshea
155 Posts
I can say that I have experienced jaw-dropping faces as I explained that I was student nurse associate to patients and family members of patients. Moreover, now that I am an RN, some really freak out black/white/whomever, all the same. People constantly think that I am so young to be a nurse because I am 26 but look 19-20 (good genes, and I won't apologize for that). However, I do feel that people do discriminate regardless of race. Most people are shocked when I tell them that I do not have kids yet, as if every pretty/ugly African American woman at the age of teen and up are out there just bearing kids. I also experience staff that do underestimate me because of my innocent and youthful look and feel that they can take advantage of me. For me, people who think in these shallow ways, I just laugh at them in my mind because they are missing out by stereotyping. Some automatically suggest that I live in the inner city and become shocked when they find out that I live in a very nice suburb. People will always assume so I will never cease to stop shocking them!