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?
What burns me is when co-workers treat others with disrespect. I had another nurse confide to me of all the injustices that were handed her way. She requested help from nurse A - nurse A tells her she doesn't know how to do this particular task. She then asks nurse B for help. Nurse B tells her he doesn't know how but will ask around. He asks nurse A, she tells him how to complete the task.
Nurse B ends up helping the original nurse.
She told me a lot of other things that went on too ... how sad. You would think that in this day and age people (especially nurses who are "supposed" to be tolerant and caring) would not have such attitudes.
I am a student. The moment someone asks me what my major is and I tell them nursing, their jaw instantly drops. I can read them by their expression and that burns me up. Now I have come to the realization that some people can be judgemental and not to worry about what others think. I have other things to think about than to worry about what someone thinks about me. One thing is for certain, I am going to be a nurse and I will have the same education as a white nurse. I can totally relate and I am sorry this is happening. I just say to myself the Lord made me in HIS image and out of HIS likeness.That is all that matters to me.
Say that, say that!!! You are so right. I am learning not to let it worry me as well. God is the only person that can judge me. And judge He will. I hope the ones that hate so much knows this.
I am happy that someone actaully adressed this. Kudos for talking about it.
Thank you. I hope that by discussing such issues, it will allow others to veer into the experiences of those different from them. I believe that by talking about it, it helps us to cope and brings about understanding from others.
I was trying to think of something "but on the bright side..." and this is all I could come up with. I hope it doesn't come off sounding insincere...
There are all different kinds of prejudices out there. Some people are truly bigoted, some people are ignorant, and some people just are unfomfortable with changes and new experiences.
Hopefully, to those patients who have not experienced much diversity in their lives, they will see from you that differences are only superficial. And next time such a situation arises for that person, since they had such a good experience with you, it won't even be an issue for them!
Thank you, Michigangirl. I sure hope that these patients see the person and not the color of the person.
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...
Sorry to hijack the thread...
Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry that you have experienced what so many minorities experience on a daily basis, not just at work. I feel that no one should have to go through it. But, I cannot just "relax" about it. I would relax, but just when I think it's safe to come out of the woods, I'm treated like crap again. So, one day I will relax. And that'll be when people start treating everybody, regardless of skin color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc., the same and with respect.
I have been discriminated against because I am fat and homely. I have also had patients assume I'm everything (housekeeping, cafeteria worker, tech, etc) other than a nurse. I admit, I dress kind of raddy and look very humble and the OB nurse who took care of me when I had my baby asked if I was a "tech" when I mentioned I understood the stress of working in the health care field after she apologized for being out of the room for so long.
Then she looked taken back when I mentioned I was an RN.
I have had patients in home health refuse to have me back. I never got an exact answer as to why but I guess it is because of the way I look.
Even in my personal relationships I am discriminated against. My husband doesn't find me attractive, he never has. He doesn't want me in any pictures, he doesn't even want me to have his last name. I'm a reject to him, but four kids later what is the point in kicking him to the curb now?
I understand how it could feel to be discriminated against because of who you are. My family is very colorful: my husband is Italian and while my kids all look different my oldest son is the most ethnic-looking-dark hair and eyes and dark complected. A couple of weeks ago he mentioned that the only kids who would play with him were the Mexican kids, everyone thinks he is Mexican and the white kids play separate. I say, to he!! with those other kids. I have a neice and nephew who are 1/2 black and a niece and nephew who are 1/2 hispanic and I care for them every bit as much as I care for my white nieces and nephews. In fact, when I think of them their color doesn't factor in at all.
Oh, motorcyclemama, your post touched my heart. I do believe that discrimination against overweight/obese people is on the rise. I feel that it's not addressed as much because so many people feel that it's something different from racial discrimination. But, it can be just as brutal. I am so sorry that your husband treats you the way he does. I'm sorry to say this, mama, but he is a creep. But don't worry, he will have to pay for mistreating you. You are his wife. He is to love and respect you. The Lord does not take too kindly to husbands mistreating their wives.
Now, I understand that you have four kids and they may be part of the reason you don't leave him? And if you're like me, you know that having two incomes is better than having one. But, I think that even if you had to become a single parent, it would be a lot better. Even with a reduction in income, it would be better for you because you wouldn't have to be stressed and treated like dirt. Your children can sense vibes and it's also not good for them to see their father treat their mother badly.
He has no right to do you that way. I hope you can find a way out, mama. Do you love him? Even if the feeling is not mutual, I can understand and will not judge for loving him if you still do. But, I do wish you God's blessings to enable you to get away from this man. I feel love for you in my heart and wish you nothing but the best, motorcycle mama.
Thank you for such a personal post. I am so glad to hear from you. No matter what color you are, you are my sister. I want to see everyone love one another no matter what. I feel that the discrimination you experience is just as awful as what I experience. We will bring about awareness and hopefully end it. God bless you, motorcycle mama.:balloons:
Today I was asked "can I speak to Dawne". I said "that's me, I'm Don". Her "No the Dawne, I'm looking for is a female because she's the charge nurse." Um....I'm male and I'm the charge nurse.
No way does this equate to the prejudices people of color face. Good thread.
Tweety, I feel that you, as a male nurse, also face discrimination. I have seen male nurses treated as worse, if not worser, than other minority nurse. And there is also a lot of discrimination against gays as well. I feel that we both feel the struggle. And we will continue to educate and confront people on these issues. Thanks a lot for posting, Tweety.
let me preface this post by saying that i think people of color have attained tremendous strides in u.s. society, over the years.
what was considered acceptable 50 yrs ago, is considered unthinkable today.
i read these posts and feel that it is somewhat divisive.
of course, i think that everyone should have a place to air their frustrations.
but i see prejudice in so many forms.
and one isn't worse than the other.
whether it's race, age, gender, weight, level of attractiveness, handicaps, gender preference, religious affiliation, prejudice attacks so many.
while i find it unconscionable that black nurses are exposed to the belittling abuses from their pts, i can assure you that nurses of all races/ethnicities have experienced the same level of personal, degrading and abusive attacks.
on a personal level, i don't understand prejudice.
my son's first girlfriend was black and after months of a lovely relationship, they decided to break up.
it wasn't their decision.
but they couldn't tolerate the protests of some family and friends.
they weren't old/mature enough to defy the ignorance pervading their everyday life together.
my dtr's best friend, killed himself a couple of yrs ago.
he couldn't live w/himself being gay.
we had our windows smashed, tires slit, eggs thrown at our house, as well as being beat up, because we were jewish.
ignorance is everywhere, directed at everyone, in some shape or form.
you can choose to avoid those who are toxic to your world:
or you can choose to feel pity (not the same as sympathy) while holding your head and values, high.
you can seek others who share your values.
but whatever you do, do not take it personally.
when you think about it, it's not about you.
it's about them...because it is their problem.
whether it is in your personal or professional life, prejudice will always persist.
it is only when you can still choose to treat others, with the very respect that you would expect for yourself, that you remain walking with God.
i am a AA nurse so i have experienced just about everything that has been mentioned. as i get older though, it bothers me a little less (not alot..a little). i don't expect for other races to understand what its like to be black in america. so i try to do the best i can for myself and my family and go on with my life. i have had patients request white nurses and i say "no problem". i let it roll off my back. their loss because i am an excellent nurse!! i have 2 close friends that are AA doctors. can you imagine what they go through??? i mean God forbid a black doctor?? and i hate to say this but ...nursing is not the most glamourous job, so why people act this way is beyond my understanding.
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?
Forgive me, haven't had time to read the entire thread, but here's my quick take on this:
Think of it as an opportunity.
Bring your best to your job and do your best for every patient regardless of their personal problems.
I've had to deal with a different kind of prejudice because I'm fat. Some people have problems with how I look at first, but when I start teaching them as I do things for them, they gain respect for me - and hopefully, they learn not to judge a book by its cover.
I do not see colors, i see people and attitudes. I don't care who you are or what you do, I will treat you with the utmost respect no matter what attitude you choose to use with me. I am white but have had to deal with taking care of residents/patients who did not want someone else near them for what ever reason, and if that resident/patient seemed to be open to me for discussion i have always posed the same question to them. Do you believe in God or the big bang theory? The reasoning behind my question was to make them think. If you believe in God, then we all came from adam and eve, meaning nothing more than a few genetic changes stands between us. If you believe in the big bang, then we all came from the group of homosapiens that survived to become the modern man, again, with nothing but a few genetic differences between us. Either way you go, no one can say that we are different in anything other than our colors, be they what ever. I hope this can help someone to not take the ignorance of others to heart and to know, we are all human, and that is ALL that matters.
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Sassybottom
145 Posts
What burns me is when co-workers treat others with disrespect. I had another nurse confide to me of all the injustices that were handed her way. She requested help from nurse A - nurse A tells her she doesn't know how to do this particular task. She then asks nurse B for help. Nurse B tells her he doesn't know how but will ask around. He asks nurse A, she tells him how to complete the task.
Nurse B ends up helping the original nurse.
She told me a lot of other things that went on too ... how sad. You would think that in this day and age people (especially nurses who are "supposed" to be tolerant and caring) would not have such attitudes.
By the way, I am a nurse of colour too :cheers: