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 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.
I'm sorry for all of your pain. What are you doing, MotorcycleMama, to change things? I know it's not easy. I want to offer my support and friendship, for what they are worth.
i am soo glad that someone has addressed this issue. We people of color have been used and abused both in ways you can easily prove and those that are difficult to prove. Even when our fellow co-workers are unfair, management most times looks the other way. Being of color is extremely difficult. I am disgusted by hospitals that launch diversity programs for PR purposes. we people of color are rarely acknowledged by patients and fellow staff. I see several thank you notes posted but we are always left out. We are always left out when it comes to leadership roles even when we are equally or sometimes more qualified.
Unwritten rule first and last admissions, Isolations hand them to nurses of color.
Where in God's name did we go wrong. Many times I have contemplated giving it all up but it's no different as long as my color stays the same.
Thanks to you all
i don't see that where i live and work.
if anything, employers cater to the aa population, fearing a retaliatory threat to eeoc.
a black, female employee once told me, "if they want to see one angry black person, make a stink...."
and she did.
and i happen to know that she was not as qualified for this promotion.
the other white candidate had a masters.
if anything, where i live, i see blacks dominating our culture, loudly asserting and proclaiming their rights.
and damn it, they're getting what they want, even at the expense of blatant reverse discrimination.
We don't need to sweep these kinds of topics under the rug just because African Americans have made "great strides in the last 50 yrs".
yep, that would be me.
and no one is asking you to sweep anything under the rug.
i'm trying to give a little perspective here.
i'm just not feeling, seeing, experiencing your plight.
as i stated in my other post, i live in a very culturally rich area.
i work with and deal with many successful black women/nurses.
and they are not victims.
any abuses they suffer, they take it from their pts as all other nurses do.
as for mgmt., hell, mgmt is so freakin scared of a lawsuit, blacks get 1st consideration in promotions; are protected from write-ups and are treated with kid gloves.
maybe THAT'S why there may be a touch of resentment.
i am soooooooooooooooooooooo sick and tired of sooooooooooooooo many blacks playing the race card.
i really am.
you have the laws to protect you.
and so, you are NOT being discriminated against in the workplace.
most employers are scared crap of you.
you ARE making tremendous strides.
do NOT play the victim.
be proactive.
love yourself so much that the whole world takes notice!
command the respect.
don't say it can't be done.
because it can be!
and when i say that many suffer discrimination, i speak the truth.
it's not just about race.
it takes many forms.
and each form feels just as debilitating.
you don't know my story.
but just because i am white, do NOT tell me i don't know the hate of others.
and i've done quite well for myself.
because no one has the right to disrespect you.
and once you believe that, you will act accordingly.
as for mgmt., hell, mgmt is so freakin scared of a lawsuit, blacks get 1st consideration in promotions; are protected from write-ups and are treated with kid gloves.
I know you believe this, but I don't. Not for one minute, do I believe that your entire institution is held hostage by Black people who act as they please and do what they want because of the fear of lawsuits. If that's true, it's because your managers are morons not because we wield the all-powerful race card and your resentment is misdirected.
I know you believe this, but I don't. Not for one minute, do I believe that your entire institution is held hostage by Black people who act as they please and do what they want because of the fear of lawsuits. If that's true, it's because your managers are morons not because we wield the all-powerful race card and your resentment is misdirected.
well then sharon, mgmt are morons.
because this is what i see.
and it's not just blacks.
i see qualified, competent nurses being fired and the shabby ones remain.
if anything, employers cater to the aa population, fearing a retaliatory threat to eeoc.
a black, female employee once told me, "if they want to see one angry black b*tch, make a stink...."
and she did.
and i happen to know that she was not as qualified for this promotion.
the other white candidate had a masters.
if anything, where i live, i see blacks dominating our culture, loudly asserting and proclaiming their rights.
and damn it, they're getting what they want, even at the expense of blatant reverse discrimination.
many blacks INDEED play the race card.
sorry, i'm not feeling the sympathy.
leslie
Granted I have only been a nurse for a year, but i find the whole idea of using the "race card" to advance professionally is ridiculous. Promotions should be based on merit ONLY. i would never cause a stink or become a "black b****" just because things did not go my way. as previously stated, i treat people the way that i myself would like to be treated. i am sorry that where you work you feel that african americans are being unfairly catered to. that is something that needs to be addressed with management. you only get treated the way you let people treat you.
i think that the general misconception about african american nurses is that we are loud, obnoxious, and real b****es when things dont go our way. there is also the misconception that we arent educated, so going back to the original post, that is why SOME patients are surprised and even shocked to have us as their nurses.
the original poster wasnt looking for sympathy, just support. If you arent feeling in a "sympathetic" mood, thats fine.
I waited to see where this post would head before I added to it. I am white, but was raised by parents who were liberal and thought people should be treated equally. Does that make my 73 year old mother use the term African American, Latina or Hispanic? NO...unfortunately, she too is a product of her generation. All AA are "Colored"-and unfortunately, all hispanics/latinos are "Puerto Rican". So the mother who raised me to believe everyone is equal, would come across to nurses of color or hispanic descent as prejudiced.
I am fortunate that I live in a ethnically diverse area of the country. Our ER is staffed by a varied array of personnel. Our patients too, are very varied. Is prejudice present daily? You bet! Do I treat patients differently? I hope not. I attempt to be only for them, regardless of attitudes I may encounter. I also treat my peers similarly. If I don't like someone I can guarentee it is their personality, not their skin color or any other quality that a person could be prejudiced against.
My two children are now college aged-one in Florida and one in Philadelphia. I disseminated the same ideas of equality, and the need to judge people on their accomplishments and "selves" rather than their skin color (or any other attribute that others use as a reason for prejudice).
What I find interesting is that my daughter has taken this to a very new level. Her friends are so diverse that sometimes I am amazed! They are from everywhere, and are every color. I hope to see this continue after she leaves college. I find it amazing and am very proud of her! My husband once asked me how I'd feel if she brought home a boyfriend of a different race. Truthfully, I don't know. I think it's so hard to have a relationship when there are no other hurdles to jump-racial, or religious differences can put problems over an edge. I would also worry that unless they stayed and lived on either coast near a city. Their lives would be a nightmare! Other areas of the country may not be so welcoming.
My son's friends are his high school friends. They say things to each other that make me and I am sure his friends parents cringe! Derogatory terminology is used constantly, I worry that someone who doesn't know them would think they are prejudiced! The worst part is that they too are a mix of society white, black, phillipino, and hispanic. They sound terrible, yet these guys have been friends for years and continue to speak this way. I know they are great friends, but I fear for them sometimes. My biggest fear, is that as he attends school in Philly-he will slip with a college friend and call him a negative name around others, then being seen as white guy who is prejudiced and not really a friend. This is a topic of conversation often-but it always goes to the same place. He says mom I'm not prejudiced, these are my friends, any friend I had would know that. No changing his mind.
Are prejudicial attitudes still there? Of course. I have had AA ask for a AA nurse if I had trouble with an IV, I don't speak spanish fluently-do hispanics want a nurse that does?- sure. Older people are afraid the unknown and rumors they may have heard all their lives. Even among nurses of color-AA may not want a Haitian nurse, or Island Blacks want no part of AA nurse.
I don't believe white/black/hispanic prejudice against each other is any worse than it has ever been. If anything, I think it's much better. You need to have a thick skin when you deal with the public. Everyone can't love you, but as a healthcare professional you must try to overcome any personal issues you have. Prejudice is always caused by misunderstanding, fear, and past, poor experiences or no exposure to a certain racial group, and can't forget family influence.
How can we stop groups from hating? Maybe stop the interracial prejudice-Are all people of color for each other? No. African Americans, Africans, Haitians, Islanders, Black South Americans-they practice prejudicial behaviours against each other. What about South Americans, Central Americans, Puerto Ricans, Islanders, Mexicans, and Spaniards? I know from personnel experience that some groups feel superior to others. Whites bring it to a new level, including ethnic, religion, weight, sexuality, economic class, looks and so on.....
Maybe when we have all assimilated in the next couple of hundred years and no longer have any defining attributes due to intermarriage we will all get along. I remember my father saying that if the world was populated with all gods and goddesses, it would be a very boring place, without diversity there is nothing interesting in this world.
MM, you are beautiful to us. And it sounds like your husband has really done a number on your self esteem. :angryfire Don't ever let someone make you feel that way about yourself. People are only ugly on the inside, and that you are not.
And as an Italian American myself, I can identify with being mistaken for Hispanic, but it's usually from Hispanics.
I am a white female, but have occasionally run into reverse discrimination (isn't that an oxymoron:lol2:) as I live and work in a largely Hispanic area. As someone pointed out earlier, it isn't really the same, but it does give a little taste of it.
I met an AA traveling nurse one night, and asked her how she was being treated traveling (not with racial overtomes in the question). She responded with how she hadn't had any problems at our hospital being AA, when all I was asking was how she was doing traveling, as some other travelers had said they often were treated badly since they were on short contracts. Sometimes I think people have been so sensitized to racial remarks, they hear racism where none was intended. This is not to discount anyone's being insulted or belittled! Just that innocent remarks can be taken wrongly.
Sometimes, an innocent remark can have hurtful undertones that only the person being insulted can pick up on, be it about race, religion, weight, sexual orientation etc...
While there is no doubt that many different groups have experienced discrimination in this country, African Americans and others of African descent have been hamstrung by the law. None of the other groups represented herein have been chattel, such as a horse or cow. African Americans have been deliberately and harshly excluded from the protections the constitution affords all men because they were not viewed as fully human.
We talk of "those days" as if they are in the deep, dark past. Well, when I was born "separate but equal" was still the law of the land. Miscegnation, or intermarriage, was illegal in many states. "Mulatto" implies the interbreeding of separate species.
As a woman I have, indeed, experienced some sexism. But as an educated, middle class white woman I was also well protected by society as a whole, because I was valued simply for the status conferred upon me by birth.
I cringe when whites find it necessary to whine about the alleged "advantages" black folks have. And even if this were true across the board, and not sweeping statements made from a few anecdotal experiences, which I sincerely doubt, why can't the women and men of color in this thread be allowed to vent? Their experiences do not negate yours and yours do not negate theirs. And they also don't equate.
I must protest re: AA being the only ones owned, or having their lives hamstringed by the law.
The Chinese, and Irish were treated less than valued as they did the dirtiest, most dangerous, and nastiest work while building this country. At least, those of African descent were considered to have worth. Not dying to do the work no one else wanted to do. How about Native Americans many laws were written to restrain their rights? Mexicans? Gays? Women-when did we earn right to vote, have property, be president? Japanese and German Americans losing their property during internment in WW2. Muslim Americans being harrassed due to 9/11. And the list could go on and on.....
I don't believe we all have the same opportunities in life. We don't, but I do believe we should make the most of the opportunities given to us. Many do not-rich and poor alike. History of grievances shouldn't be an excuse not to perform to our potential's.
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TrudyRN
1,343 Posts
I'm sorry for all of your pain. What are you doing, MotorcycleMama, to change things? I know it's not easy. I want to offer my support and friendship, for what they are worth.