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?
Since there are subscibers from all over the world-who knows this may apply elsewhere?
We are all a product of our environment, and our familie's history. Why do some make it and others don't? Are you saying it is due to slavery? How do you explain successes of unschooled poor immigrants who go on to have children that are successful?
I believe we will all be beige(tan) in a couple of hundred years, then there won't be a problem. We will all look the same.
Nothing is accomplished by dwelling on the past...yes I believe that.
Racial discrimination will always exist as long as people are small minded and not exposed to different things in their lives. Back to one of my original posts-move to the coasts. Be with open minded people. Accomplish, and produce. If there is prejudice help eradicate it. Be involved in your communities, don't disparage others due to race, religion, sexuality, age, economic level, schooling, or ethnicity. Encourage multicultural pursuits in your schools and at church. Don't sneer when you hear people speaking in other languages. Teach your children to be respectful to all others. Correct your parents and enlighten them to the truth about those "other" people.
Truthfully, it doesn't matter what I think, only my daily practices as a human being matter to me and my God. Anyone can read what they want into my words like you did. Hopefully, those nurses who feel alienated and prejudiced will know there are many like me in NJ.
i am now realizing that racism must run rampant in different parts of the country.
i have never lived outside of boston since 1964.
again, i can say that where i live, aa's are NOT secondary in anyway, shape or form.
nor are other cultures/ethnicities.
maybe you guys should move to boston.
leslie
You're kidding! Boston???? lolol..........Oh Leslie, I don't mean to make fun of you but honestly, Boston has one of the worst reputations for racism in the country, certainly in the Northeast. It's funny how people's perceptions are so different. From your vantage point things look good, but that's not the same as being in someone's else's skin, is it? ( I do appreciate the invite however)
You're kidding! Boston???? lolol..........Oh Leslie, I don't mean to make fun of you but honestly, Boston has one of the worst reputations for racism in the country, certainly in the Northeast. It's funny how people's perceptions are so different. From your vantage point things look good, but that's not the same as being in someone's else's skin, is it? ( I do appreciate the invite however)
serious????
yeah, i know of all-white towns, i.e., southie/south boston, that consist of the white irish.
and i'm aware of stories r/t police brutality (yrs ago) against the blacks, esp where murder has been committed and the blacks known to congregate in a certain section of boston, were targeted. (i'm thinking of a couple of stories).
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.
True enough, but you will get a simular reaction from someone who suffers from Post Tr. Stress. Sometimes one is so traumatized by certain treatment, it becomes a natural reflex.
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.
Just my opinion,
Maisy;)
Hmmmm..... Who isn't performing at their potential?
yeah, i know of all-white towns, i.e., southie/south boston, that consist of the white irish.
and i'm aware of stories r/t police brutality (yrs ago) against the blacks, esp where murder has been committed and the blacks known to congregate in a certain section of boston, were targeted. (i'm thinking of a couple of stories).
seriously, i have to research your allegation.
i do NOT see it in my area.
at all.
leslie
ok, HAD to research this.
a link from 2002...and boston continues to progress.
civil rights have progressed us all and slavery was 150 years ago..you have to advance and stop looking for insult when none is intended
this is the reason that i really can't stand the hypenateed names
they only serve to separate people from others
perhaps it is because of the area where i work and live but there is no way that blacks are in the minority as nurses, we have nurses, lpns/rns and doctors of every shade..some are very good some you would rather not work with but this doesn't have anything to do with race, age, gender, sexual orientation
i would never request a nurse, cna or physical tx based on anything except competence
there are whites who are prejudice, there are blacks who will play the race card when it is not called for..but it is time to leave these people behind, for the sake of the future
Since there are subscibers from all over the world-who knows this may apply elsewhere?
We are all a product of our environment, and our familie's history. Why do some make it and others don't? Are you saying it is due to slavery? How do you explain successes of unschooled poor immigrants who go on to have children that are successful?
I believe we will all be beige(tan) in a couple of hundred years, then there won't be a problem. We will all look the same.
Nothing is accomplished by dwelling on the past...yes I believe that.
Racial discrimination will always exist as long as people are small minded and not exposed to different things in their lives. Back to one of my original posts-move to the coasts. Be with open minded people. Accomplish, and produce. If there is prejudice help eradicate it. Be involved in your communities, don't disparage others due to race, religion, sexuality, age, economic level, schooling, or ethnicity. Encourage multicultural pursuits in your schools and at church. Don't sneer when you hear people speaking in other languages. Teach your children to be respectful to all others. Correct your parents and enlighten them to the truth about those "other" people.
Truthfully, it doesn't matter what I think, only my daily practices as a human being matter to me and my God. Anyone can read what they want into my words like you did. Hopefully, those nurses who feel alienated and prejudiced will know there are many like me in NJ.
Maisy;)
No one is saying it's due to slavery, but you're living in a dream world if you think that race doesn't affect job opportunities. You'll never know what it's like to not be exactly sure why you didn't get a particular job.
i am now realizing that racism must run rampant in different parts of the country.
i have never lived outside of boston since 1964.
again, i can say that where i live, aa's are NOT secondary in anyway, shape or form.
nor are other cultures/ethnicities.
if anything, there are many galas, events that celebrate the diversity of our city.
and all attend.
on the street where i live, we have block parties every summer, with aa, hispanic, greek, italian, caucasian, haitian, dominican....we all cook our own dishes and feast together.
heck, we even grab the homeless people sauntering down the street.
we have a neighborhood crime watch, with all of us looking out for ea other.
no one is segregated.
maybe you guys should move to boston.
UHHHH......
I think Boston is a wonderful place and probably has some very integrated areas....but.....
I worked on an assignment at a wellknown facility in the Longwood medical area. The unit held about 30 patients, and ratios on days were 2 -3 patients per nurse, thus lots of staff. The facility was associated with Harvard (as are most in that area of the city)
Only three staffers were black - two of which were aides. There were no hispanics, and only one asian.
During 6 monthes there, I had maybe one or two black patients, one or two asians, though many patients from South America.
It was postively the "whitest" place that I have ever been. The lack of diversity was very apparent.
The irony....the facility, which has been written about, used to be known as one of the few facilities where some minority interns/residents could get matched easily.
There are people that play the "race" card for any perceived slight, just as there are people that play the "gender" card, or the "weight" card, the "politics" card or the "looks" card. But there is also some validity out there.
I think Boston is a wonderful place and probably has some very integrated areas....but.....
I worked on an assignment at a wellknown facility in the Longwood medical area. The unit held about 30 patients, and ratios on days were 2 -3 patients per nurse, thus lots of staff. The facility was associated with Harvard (as are most in that area of the city)
Only three staffers were black - two of which were aides. There were no hispanics, and only one asian.
During 6 monthes there, I had maybe one or two black patients, one or two asians, though many patients from South America.
It was postively the "whitest" place that I have ever been. The lack of diversity was very apparent.
The irony....the facility, which has been written about, used to be known as one of the few facilities where some minority interns/residents could get matched easily.
There are people that play the "race" card for any perceived slight, just as there are people that play the "gender" card, or the "weight" card, the "politics" card or the "looks" card. But there is also some validity out there.
i know of the hospital.
i'm also very familiar with longwood.
that's where all the med students intern.
but that is a small area in boston.
granted, segregated areas remain.
but if you read the links i provided, blacks have clearly plowed their way through boston's reputed discord, and have found a place for themselves.
and it has only been because they have asserted themselves and their rights.
i believe massachusetts is the 2nd state in this country, to have a black governor.
people of all ethnicities, came out of the woodwork, to vote devall patrick in.
while i recognize having only 2 black governors in the u.s., is extremely dismal, it is a step in the right direction.
boston is comprised of many towns.
east boston, jamaica plain, roslindale, dorchester, roxbury are all highly diverse areas.
admittedly, i have lived much of my life w/my head in the sand.
but when it comes to boston, it is making a lot of progress.
living/working in the longwood area, is mostly all college kids and med students.
it's a small piece of the picture.
i am very pleased with where boston is going.
leslie
eta: most of the black/hispanic et al populations, go to boston city or brigham's.
This is so sad in this day and age that I was in tears many times reading these posts. I am an older WF and I have never had to suffer like this. As much as I care I think of a situation I was in that still bothers me. In the Cath. Lab. there are RN's, LPN's and a few A.D. Paramedic's. We have two people that triage our cases and being new I assumed they were both Paramedics. There are times when we are working super short staffed and there are not two nurses on a team. Usually the team counts the Narc's and then it is verified and signed by a second nurse from another team. I had been there for a very short time and told the triange person that I would gladly verify and sign the count. She is an AA woman and she said "No I am an LPN and sign my own count". I still feel like such a fool assuming she was a paramedic as the other triage person is. Here I thought I would never ever do anything like that. That I was so above that horrible type of assumed behavior even though it had nothing to do with her being AA I could see where she might think it did. I still think of that day and it humbles me thinking of what other discrimination she must have had to deal with all of her life. We went on to be good friends and I admire her as a nurse and go to her as an expert resourse with extensive experience.
MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN
1,082 Posts
Dear SueSquatch,
Since there are subscibers from all over the world-who knows this may apply elsewhere?
We are all a product of our environment, and our familie's history. Why do some make it and others don't? Are you saying it is due to slavery? How do you explain successes of unschooled poor immigrants who go on to have children that are successful?
I believe we will all be beige(tan) in a couple of hundred years, then there won't be a problem. We will all look the same.
Nothing is accomplished by dwelling on the past...yes I believe that.
Racial discrimination will always exist as long as people are small minded and not exposed to different things in their lives. Back to one of my original posts-move to the coasts. Be with open minded people. Accomplish, and produce. If there is prejudice help eradicate it. Be involved in your communities, don't disparage others due to race, religion, sexuality, age, economic level, schooling, or ethnicity. Encourage multicultural pursuits in your schools and at church. Don't sneer when you hear people speaking in other languages. Teach your children to be respectful to all others. Correct your parents and enlighten them to the truth about those "other" people.
Truthfully, it doesn't matter what I think, only my daily practices as a human being matter to me and my God. Anyone can read what they want into my words like you did. Hopefully, those nurses who feel alienated and prejudiced will know there are many like me in NJ.
Maisy;)