WARNING: This is a controversial topic. Some readers may object to the viewpoints to be posted within. If you are one that cannot tolerate controversy, you have the right to not read this thread. Otherwise, all viewpoints are welcome.
Hello, this is Olive Vines here. I have been wanting to post a thread on this topic for a while. However, I have postponed doing that until now.
My observation is one that many minority nurses can relate too. Especially minorties in small southern towns such as the one I reside in. Here we go.
It seems to me that non-white, non-female nurses have the hardest time getting a job outside of acute care facilities. I live in a small town that is about an hour away from a metropolitan area. I have noticed that when it comes to needing nurses, a lot of physician offices, healthcare clinics, schools seem to overlook equally qualified minority nurses. I am including male nurses as being a minority because that is what they are in this profession.
When I take my daughter or accompany my mother to the doctor's or dentist's office, the staff is 9 times out of 10, overwhelmingly caucasian. But on the other hand, you go to any hospital and you will find that black females abd male nurses account for a large percentage of staff in those areas. We all know that non-acute care can be stressful, but not as near as stressful as primary care or any other branch of nursing. I see this strange trend in long term care facilities as well.
The only places where I have seen the exception is in large metropolitan areas where white people do not tend to reside. And I see a lot of black and male nurses relocating to Birmingham and Atlanta to get top notch jobs because the opportunities have been denied in small cities such as where I live. And while most of the jobs they garner happen to be in acute care facilities in those large cities, there seems to be more job satisfaction for some reason.
And while I'm on the topic. I also have noticed that I have better nights when most of my patients are African-American. Those patients tend to be less demanding of my time and take me more seriously as a health-care provider. But, on the other hand, when I have white patients, especially older white males, I see myself being ran up and down the hall for the non-essential things. And also, I get a lot of lip from the patient as to what they are NOT going to do or what medicine they are NOT going to take until they talk to their doctor. But, hold it right there, here's the kicker. When a nurse, who happens to be white, has had that same patient before, they seem not get that same attitude or disrespect from that same patient. They get a very nice, compliant patient while I put up with crap from them.
And one last thing, and this is just a personal vent: I am so tired of being mistaken for Environmental Services, Dietary or the PCA by white patients. And this is all while I have my namebadge that has RN, BSN on it. That's a big pet peeve of mine.
Now, I welcome any viewpoints on this topic because I feel it needs to be addressed. With a nursing shortage, why be so picky? Why do minorities have to be destined to work in acute care while white female nurses can have their pick and choose? And why aren't male nurses as accepted by older patients as female nurses are? And before I get bashed and called out for being prejudiced against whites, let me just say, my father is white so that pretty much kills that notion. I just call it like I see it and what I experience. What do you all think? I welcome all with open arms and I promise, I will not be offended by anything you say.
It's great to spot a topic like this. I had always wanted to hear different views about how they felt about discrimination. I'm Asian but I had loved my work experiences with everyone. We may just differ in our physical attributes but internally ( all our body systems) are just the same. i had worked in New York before and never want to leave because i treasure the friends i made there. I remember when i was just new here in US - i just ride a bus and don't have a car yet. And if it's a late shift ends ill call for a taxi ---- My co-worker who is a middle-aged White American will offer to drive me home even if it's out of the way. I call her mama and her hubby will drive us to our homes together with my black but beautiful co-workers. There are times when each and everyone will get "bossy" or unpleasant - but through time we learned to accept and love our individual's "imperfections". ---that whatever skin color we may have, be it White, Brown, Black or Yellow ---we make the painting look good with our differences and colors. All it takes is acknowledgment, a simple smile ---"Hi, How are you?" -- sincerity and good work, more Jobs.
I hope discrimination will vanish - when it comes to jobs, human resources recruitment or Hiring, and work politics.....impossible???---I hope not.
Specializes in RN: L&D, LPN: Med/Surg, CNA: MedSurg/LTC.
I am 1/2 black and 1/2 white and my hubby is black and we've both experienced racism in our home state of Oklahoma. He's in the Marines and now we live in California and definitely WON'T be going back. No one reacts or looks at us weird here and treats us with respect.
OliveVines, I'm sorry that are going through this. I would definitely try and move somewhere more tolerant. You could move in a smaller town near a big city and just work in the city. Once you don't have to experience that anymore it's like a breath of fresh air! I wish you much luck and success.
Isn't that something like Eugenics or something of the sort? I agree with you fully. We are all God's children and we really are the same people in different shades of color. I don't know how this racism thing began, but it is of the devil and I pray that just like the devil, it will one day be banished.
I remember being called Jew-bastard in 1967. This was in New England. Never had a problem growing up in the deep south during the 50's and 60's. Just remember, OliveVines, that its probably very hard for those people who are so ignorant. It's like negotiating through a very complex maze when you have an IQ of 80. Their world will always be smaller than yours because their hearts are cold.
Nightingale Apolonia
33 Posts
It's great to spot a topic like this. I had always wanted to hear different views about how they felt about discrimination. I'm Asian but I had loved my work experiences with everyone. We may just differ in our physical attributes but internally ( all our body systems) are just the same.
i had worked in New York before and never want to leave because i treasure the friends i made there. I remember when i was just new here in US - i just ride a bus and don't have a car yet. And if it's a late shift ends ill call for a taxi ---- My co-worker who is a middle-aged White American will offer to drive me home even if it's out of the way. I call her mama and her hubby will drive us to our homes together with my black but beautiful co-workers. There are times when each and everyone will get "bossy" or unpleasant - but through time we learned to accept and love our individual's "imperfections". ---that whatever skin color we may have, be it White, Brown, Black or Yellow ---we make the painting look good with our differences and colors. All it takes is acknowledgment, a simple smile ---"Hi, How are you?" -- sincerity and good work, more Jobs.
I hope discrimination will vanish - when it comes to jobs, human resources recruitment or Hiring, and work politics.....impossible???---I hope not.