Looking for fellow black nurses!

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I am looking for other black nurses (actually minority nurses) to communicate and network with. Although I come from an area with a pretty even mix of races in the nursing field there are very few other black nurses, I have dealt with many unique experiences and I would like to hear what others are going through, triumphs, successes, let downs, failures......I have looked everywhere and I can not find any group to fill this need. This is the largest nursing network on the web right now so I know that we are here!

I just wanted to say hello. My journey as an RN is just starting. I will enter Nursing I this coming January. I am a PCT currently and we are definitely a minority in the Tampa area.

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Hello All,

I figured I'd add myself to this list as well. I'll be entering my BSN program in January. I have yet to meet any students online that will be attending my program, so I'd love to talk to other students and nurses. Once I get started in school I'm sure I'll have experiences to share and hopefully learn from your experiences as well!

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Hi, Everyone !

I am a black male nursing student and I come from a family of black nurses. My grandmother was a nurse supervisor for 20 years. My sister who is a LPN is currently in a LPN-RN transition program. My father who is a Psych tech is currently in nursing school. We challenge each other to do our best and my grandmother always help out. My mother is a Dietitian / Nutritionist for a government funded program. My entire family love the nursing profession. I think it important for not just black nurses, but nurses in general to stick together.

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I feel like I experience resitance from some other nurses b/c of my race or country of origin,which is american. I am an aa from alabama. However when I'm in charge of white lpns they just seem upset for no reason at all,but that could be b.c I'm young..I have been in nj and nc and its not really to big of a difference except the ones doing it. In nc its whites but in nj its from blacks from other countries such as haiti,jamaica, and africa and hispanic nurses. I have good expereinces with fillipinos. I do feel I should be progressing to supervisory positions but could be my personality. I'm quiet,shy.

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lol. One time I was caring for a pt and the aids kept coming to me and saying your pt wants to see you. I immediately went in her room and she says, oh, well can you hand me that pillow. I do and then leave the room. Then a few minutes later the aid came up to me again and their like Tiffany your pt wants to see you go in there. So I go in there and I say, Hey, can I help you? She goes. Oh, well can you get me a glass of cranberry juice. I fetch her the juice and ask if she needs anything else. And she says no that's all. A few minutes later my supervisior comes up to me and says, Tiffany your pt says that she hasn't seen you since she got to the floor. You know we don't allow that, you've got to get in there right now! I say, well I've been in there! She says, the pt says she hasn't seen you. My supervisior insists on coming in the room with me and she says to the pt hello, this is your nurse! Then she and her family suddenly goes... OOOOOOHHHH! I'm so sorry, I thought you were the aid. I was wondering why you kept coming in and asking if I need anything.

LOL. Sometimes tho being black works for your advantage when the pt is annoying. I've went in the room before with an agitated pt and asked them if they needed help and they said, GET MY NURSE! And I say, let me know when you see her... LOLOL!!!!! so I can't really always complain...

I guess that is why it is very important to introduce yourself to your patient at the start of your shift, during and almost everytime you go in your patient room. Introduction is a part of your assessment. You know?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I'm an AA nurse. Today I had a new admit, 93 with dementia. The first thing she says is " I love your kind" " your kind is very nice and I don't have a problem with your race.

Hilarious!!!

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I'm an AA nurse. Today I had a new admit, 93 with dementia. The first thing she says is " I love your kind" " your kind is very nice and I don't have a problem with your race. All I can do was LOL. Her son apologized so many times.

Did you say 93 year old dementia patient? DEMENTIA........

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I guess that is why it is very important to introduce yourself to your patient at the start of your shift, during and almost everytime you go in your patient room. Introduction is a part of your assessment. You know?

Yes it is important but the point you dont understand is that even when an introduction is given some people just dont get it...they want the "real" nurse. If you have experienced it you will know exactly what it is. I know it happens to men as well. People have an image of what the nurse should look like in their head, and if you dont meet that criteria...they don't get it.

The comment about the hair I so get it, I have very long natural hair and no one believes that it is mine and then they always want to touch it *** who touches their nurses hair???? And the comment I dont have a problem with you people lol heard that a lot in school.

Blackheart we definatly have issues unique to our race and culture and you will see if you follow the thread others will try to discount what is going on for something else like the introduce yourself comment.... Trust me even when we do introduce ourselves this happens sometimes.

I agree all nurses need to support each other but that is not always the case and I am so glad to meet other AA nurses It makes me feel like I am not alone in this!

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Specializes in ER/Acute Care.

I would just like to thank the OP again for creating this thread :) I'm finding it helpful already.

I'd also like to comment that I believe the intent was to network and share experiences. People shouldn't have their experiences minimized or discredited, which I am starting to see already. If you have something to insightful and constructive to say, great. If you don't, please keep it to yourself.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I am a new grad with a BSN. I'm not AA, but I'm Latina! There are very few Latina nurses out there, I believe less than 2%.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Did you say 93 year old dementia patient? DEMENTIA........

Not sure what the point of this was, I don't think the poster was trying to be rude at all with her post and I am sure s/he understands what is involved with elderly and dementia. It doesn't change how it might of made her/him feel.

This post got me thinking, in my class of 50 (well what started off with 50) we have no AA students. I think it's more do to area though.

I have always lived in very diverse locations where minorities were more the majority. I am mixed myself Hispanic and white. When I moved to WA it was probably the "whitest" place I had lived and the second majority race was Asian. Moving here to CO the city I live in is pretty much all white with a small Hispanic population. So I am sure that has a huge thing to do with it as far as my class. I am a big person of engulfing diversity though so I am all for things evening out more when it comes to all minorities.

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I am a new grad with a BSN. I'm not AA, but I'm Latina! There are very few Latina nurses out there, I believe less than 2%.

as I said in the original post all minorities welcome share your experiences network that is my idea lol. I dont know any Latina nurses either!

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