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!

We are not trying to separate ourselves the OP wanted to connect with other black nurses and there's nothing wrong with that. And the thing about you starting thread "looking for fellow white nurses" you really don't need to because most of these threads/forums are of/from white nurses.

Blaquediamondz RN, BSN

it always bothers me when i read (white) folks saying, "how would you like it if we did this too?"...

to me, it shows a disregard for the journey aa's have made from then to now.

we would all benefit from honoring their history...

focusing on what needs to be done, in order for aa's, and all minorities, to be recognized as fully equal.

in the meantime, let them have their say, discuss their concerns, and reach out for support.

is that really too much to ask?

leslie

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
I was thinking the same thing. In my area, I am the minority. In my class of 30 there are three caucasian people. I dont understand why there is such a rift and need to separate. I know I am going to get SLAMED for this one but really? In my class, we are a family... not black, white, blue, pink, or brown. When we separate ourselves and push others out, that is when we create racism in our generation. We are ALL nurses or trying to achieve that name. I am not a white nursing student, my best friend in class is not a latino nursing student... we are all students trying to reach ONE goal. When we introduce ourselves, we do not say "Hi, My name is Jennifer and I will be your white/black/latino/etc nurse today". We have to all stick together and be one group. Until that happens, there will always be hate and I for one am tired of it.

I will say one more thing, what would happen if I started a thread that was "Looking for fellow white nurses!". What if I put down posts that were not of my view? I know I am already going to get hated on for this but I had to say it. I am tired of people separating themselves. If you try to tell me that I have never felt the anguish of ethnic hate, believe me I have. Like I already said, I am a minority in this town. But I am not going to look for other white people to congregate with so that I feel more secure in my skin. I will keep trucking on as a person not as a skin.

I don't agree with your post but I respect your opinion. Unless you have experienced racism its so easy to make comments like above. You are white and its okay if you don't need support and don't see the point in the OP. When your being discriminated against because of your skin color,it feels good to talk to people who understand what your going through. Thats all I have to say.

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When you say us you mean african americans. Well guess what! you are a person just like the rest of us. You guys wonder why people look at you different. But the truth is you do the exact same thing! Yes of course there is racism everywhere but I am tired of people always trying to fit into little groups or breaking down everything because of the color of your skin. Just be apart of nursing. tell us all whats happening with you. Im hispanic. I can relate on some level.

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WOW Hello everyone I am glad to see so many people respond!!! I see a couple of posters saying what I expected , why seperate yourselves, we were a team, what if I posted looking for fellow white nurses....Well Let me say this It is always easy to look in and think every thing is fine! Untill you experience a situation you cannot truly understand. If you are reading this post as a non AA nurse really read it and notice our experiences and problems because you will see they are similar and then if you are really about uniting nurses make others aware and do what YOU can to make a difference that will do far more to make us a team than do discourage an attempt to reach out to each other, Did you do that on the mens forum? Like it or not race is an issue and I dont know any AA nurse who likes it! It can be lonley and discouraging at times to be different from everyone. In my nursing class I can guarantee if you asked my classmates we were always a team, they have no recollection of how they treated me at first no one listend to me no one wanted to work with me no one took me serious. I dont fault them people have ideas about others that they are often not even aware of. I turned out to be one of the top 5 students in the group! I never held a grudge I was patient untill they started getting to know me and it took a a teacher treating me so unfairly that another student finally stood up and said enough .... My school gave me a formal apology before graduation and realized some of their flaws not to facilitate cultural diversity they realized that I had a problem and kept it to myself because there was NO ONE there that I could go to and trust they had no policies in place and unless you are at a university this can happen very easily.

Now JRW after reading this can you say that you dont see why I am seeking other AA nurses? I want to learn and grow and I, no we deserve that I dont care if I see black, white, hispanic, gay, male, Jewish, catholic, disabled or heck even martians looking to meet others like them people are different and in order to make the world better we need to acknowledge it and gain respect for each other instead of pretending we are all the same!

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When you say us you mean african americans. Well guess what! you are a person just like the rest of us. You guys wonder why people look at you different. But the truth is you do the exact same thing! Yes of course there is racism everywhere but I am tired of people always trying to fit into little groups or breaking down everything because of the color of your skin. Just be apart of nursing. tell us all whats happening with you. Im hispanic. I can relate on some level.

Actually if you read the original post and look I am reaching out to all minorities in the field....hispanics included read the posts that are posted and see what experiences people are having I am not trying to group AA in a group to seperate ourselves I am trying to create a resource so that we can communicate about our experiences and successes . You say you can relate please share your story instead of putting down what I am trying to do (and trust me I believe you can relate!)

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Thank you for posting this thread, OP.

I feel that we should all not forget what is important and stick to the purpose of the original topic. Though there are accusations from those who simply don't understand- we DO NOT have to feed the negativity. So let's all just answer OP's request and keep it moving. There is no need to feel as if we need to defend what we personally go through daily by constantly explaining the reason for this thread to the Nay-Sayers. Let them be. Not everyone feels the same way as the few people who posted irrelevant remarks. No need for a debate-that is fruitless.

Now as a black student nurse, I do not have the support system of other black nursing students in my class because I am the minority. I would like to keep in contact with all of you. This thread idea can be fruitful. I appreciate all of your input thus far:redbeathe

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Lets get back on track please everybody

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Specializes in ER/Acute Care.

I have to applaud my school's attempt to diversify the class. Out of over 70 students, we're about 15% minority and 10% black. I found that last semester we (most of the black students) had a tendency to sit together in class, which another classmate approached me about. While there's no outright separation, there is a sense of discomfort that I get from some of my white classmates. I'm not speaking for all black students in my program, by anymeans, however; I definitely feel a slight division. Hopefully it will get better with time, but it's a great first step that someone who is not a minority recognized it and spoke on it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm Black. My nursing school class was about 50% white and 50% nonwhite. I live and work in Vermont, which isn't exactly a bastion of diversity.

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started training as the nurse supervisor of my new job today at a LTC facility and let me tell you so far Im loving it! ssdd though I was in training with a phillipino woman and a white woman and man and another AA woman all of them very nice. As we went through the facility to tour people would say to me and the other AA woman and the phillipina oh are you are new aides? and Go to the other female and ask LPN? The looks on their faces when they saw our tags and the director introduced us...Me the new supervisor the other AA female as the new LPN and the rest as aides. They were very nice but It is so funny how others assume and I mean other AAs as well! It was a great day though and I am so happy I took this Job. It is a huge facility and very very clean not a bad smell anywhere and everyone was up running around caring for their patients now that is my kind of place!

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If anyone wants information on how to report or file complaints against racism(such as racial harassment and discrimination etc..) in your school(nursing school) . Shoot me a private message. Know and research your rights. I myself have had experience with this first hand and its illegal and you don't have to take it. This isn't even in the education environments but also work environments. These types of "practices" shouldn't be tolerated.

Good luck to all

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I don't agree with your post but I respect your opinion. Unless you have experienced racism its so easy to make comments like above. You are white and its okay if you don't need support and don't see the point in the OP. When your being discriminated against because of your skin color,it feels good to talk to people who understand what your going through. Thats all I have to say.

I think this is true to only certain extend..actually when I was doing my clinicals I felt I was the "white" minority there...The hospitals were packed with philipino and indian nurses mostly,now and then I run into a hispanic nurse (which was very surprising to me but I think now days more hispanic are obtaining nursing degrees. Anyway,I think unless you are a philipino or Indian nurse you will experience culture shock in the wonderful world of nursing.

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