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!

Very well put chosen50.

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I'm so sorry that minority nurses have to deal with problems because of skin color or ethnicity. It's sad that you have to live with that kind of hassle on a regular basis.

I would strongly encourage each of you to consider going to local schools--from grade school on up to high school--and showing the kids that a nursing career is an option. They can hear over and over about all the possibilities out there, but you could put a face--one that looks like theirs--on an idea that might inspire them for years to come. Your face can also show non-minority kids that nurses come in many colors.

Besides the group approach, you could make a connection with a couple of kids who stand out to you and keep in touch as they grow. Have them show you their report cards and send them notes that let them know they matter.

Doing something like this and encouraging the students to do well in math and get excited about science could pave the wave for some of them to follow in your footsteps. You could be everyday heroes to the nurses of the next generation.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

As a non-minority nurse (yes I'm white), I think this is an excellent thread, and to the OP, yes go to the help desk and see if they will start a "Minority Nurses" section under specialties. Minorities face issues that I, or any other whites, will never understand. But I'm willing to listen and learn. I hope that things get better for any of you who have had negative experiences. Just remember, there will always be jerks who treat you wrong just to make themselves feel better. From the get-go, that makes you the better person!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
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.

Which of these two choices would you rather see? jtmonique starts a thread about unique issues black nurses face and many people respond with statements such as "thank you so much" "this is wonderful" "Nice to meet you" etc. So it would seem we can take them at their word that black nurses face unique and difficult issues. I'm not black, so I would never ever presume to think I had any idea what their experience is like.

The other choice is to interrupt the flow and mood of the thread with your opinion on whether or not they should feel what they feel. You cause a distraction and put people on the defensive when there really is no need to do so. No where did they indicate an "us vs. them" attitude-- it's support, not separation.

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Specializes in Med Surg; OB.

Blackheartednurse,

Why would seeing a Hispanic nurse surprise you? And as you say you were the minority because the hospitals were packed with Philipino and Indian nurses. It's like you are saying no one else in the world could possibly obtain a nursing degree except white people. I hope that's not what you're saying.

jtmonique,

I am so happy to hear you enjoy your new role as a nursing supervisor. I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work and thank you for starting this thread.

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.
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.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

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Specializes in NICU.

LOL, minority among the minorities, here. I'm Native American. I've got another example of stupid assumptions made based on your skin color/ethnicity. My reservation is in Wisconsin, but I live about 1200 miles away from there now. I'm a recent grad, and can't find a job to save my life. My husband has a great job, so uprooting my family across the country is NOT an option. However, when I mention trying to find a job, the first suggestion I usally get is 'why don't you go work on a res for Indian health?'. There is no IHS hiring within hundreds of miles of me. If I wasn't Native, I'm pretty convinced that people wouldn't assume that to be the best option. I do understand that people are just trying to be helpful, of course. (and while this thread isn't about this, yes, I am applying to LTC, prisons, and facilities that no one wants to work at on Jupiter).

Peace to you all, and Merry Christmas

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LOL, minority among the minorities, here. I'm Native American. I've got another example of stupid assumptions made based on your skin color/ethnicity. My reservation is in Wisconsin, but I live about 1200 miles away from there now. I'm a recent grad, and can't find a job to save my life. My husband has a great job, so uprooting my family across the country is NOT an option. However, when I mention trying to find a job, the first suggestion I usally get is 'why don't you go work on a res for Indian health?'. There is no IHS hiring within hundreds of miles of me. If I wasn't Native, I'm pretty convinced that people wouldn't assume that to be the best option. I do understand that people are just trying to be helpful, of course. (and while this thread isn't about this, yes, I am applying to LTC, prisons, and facilities that no one wants to work at on Jupiter).

Peace to you all, and Merry Christmas

I feel your pain about the job. I have experience and cant find a job anywhere. Never thought I would be considering prisons, SNFs and home care. (No dis to pep with these jobs its just not my thing). But I cant be so picky that I dont pay my bills. I feel sorry for the new grads and the pep in school because it is really bad where I live. When you have 400 applicants for bottom of the barrel units in the hospitals, you know its bad. I just have to pray harder and find faith that God will help me. Good Luck.

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Blackheartednurse,

Why would seeing a Hispanic nurse surprise you? And as you say you were the minority because the hospitals were packed with Philipino and Indian nurses. It's like you are saying no one else in the world could possibly obtain a nursing degree except white people. I hope that's not what you're saying.

jtmonique,

I am so happy to hear you enjoy your new role as a nursing supervisor. I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work and thank you for starting this thread.

OMG why people on this thread get so defensive and touchy,it is a well know fact that there werent too many hispanic nurses practicing in US and now things are changing and there is a new flow of hispanic nurses into a hospital setting..

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Which of these two choices would you rather see? jtmonique starts a thread about unique issues black nurses face and many people respond with statements such as "thank you so much" "this is wonderful" "Nice to meet you" etc. So it would seem we can take them at their word that black nurses face unique and difficult issues. I'm not black, so I would never ever presume to think I had any idea what their experience is like.

The other choice is to interrupt the flow and mood of the thread with your opinion on whether or not they should feel what they feel. You cause a distraction and put people on the defensive when there really is no need to do so. No where did they indicate an "us vs. them" attitude-- it's support, not separation.

I think predjustice and racism walk side by side. I really dont see the difference between a "white" nurse stuck among lets say a philipino cliche group and a black individual feeling left out of a circle of white collegues.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I think predjustice and racism walk side by side. I really dont see the difference between a "white" nurse stuck among lets say a philipino cliche group and a black individual feeling left out of a circle of white collegues.

I see what you are saying, but not all people have completely rid themselves of stereotyped images based on a long cultural history. and it can be reflected in their behavior. I once heard a patient call a black nurse, "ignorant". Well, she was so flustered and upset to the point of choking back tears. At first I was not understanding her reaction. But I did get somewhat of a view into why her buttons were pushed like that.

I've had good experiences because I think I worked at as close to a color blind hospital as you can imagine. I remember one day in the 6 crib room, I looked up for a sec as the nurses were feeding the babies, and it struck me as just cool that Julia, black nurse was feeding the Korean baby with the funny looking hair, I was feeding the black baby, nurse from Trinidad with the Hispanic-- best part-- we were all just feeding babies, it was a total non-issue.

I've been so lucky! Worked with nurses from Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, UK, Phillipines and Peru. It's a blast!:up:

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Although I am not a minority nurse, I am a minority in the population I serve. On many occasions I have felt the barbed tongue of discrimination and racism from my patients/families. It is not a good feeling. Many times I have gone home and cried, and wondered why we can't all be color blind.:cry::cry:

I empathize with those who have felt, either real, or imagined dislike, from someone of another race.

I too have been called "you people"...been asked "where is my nurse"...been told "I don't want her as my nurse(because of my race)"...was not treated well in school...did not get jobs because of "native/minority preferential hiring". Been told I have lived a privileged life because of my skin color, yet have lived a life more impoverished then most. This treatment can embitter a person, so I can relate to some of these posts.

Yet, despite "reverse" discrimination, I am thankful for the diverse culture I live in.

Many times I long for another "non minority" nurse to talk with, simply to vent, and to have someone to validate my feelings of being treated unfairly. Sometimes when I'm run down, and have worked too many hours, I am especially sensitive to how I'm being treated; and I just need someone to listen to me.

I know tomorrow I will go to work, the same issues can/will arise, I will be the professional I was schooled to be, and treat everyone as I would like to be treated.

What I read from the OP is plain and simple, you just want to talk with people who have had similar experiences, it really doesn't matter the skin color.:redpinkhe

Someday there will be no NAACP, Native only hire, Latino's only dance, we won't see "Native Pride" shirts (These were all necessary years ago), we will only see national associations for the advancement of all people, any race hired, all people dance, people pride shirts. We've come a long way, 20yrs ago, who would of thought an AA would be our president?

Thank you to the OP, I LOVE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, thank god we're not all the same

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