First, for all that don't know, I am a Hispanic RN.
Now......
Went to my dentist yesterday. At the end of my visit I asked the hyginenist something about my dental care. She was going to go into great detail, so I stopped her to save time and said, " I am familiar with XYZ, I work in healthcare ".
The conversation went something like this:
Dental H: "Really?, (total disbelief) in what area of healthcare?"
Me: " I am a R.N"
Dental H: " Are you a diploma, 2-year RN? My niece is a four-year RN".
Me:" I have a BSN".
Dental H: "Hmmm. At first, when you said you were a nurse , I thought you were only a nursing assistant".
Me: My face: :stone
Me: (sarcastically) " I can certainly understand why mybeing a registered nurse is sooooo hard for you to believe"...
and here's your sign......
...a "I am a stupid person"sign.
Has anyone mistaken you for the cleaning lady/man, asked for the RN of patient so-and-so when, in fact,you are the RN in charge of pt. soandso?
I usually let stupid comments go ....but this, THIS, I had to share.
That is just bizarre. I live in a very white state and don't see many people of color in ANY job, but I can't imagine assuming a Hispanic could only be an aide. ??? I don't get it.
I am a white female, late twenties. The other day the charge nurse helped me settle a patient in the MICU. The patient and I were facing off (I insisted that no, as a new ICU admit he was NOT going to ambulate to the bathroom) and when the charge nurse came in he said to her "So are you a full-fledged nurse?" I guess because she's a few years older? I was livid. I said "And just what do you think I am??" He and I were rubbing each other the wrong way anyway, and then to be assumed to be an aide or something . . . I am a BSN skilled in critical care, currently applying to CRNA school. I treated him in the same professional manner I do all my patients.
I know I overreacted, but am trying to say I experienced the frustration of someone assuming me to be "lesser" for no good reason. Wow, did that piss me off.
When I was in high school my grandfather was in the hospital and we were there visiting him. The rooms were only semi-private and he had a roomate, another old man. This man's family had just flown in and were in there visiting him when a fat old bald guy wearing filthy slouchy clothes and dirty tennis shoes came in the room and walked over to their dad and pulled the covers down and asked him how he was doing. One of the family members jumped up and yelled at this intruder who must have wandered in off the street to "get out of here!" A nurse heard the ruckus and ran in the room and when she found out what was going on she told the distraught family that this was their father's doctor. :imbar
I read this post to my husband, who is Italian (though often mistaken for a Puerto Rican) and he thinks you should not take things so personally. He doesn't believe she was trying to insult you personally in your face but she was just ignorant. He says he doesn't know anyone who thinks just because you are from another culture you are incapable of being a nurse or doctor etc.. He doesn't believe there is a person here who has not put their foot in their mouth and/or misjudged people before.
first, for all that don't know, i am a hispanic rn.
now......
went to my dentist yesterday. at the end of my visit i asked the hygienist something about my dental care. she was going to go into great detail, so i stopped her to save time and said, " i am familiar with xyz, i work in healthcare ".
the conversation went something like this:
dental h: "really?, (total disbelief) in what area of healthcare?"
me: " i am a r.n"
dental h: " are you a diploma, 2-year rn? my niece is a four-year rn".
me:" i have a bsn".
dental h: "hmmm. at first, when you said you were a nurse , i thought you were only a nursing assistant".
me: my face: :stone
me: (sarcastically) " i can certainly understand why my being a registered nurse is sooooo hard for you to believe"...
and here's your sign......
...a "i am a stupid person"sign.
has anyone mistaken you for the cleaning lady/man, asked for the rn of patient so-and-so when, in fact, you are the rn in charge of pt. soandso?
i usually let stupid comments go ....but this, this, i had to share.
far too many times to remember :angryfire !!!!
yes. i will do that.
but, what makes me scratch my head is that we are living in the 21st century and society still has this mentality that people of color are uneducated, or are simply not smart enough.
i am not one of those people who goes around saying, "it's because i am {insert your ethnicity here}"....that happen to me" etc.
but it does get on my nerves, that once in a while i experience situations like these ....
btw, what is up with the " i thought you were only a cna? or a 2 year rn?"???? comment??
i consider these individuals as my equals.
i noticed that with some individuals, they have to have some sort of pecking order or *station* in life in order to feel good about themselves. they define their self worth by what they perceive as *prestigious*. they do so via race &/or social/financial status. they're unfortunately, learned, taught, or brainwashed into thinking it is so & they perpetuate that cycle on through their offspring.
i often am disgusted by many of my co-workers when it comes to our supporting staff that's outside of the nursing department. for example, i always make it a point to speak with staff from environmental, food services, & spd because they're people with feelings & thoughts that are just as important as mine are. i totally give people the respect that i want from them. most of my co-workers carry-on with their tasks without giving these folks any acknowledgement whenever they do come onto the unit. they act as if they're 'too good' to speak to them or that it's too much of an effort to get to know them. i know we're all busy but come-on :angryfire !!! i used to work as a certified sterilization tech years ago, & i would go onto various units to collect equipment for sterilization or restock supplies. many nursing staff personnel would look past me, roll their eyes at me, and treat me like i was some sort dummy because i wasn't a nurse. people used to talk, shoot the breeze but would stop whenever someone from another dept walk onto the unit. they usually remind quiet until that person leaves...rarely engaging them into their conversation. and when some did speak, it was only to tell those folks what they wanted them to do for them. that's sooo wrong :uhoh21: .
the only time i don't give that respect is when ignorant people like your hygienist make uninformed judgments on others or try to put me down in order to lift themselves up.
Stupid people do not only make their ignorant comments to people of color. I am a very pale, blue-eyed blonde. I dress and conduct myself in a professional manner at work. However, I have been mistaken for a CNA, a sec'y and housekeeping numerous times by various people. This happens even when I'm wearing my name badge which plainly states RN in big, bold letters.
When I tell lay-people I'm a nurse, they sometimes assume I am an LPN.
I have noticed that many people assume any male working in a hospital is a doctor- even an elderly, toothless janiter at a hospital where I used to work was frequently called "doctor" by the pts.
I do think the ignorant among us most often make their erroneous assumptions about people of color, however.
I remember reading years ago about a black, female writer who was attending a banquet in her honor. Soon after she arrived, another attendee handed her his coat- he had assumed she was a coat-check girl.
First, for all that don't know, I am a Hispanic RN.
Now......
Went to my dentist yesterday. At the end of my visit I asked the hyginenist something about my dental care. She was going to go into great detail, so I stopped her to save time and said, " I am familiar with XYZ, I work in healthcare ".
The conversation went something like this:
Dental H: "Really?, (total disbelief) in what area of healthcare?"
Me: " I am a R.N"
Dental H: " Are you a diploma, 2-year RN? My niece is a four-year RN".
Me:" I have a BSN".
Dental H: "Hmmm. At first, when you said you were a nurse , I thought you were only a nursing assistant".
Me: My face: :stone
Me: (sarcastically) " I can certainly understand why mybeing a registered nurse is sooooo hard for you to believe"...
and here's your sign......
...a "I am a stupid person"sign.
Has anyone mistaken you for the cleaning lady/man, asked for the RN of patient so-and-so when, in fact,you are the RN in charge of pt. soandso?
I usually let stupid comments go ....but this, THIS, I had to share.
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. It's a reflection on them not you and I honestly don't get upset anymore. In fact, it can be fun clearing the air; the look of surprise is quite entertaining sometimes.
I'm a dental hygienist (who will be going back to school next year to become an RN). All I can say is your hygienist is a complete DISGRACE to my profession! I'm SO sorry you had to endure such ridicule.
I read this post to my husband, who is Italian (though often mistaken for a Puerto Rican) and he thinks you should not take things so personally. He doesn't believe she was trying to insult you personally in your face but she was just ignorant. He says he doesn't know anyone who thinks just because you are from another culture you are incapable of being a nurse or doctor etc.. He doesn't believe there is a person here who has not put their foot in their mouth and/or misjudged people before.
Hi there!
I stated that I usually don't take stupid comments from people like her personally. If that were the case, I wouldn't be able to function in this crazy world of ours.
Sometimes people say things with innocence and sometimes they don't.
I am able to distinguish when someone is being a jerk or not. She was being a jerk. Her body language, tone of voice confirmed this to me.
Her comments were not innocent. They were meant to put me down and many others who are in nursing,for whatever reason in her little mind.
Maybe she had a bad experience with a nurse? Who the heck knows.
All I am trying to convey here is that this sort of stuff, well, it exists that's all.
I don't walk around with a chip on my shoulder.
I just thought that it was an interesting experience, and wanted to share it with you guys. Get your feedback, learn about your individual experiences, how you've handled these comments etc.
I was just making an editorial comment (if I may call it that) on human behavior.
Thanks for your comments, I really do appreciate your feedback.
my best friend is hispanic and is the most intelligent, honest, and reasonable person I've ever known. I agree, just ignore it, but please don't go back to her again.
apaisRN, RN, CRNA
692 Posts
That is just bizarre. I live in a very white state and don't see many people of color in ANY job, but I can't imagine assuming a Hispanic could only be an aide. ??? I don't get it.
I am a white female, late twenties. The other day the charge nurse helped me settle a patient in the MICU. The patient and I were facing off (I insisted that no, as a new ICU admit he was NOT going to ambulate to the bathroom) and when the charge nurse came in he said to her "So are you a full-fledged nurse?" I guess because she's a few years older? I was livid. I said "And just what do you think I am??" He and I were rubbing each other the wrong way anyway, and then to be assumed to be an aide or something . . . I am a BSN skilled in critical care, currently applying to CRNA school. I treated him in the same professional manner I do all my patients.
I know I overreacted, but am trying to say I experienced the frustration of someone assuming me to be "lesser" for no good reason. Wow, did that piss me off.