Since when is there segregation in nursing?

[luv4nursing]

Im a new nurse and just started working for a pediatric home health agency. It didnt take long for me to discover something sickening to me. It is completely obvious that for the most part they place white nurses in white patients homes and black nurses in black patients homes. Im not sure why they do this other than maybe they have had problems in the past with families asking not to have a nurse of another race come to their house, so maybe that is their way of preventing problems before they happen.

Ok, I understand that it is the family's choice whether they want a nurse to come back regardless if they are black, red, or green....but it really bothers me that this is going on. I also understand that maybe some people feel more comfortable with their own culture in their homes. I blame the agency most bc I feel that this practice is condoning stereotypes since in some cases I feel clients families may believe that a black nurse is going to have an attitude problem or might steal from them, etc. Any nurse could have undesirable traits without race being a factor.

How do you feel about this? My boyfriend doesnt see the big deal, and that only further infuriates me! This just shows the underlying beliefs that some people have and I cant express how wrong I think that is! In 2005 is it still believed that people should "stick to their own kind"? They say they place you according to your abilities and your patients required skill level and the area you live. That is a bunch of crap bc apparantly they place you according to what color you are. Apparantly, crossing racial lines isnt a good match for the nurse and the client.

In my opinion, I agree with honoring that if its a request bc I personally wouldnt want to take care of someone who didnt want me to be there. But I dont agree with this as a general practice.

Thanks for listening, Im not trying to start a debate here, I just really wanted to get that off my chest bc its really been bothering me and nobody really seems to understand why.

[luv4nursing]

thanks nichol and soldierswife! I appreciate that! I think u understand what Im trying to say and arent twisting my words

[nicholrwalker]

I know where you are coming from....

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

Timothy,

As u would see if u read both my posts on the subject, I can agree that some patients feel more comfortable with their own race and it doesnt necessarily mean they are racist. Secondly, I already said I dont think the company itself is racist. As far as principle goes, I dont agree with this practice unless a client specifically requests it.

I really dont need you to tell me I dont have strong principles/beliefs if I dont act on them. As I said Im a new nurse and Im going to take the time to evaluate the situation before I address it. You must realize that as a minority Ive spent the majority of my life having to let things go and let things roll off my back, bc otherwise I would have never been able to hold a job or go to school or even live in the community where I grew up. You grow a thick skin. If I were to confront every person and every organization who I felt had racist tendencies or at least had stereotypical beliefs, then Id better quit my job and dedicate my life to it...lol.

This is nearly 2006. Racism isnt as blatant as it was back in the days of true segregation, its more quiet and under the surface. It isnt my job to show people the light. Im just trying to live my life like everyone else. Im not a spokesperson for the black race. Maybe you are able to go thru life challenging every wrong doing that have ever been placed upon you since it is probably few and far between, but I dont have that luxury. I do have to eat, so Im not going to let some peoples backwards beliefs keep me from making a paycheck. If I left on that principle Id probably be leaving every job I get bc there is no escaping ignorant people. Now, when someone crosses the line, make no mistake, I will let them know about themselves. Other than that I just have to roll with the punches.

Mea Culpa. My apologies. You're absolutely correct that it's arrogant of me to impose my experiences onto yours.

And I can understand that you aren't always in a position to put your principles before your paycheck.

I guess I was just saying, and I think you said this, that IF you believed it to really crossing the line, you would take a stand. I was trying to say that if you didn't feel it to be offensive enough to raise a stink over it, then it wasn't completely over the line.

But to me, it's like this: I know you've worked w/ racist patients and had to deal with the dichotomy of having to take care of somebody that is a pain to work with but also having to tow a more diplomatic response because you can't rag on pts, even the jerks.

It's sort of the same way to me. No, the pts aren't ALWAYS right. But to the extent that you CAN create a comfort zone, it is a service driven industry. Maybe that isn't so wrong. Especially in home health - you are, after all, a guest in their homes.

Please accept my apologies. I didn't realize that I was transposing my experiences onto yours and that they might not be a correct fit.

~faith,

Timothy.

[SharonH, RN]

Hi there. That's a very interesting situation you are working in. I used to work in home health and we were assigned by zip codes. The zip code I worked in was split down the middle between those White people who didn't get out when White flight hit the area and those Blacks who were new to the area. As an added bonus, I was working in Stone Mountain which used to be a Klan stronghold, do you think all of those people moved off? Don't you believe it. I had a White patient use the N-word right to my face, she was so used to saying it in everyday conversation she forgot who she was talking to. I fired her, why should I be bothered? I had a few White patients who were quite uncomfortable when I started working with them but they got over it, it was their problem after all. Anyway, I guess this really doesn't pertain to your situation exactly but just to say I know where you're coming from. These things can be sticky.

[topkat, ADN, RN]

prejudice is alive and well all over this world...black vs white...rich vs poor...thin vs overweight....protestant vs jew...it comes in all shapes and sizes, colors, and languages...wouldn't it be amazing if we all tried to live just one hour in someone else's world that we "hate" because they're "not like us"????...just to be able to be emphathetic towards their situation....as nurses, I believe our profession has tried the most to bridge the gaps and care for all of humanity, not a race or a religion...but you have undoubtedly found that our profession is not perfect...so, we need to continue to strive towards that goal of caring for all of humanity...best of luck to you...hope things will not tarnish your love for nursing....it's the best job in the whole world....topkat