Nursing Me Black

[NurseThis21]

It was like I was a needle cap placed among a sea of cotton balls. It just seemed...off. Is it even possible? Where is my version of Florence Nightingale?

Perhaps I should get connected and join

• Association of black nurses
• Black nurses society
• Black nurses r us
• Nurses who are black,inc.
• You're black? And a nurse? Join us!

Maybe this was my ticket to finally feel like I 'm among the ranks of professional individuals, to belong even if it is dangerously close to the sidelines. As a nursing student, I always felt like I had to prove myself to my patients and my instructors. Even though I come from the fabulous city of Chicago, the majority of black nurses work for the county and therefore I was never in contact with them to be inspired, to feel safe, to find a reason to keep going.

But I did.

It was arduous, daunting, and exciting all at the same time, but I steered clear of anything that was a dead giveaway for an excuse. Since I come from a society that is seeping with self-doubt and a "crabs in a bucket" mentality, it wasn't a pretty journey; that's what made it perfect. It feels so rewarding to have little girls run up to me and say that they want to be a nurse now that they've seen someone actually come through the woodwork. It's like I give them hope for something that typically seems so unattainable. They have yet to experience true hardships and challenges, but hopefully I've shown them that it's all worth it in the end. They just need the passion to overcome any obstacle.

But you know what I realized?

It's not about being black and therefore feeling so accomplished about the day's work. It's about being a human being and a nurse. It's about recognizing your own potential before you begin concentrating on the color of your skin.

We don't need...

• Association of black nurses
• Black nurses society
• Black nurses r us
• Nurses who are black inc.
• You're black? And a nurse? Join us!

... To tell us that we're important. We can only find confidence within ourselves. We have already made great strides towards becoming whatever we want to be and our future looks even brighter.

Maybe it's best for us all to figuratively remove the rods and cones from our eyes and become colorblind. A white nurse is a black nurse is a Hispanic nurse is a Filipino nurse is a Chinese nurse is an Indian nurse. I plan on doing so just to show people how beneficial it is.

Yes, we may be outnumbered as nurses when it comes to statistics, but I choose to think of us as diamonds; rare and hard to come by!

Be human. Be beautiful. But most of all, be...lieve.

Nursethis21, BSN, RN

UIC Alumna

[nursenow]

Huh??

[StudentPrudence]

nursenow said:

Huh??

Hmm? If I've confused you, just tell me where, and hopefully I can clarify. If it's not me/my post you're addressing, disregard and carry on.

[MiaL]

My first post on the forum. I'm usually a lurker.

Anyway, I read this entire thread. I will not share personal stories nor will I make snide remarks about anyone else's pain. Any discrimination to any color, religion, sex, etc. is wrong! I will say that after reading this I will be sure to be an advocate not just for patients but for my coworkers as well. :) Yes, I am African American but I enjoy learning about different cultures. I am the type of person who would try and connect with someone who was singled out and support them in any way that I could.

[CountyRat]

Thank you, nursethis21 for sharing such a personal experience with us, and sharing it so eloquently. It is tragic that, as an African-American woman you will have to work harder than I did just to be appreciated as competent. that is terribly unfair. However, I commend you for not letting that stop you from achieving your goals. As for role models for you to look to, I think that you need only look in the mirror to see a moving example of courage, intelligence, and ability.

Except for one thing: That sentence in your second post that reads, "Heck, boy/girl scouts can and all they do is sell cookies and prance around through the forest to obtain badges!!" now that hurt this old boy scout's feelings! Especially the prance part. As a man in nursing, I cannot afford the luxury of prancing in the woods or anywhere else! Really, I need to go and pout for a while.

[Hekate]

I don't want a colorblind world! I think colors are beautiful!

I was saddened by the experience you described... Actually, revolted would be a better fitting word!

Growing up in Europe, I was taught about America and its wonderful "melting pot"...written black on white in scholar books. Was it all a myth?

Growing up in Europe, many of my friends, my classmates, my neighbors were "black" Africans. It never occurred to me then that we were different....and if we were, those were differences I was fascinated with, qualities I envied : A love of life, an open heart, a deep gutted lough, a great sense of humor, delicious aromas and tastes, friendly attitudes, open houses, huge hugs, passionate attitudes, an undeniable ability to dance better and more often then their pale skinned brothers and sisters...and the list goes on.

The only way I was aware of "racism" was because our history teachers would teach us about the segregation and violence in the past or the present of a "far away" world.

An abstract notion really..... until I came to "America".

Now , sadly, I know that your story isn't fiction...

I still can't wrap my mind around it,

I cannot understand it!

...but more than ever, I want a world full of colors, because they are so beautiful!

H~

secretsy said:

Hello to "Nursing Me Black" I am pleased to meet your acquaintance. I am A female of African American heritage who happens to hold a BSN in nursing. I can not express to you the hard ship that I have been through over the years as a nurse. I have been forced to resign my first year as a RN due to being taught by other nurses all the wrong ways of doing clinical procedures. I have had another facility suspend me for being a patient advocate which is what I was taught to do. I have had a facility try to steal my license from me intentionally by having one of their staff members steal narcotics from my med cart prior to me coming on shift. I have a pending legal matter with this particular facility. Overall, I have had a lack of acceptance period in the years of nursing and had to work harder at it and prove myself qualified for the job by my knowledge base and job performance. I just find that when they see the RN status I am not liked because I went to school a little longer than most. Why... I say to myself the hatred? Not only that, as you stated earlier you look around and you find yourself a minority. The truth is I have seen this to be the case. I have even tried to research where are African American Nurses residing in America and whether they are content or not? I found that most minority nurses are predominantly in southern states. I said that may be my next move. More than anything I believe nurses in general should be unionized because there are so many avenues that an employer can use to let you go in this field of work. Dont you agree?

[graphicscrubs]

It is so awesome to read all the comments here!! One thing is true, we are all nurses, and here for the pt. I am black, my fiance is black. We have been in nursing for over 10 years. There has always been situations where you feel like you got the wrong end of the stick. it makes you think in the back of your mind "was it because I am black" We are pleased to say that we recently started our own business. We are opening a school for nursing assistants (first class starts October 12, 2009), and selling scrubs. We have dealt with many people to get where we are. In our building, we are the only blacks. He recently overheard someone conversing about us the other day, and the fact that we were black. He gets the racism more than I do, one because he is a man, and too because he is darker. It is so true that darker skinned gets treated differently than lighter skinned. Anyway, it actually feels good, that people put so much energy into talking about us. It inspires us more. It makes us want to work twice as hard. We wish everyone the best in their nursing journey...regardless of your color, because white people get the racism right back from people of our race too. But always remember...You are there for the patients...no matter what!!!:loveya: P.S. Someone must have looked past our skin color for us to get where we are!!! Because with the guidance of GOD...You can do it all!!!

[CountyRat]

Hekate wrote: "Growing up in Europe, I was taught about America and its wonderful "melting pot"...written black on white in scholar books. Was it all a myth?"

No, my friend, it is not a myth. It is an ideal; a superior moral condition for which we long. Like all human beings everywhere, we fall short of our ideals. We fail to live by the moral principles that we know, in our hearts, should guide us. That is why we have these discussions. It exposes our flaws, and, we cling to the hope that by doing so, maybe we will strive a little harder for to live out our ideals.

[AngelWork]

Beautiful!

[RN Randy]

countyrat said:

Thank you, nursethis21 for sharing such a personal experience with us, and sharing it so eloquently. It is tragic that, as an African-American woman you will have to work harder than I did just to be appreciated as competent. that is terribly unfair. However, I commend you for not letting that stop you from achieving your goals. As for role models for you to look to, I think that you need only look in the mirror to see a moving example of courage, intelligence, and ability.

Except for one thing: That sentence in your second post that reads, "Heck, boy/girl scouts can and all they do is sell cookies and prance around through the forest to obtain badges!!" now that hurt this old boy scout's feelings! Especially the prance part. As a man in nursing, I cannot afford the luxury of prancing in the woods or anywhere else! Really, I need to go and pout for a while.

LOL ... Too funny!

[Jasoninpa]

I agree the race card is very old, and you're right, it is evidence that we are not "post-racial." We can never be post-racial until blacks stop whining about the fact that they're not the majority. Seriously, get over it, because there is a double standard in society that FAVORS blacks over whites in MANY areas, including institutionalized affirmative action as well as other practices that, though perhaps not institutionally mandated, arise from a desire by the vast majority of white people to be MORE than fair to blacks and give them opportunities and benefits of the doubt that they would not even give to their white counterparts.

[MombearNurse]

Wow! You blew me away with this very insightful essay! I agree... nurses are nurses are nurses! And I can't wait to be a full member of this extremely unique population.

[Skeletor]

Here's a "joke" for everyone. . . which came first: the minority or the human being themselves?

What I am trying to say is that just because you may be a member of a minority group, nothing is written in stone that says you must assume the role of being a minority.

How can some "minorities" expect some of those in the "majority group" to be taken serious when those minority members continue to assume the role of minority by accepting such government programs as affirmative action or scholarships for being a minority?

Don't accept such crutches from anyone, there's nothing wrong with hobbling before learning how to walk; it makes you a better person.