Nursing school students problem.is it racism???

[finegirl]

Disclamer- not intended to stir up any racial problems just need your opinions. Thanks

Hello everyone,

I am new on here. I will like everyone to shed some light on this issue.

I am a Bachelor's of science nursing student almost completing my degree (this year). just to make it clear. I am a minority student (black, indian, asian, arab). in my nursing school, most of the non minority (whites) student dont chat with we minorites, so we tend to chill together and say hi and bye to the non-minority any chance we get.

For group work, they dont do work with minorities. Everyone pair up with their friends or fellow non-minority. This makes it very difficult finding a group since there are few minorites. So, I decided to join a non-minority group for group work; my input was brushed to the side, the meeting times was never considerate with my availability knowing I go for clinicals at a different time of the day. This ends up translating to them reporting to the professor that I didnt work hard in the group, so i shouldnt be awarded any marks. How do i know this? after a group presentation I did with this people, my professor walked up to me and said my group members said I didnt input anything but from my presentation, she could see I understood/explained the concept very well. All this really discouraged me away from doing group work with non-minorities. Funny thing is, in class, i contribute alot, some know that i have high grades but still act that way.

Another thing that has been happening since the begining of nursing school. I really want someone to shed some (more) light into what am about to say. During clinical, minorities and non-minorities get along well, we talk, laugh, help each other and all. BUT, once we are in school, the non-minorites act like we have never met, even when you say "hi", they just ignore, frown, or never even try saying hello (90% of them). But when they need help they will message me on chat (messenger) for help. I want to understand this very well. Why act cool and nice in clinicals but once in school avoid me like a plague. I spoke to fellow minorities about all the above listed incident, they all said the same thing. This is so saddening that when i hear group work, i cringe and vow not to work in the hospital again since my location is filled with non-minorities in the hospital.

Sad thing is, you think someone is your friend but at the end they just act like u are an alien from another planet they have never seen in their life.. This are some of the things that made me not enjoy nursing school. Please respond since I will be done this year, I and some minorites have been surveying hospitals with lots of minority nurse to atleast make our first year of post grad experince transition smooth (i know even minorities cause problems for other minorities but thats a topic for another day).

Thanks in advance..

yours sincerely, finegirl

[Sendana]

Could be racism. Or, it just could be common human snobbery. It's everywhere. At my school we have: the rich white girls clique, the rich non-white girls clique, the ultra-religious clique, the scary demon-raising kids clique, the party clique, the alcoholic clique...and this is just in nursing school. People just compartmentalize themselves off into groups and act like all the other groups are enemies. It's weird.

[Servingshots]

All this clique stuff and racisim is all really sad and pathetic. Don't worry about people who are closed minded and ignorant.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

When I went back to school after 8 years away-getting married, raising kids, no money etc. I was terrified. I never opened my mouth and got the reputation for being stuck up and unfriendly. It wasn't until right before summer school II and graduation that a former instructor took a group of us out to supper and they all saw me ad lib and talkative (BIG MOUTH actually) that someone told me of my "reputation."

That was 35 years ago and I still think about what a BAD impression I made on one and all. What you see may not be at all what is happening-think about that. Sometimes people just don't come across as what they really are. Some may be culturally biased and as the Commuter says they aren't losing sleep over anything except themselves. Do your best, talk to or don't talk to whoever you please. Oh, and good luck with school.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

In nursing school, as in life, they are many groups/cliques/clubs. Not all of them are for all people. And that has less to do with race than it has to with differences that we have.

People tend to hang with those that they have something in common with - language, dialect, culture, religion, schooling, gender, class, likes, dislikes, etc. In my school, one had the single parents, the married parents, the employed, the unemployed, the over 30, the under 30, the singles and the married. You would tend to find groups often set up on those lines. That and often groups of friends would start NS together or people had friendships from prereqs, that carry over.

While no one can judge whether racism is "holding you back", YOU can determine for yourself how YOU deal with it and keep it from holding you back.

I have to deal with the fact that I belong to a minority religion/culture, one that I hear lies spread about, and have to deal with unwelcome attention/proseltizing in regards even on this BB. I cannot control the past perceptions/misconceptions that they have about me in this regard, but I can control how I deal with and attempt not to let it hold me back.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Hang in there, finegirl. I know it's easy to say, "Don't let it get to you," but it would certainly get to me. I went back to school when I was MUCH older - in my fifties - and was excluded because I'm so, you know, OLD and stuff. But at this age it didn't bother me. Now, when I was young I was excluded because I'm a nerd, and that hurt.

{{{finegirl}}}

[Rednights]

Guys have it much easier, there are so few of us we don't fall back on race when it comes to making friends. Personal advice, just hang out with the minorities and let it go.

[indreams84]

i honestly can't say for sure if it's racism.

but i can understand why you'd get that impression.

when i was in school, there were a bunch of young, white, rich girls that hung together.

they blew everyone off, except 'their own kind'.

so whether it is outright snobbery or racism, take pity on them because either trait is ignorant.

and continue to conduct yourself with beneficence and class.

wishing you only the very best.

leslie

Wow, if that isn't reverse discrimination I dont what is. I could say all the black nursing students hung out and shunned other races but then that would be pure ignorance. Grouping people, including nursing students based on race is ridiculous and immature, black or white.

[AOx1]

My grandmother used to repeat often an old quote "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." There is no way to determine what is in someone's heart, and even if they are racist, it is their own stupidity that drives it. However, they may just be completely oblivious to anyone of any race other than their own little group.

In either case, those that are worth the trouble will be your friend and enjoy you based on who you are, not on what color your skin is. The important thing is to focus on your own value as a person, and not let anyone else indicate otherwise, either by their omission of including you or by overt racism. Look towards being the better person, continuing to be friendly to those who are receptive and continuing acting with class. There are many people who look for exactly those qualities in a friend. I know I do! If they don't value your attempts to work together and to form friendships, it is their loss. You have done your best to be open and approachable.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Wow, if that isn't reverse discrimination I dont what is. I could say all the black nursing students hung out and shunned other races but then that would be pure ignorance. Grouping people, including nursing students based on race is ridiculous and immature, black or white.

I don't see how you get this from Leslies post being that she is given an example to something she saw and it sort of follows what the topic is saying.

How is saying that their was a group of white rich girls that shunned anyone else that didn't fit "their type" Reverse discrimination? She is stating something she observed.

I take my kids to the park all the time, their is a group of rich middle aged white woman (or maybe they are Credit Card rich not really rich) decked out in their brand name clothes and LV diaper bags that seem to shun everyone else at the park. It's like HS. I saw one mom that didn't fit the same mold get totally blown off by them and when she walked away they looked back at her and giggled to each other. Their might be more to the story but it's what I observed, I don't see how me stating that is discrimination.

[jmeng]

Thank God you brought this topic up...I started nursing 4 years ago at a location where it's mostly whites. I was very intimidated however and knew that I wouldnt make freinds. So I focused all my energy in becoming a good nurse and being a down to earth person. I wanted others to see me as a good nurse despite my fear and insecurity and my faults. All I wanted was peace of mind and be able to sleep when I went home...which eventually made me a very good nurse, very detailed. I know my coworkers gave me respect at the end of the day, which really means a lot to me than being freinds. Later I travelled to predominantly black hospital and I saw the opposite. I felt a bit more comfortable and I started making freinds and enemies as well and more relaxed when it comes to my work which eventually increased my anxiety. When I was down there I forgot the feeling I have had and the roles are switched....so the point is as a minority you need to work harder...not to get recognition or appreciation (you will never be happy if u expect that from nursing...black or white) but to alleviate your own anxiety, insecurities, and fear in being different...See it this way...ONLY YOU FEEL DIFFERENT AND NOBODY ELSE REALLY CARE...so be a good nurse, focus your energy positively to your own goal...be nice to everyone, and laugh at every situation and dont take it too serious....

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

I am an immigrant and I never had a problem with anyone. I have lots and lots of friends from every continent. 90% of the students in my college are born us citizens and most of us get along fine. Race,ethnicity, age, gender does not determine your future friends. Personality and things in common are more likely to determine friendships, relationships etc. I can make new friends in minutes, but making good friends takes months, years and sometime decades.

Good luck to all of you and I hope you find a good study group.

[anonymousstudent]

My grandmother used to repeat often an old quote "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." .

- Napoleon Bonaparte :) That's one of my favorites too.

I don't know what you want to hear OP. Maybe it's racism maybe it's not. Maybe it's you maybe it's not. Maybe it's them maybe it's not.

Give them the benefit of the doubt. That's my best advice for you. Don't assume they're trying to make some kind of statement by doing whatever it is they're doing. You know what they say about assuming...

If you want to be social with them in class, make it happen. My bet is if they're racist, they'd be racist across the board...since they're not that way in clinical, kinda makes you wonder what else is going on...