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).
When I'm at school, I remind myself that I'm there to acquire the knowledge, follow through with the required studying, and be on time. Sure, there are noticeable cliques (at school), and at times, there seems to be a clear division between groups of people. But I just mind my business and keep moving. I understand that you might gravitate towards your peers for support because you're all in the same boat together, but sometimes the friendships blossom, and sometimes they're non-existant. Atleast you can vent your feelings here and get some unbiased opinions...
Okay....I don't get it. Let me start by saying I'm a 33 black female student. I've been working since I was 15, don't have a lot but live comfortably, and yeah....I'm a brain. Always have been and I don't think it's arrogant of me to admit it. I have a strong personality, and I've always spoken my mind.
I started NS after being out of college for almost 10 years. My first college (started at 18) was predominantly white and upper class....like to the point that most of the minority students knew each other by face, if not by name. It didn't bother me. When I felt snubbed by cliques, I shrugged and said whatever. I didn't assume it was because of race because it could've been anything. Maybe they didn't like my non designer clothes. Maybe they didn't like that I couldn't contribute to all the wild spring break stories because I spent mine back home and working. Who knows? I had a few issues in class as well. Again, I don't think it was my race. I think it was my extremely opinionated ways. It happens. There were some ignorant comments (my fave "can I touch your hair?" "Um, oh hell no") which I always addressed politely but firmly. Some of them were so sheltered they didn't realize they were being offensive. That goes both ways - discrimination is discrimination. I won't call it reverse discrimination because that term annoys me
Fast forward 10 years. This time I'm at a local CC. Very diverse in terms of demographics (but not gender, sorry guys!) I have similar experiences. There's the usual cliques, and some people don't like my personality. Only difference this time? I know race isn't a factor. My response? Same as before.
Unfortunately I have been the victim of racism (those of you that don't believe racism is alive and well are either delusional or extremely sheltered) but it took me a while to name it that. I look for any possibility other than my race before I call someone out on it.
My advice is this: ignore the negative folks. They're not worth your time, and you've got too much to worry about with getting your degree. Give them a big, false smile and keep stepping. Stick with those that don't bring you down. I pick quality over quantity every time when it comes to making friends.
sorry for the last post...but i just wanted to say...well said...that's exactly what my attitude is...racism exists all the time...but treat everyone with grace and smile and do your business...brush your shoulder off and move on
I live in Buffalo, NY an there is definetly racism here. I am tired of people who feel that they are privedged to treat minorities differenty. The people who say that there is no racism are LIARS. Look at the nursing employment disparities in the heathcare arena. Where are a majority of the white nurses... in management; charge; case management; day shift etc. Where are the majority of minority nurses: evening/night shift; level one positions. Get real... My advice; continue your education; believe in yourself and demand equal treatment and respect. For potential nursing students; Yes they are trying to keep openings in school to a minimum for minorities; but if it's what you really want; go for it. Our day as minorities for growth; change and opportunity and most of all EMPOWERMENT is knocking at the door and they here us knocking:) For minorities who have acheived an advanced education; Never forget where you came from and lead by example. Peace.
- 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...
I live in Buffalo, NY an there is definetly racism here. I am tired of people who feel that they are privedged to treat minorities differenty. The people who say that there is no racism are LIARS. Look at the nursing employment disparities in the heathcare arena. Where are a majority of the white nurses... in management; charge; case management; day shift etc. Where are the majority of minority nurses: evening/night shift; level one positions. Get real... My advice; continue your education; believe in yourself and demand equal treatment and respect. For potential nursing students; Yes they are trying to keep openings in school to a minimum for minorities; but if it's what you really want; go for it. Our day as minorities for growth; change and opportunity and most of all EMPOWERMENT is knocking at the door and they here us knocking:) For minorities who have acheived an advanced education; Never forget where you came from and lead by example. Peace.
Actually you sound like the racist one here. Its minorities that come in with an attitude and defensiveness that feel 'persecuted' that tend to fail (at least acouple did in my program)....I think that as a male in nursing, I am considered a minortiy, but I never use that as a cop-out to get ahead. It takes hard work, studying, and dedication to suceed in nursing. Period. You are correct, opportunities are available for EVERYONE, not just minorites to succeed.
i just want to add a scene that i remembered from a couple weeks ago after a test.
a bunch of us were sitting in the student lounge.
the asian indian and i (the whiter-than-white, my-family-discovered-plymouth-rock white) were helping the accented caribbean-african woman with her dosage calculations homework. the filipino girl who aspires to be a crna and the greek chick with the chronic illness that she's managing quite well were throwing in suggestions. the nigerian girl was rubbing my shoulders because i complained that my neck hurt. the polish girl came up and offered us all jelly bellies as a job well done on the test we just took. the black chick with five kids and a job came up and grabbed some jelly bellies out of the container, too, then nearly gagged when she got a flavor she hated. we all laughed.
I live in Buffalo, NY an there is definetly racism here. I am tired of people who feel that they are privedged to treat minorities differenty. The people who say that there is no racism are LIARS. Look at the nursing employment disparities in the heathcare arena. Where are a majority of the white nurses... in management; charge; case management; day shift etc. Where are the majority of minority nurses: evening/night shift; level one positions. Get real... My advice; continue your education; believe in yourself and demand equal treatment and respect. For potential nursing students; Yes they are trying to keep openings in school to a minimum for minorities; but if it's what you really want; go for it. Our day as minorities for growth; change and opportunity and most of all EMPOWERMENT is knocking at the door and they here us knocking:) For minorities who have acheived an advanced education; Never forget where you came from and lead by example. Peace.
This post...has no grounds at all. I've seen plenty of nurse managers, executives, etc..who are minorities. My unit alone, our HIM manager is black, 2 of our Care coordinators are black. I dunno about your city, but in mine..we have an equal mix of races on days and nights. You sound just a little too much like you feel you're owed something. Or better yet you sound as if the world conspires to hold you down. You, my friend, need to get real:twocents:
I am a non-minority as defined by this post. Meaning, I look like a typical "white girl". But, in the world I live in, I am a minority as a white person; in my neighborhood, at school, and definitely at work. The area I live in is 85% hispanic, and where I go to school is extremely diversified, with all nationalities, plus I am one of four white people at work on a unit of about 60 people. My race has never been a problem at home or at school. My neices and nephews are ALL mixed race children; my best friends are hispanic and black (majority, in my world). My mom is Turkish, so her and two of my sisters are assumed to be either hispanic or at least "non-white" generally. But another sister and I look pretty much Irish, and honestly, I have wished my whole life that I looked like my mom and other sisters (I hate the term "white girl"). When I got a job at the hospital I work at now, my race became a HUGE issue. The hospital is in the city, and I am from the suburbs, and my coworkers, who are mostly African-American, African immigrants, and Indian immigrants, all assume I have never been exposed to non-white populations in my life and that I am WASP, Republican, racist, and scared of them. I hate it, honestly, but I feel that anything I say will be interpreted as racist, so I say nothing.
I live in Buffalo, NY an there is definetly racism here. I am tired of people who feel that they are privedged to treat minorities differenty. The people who say that there is no racism are LIARS. Look at the nursing employment disparities in the heathcare arena. Where are a majority of the white nurses... in management; charge; case management; day shift etc. Where are the majority of minority nurses: evening/night shift; level one positions. Get real... My advice; continue your education; believe in yourself and demand equal treatment and respect. For potential nursing students; Yes they are trying to keep openings in school to a minimum for minorities; but if it's what you really want; go for it. Our day as minorities for growth; change and opportunity and most of all EMPOWERMENT is knocking at the door and they here us knocking:) For minorities who have acheived an advanced education; Never forget where you came from and lead by example. Peace.
I think that there is definitely still racism in the world, but keeping school openings to minorities to a minimum? No, I don't buy it. Racism has become much more subtle and underground than that. I agree with kgh31386: you sound like you've crossed over into a level of paranoia where everyone is out to get you because of your race. I wonder if your oppositional attitude makes people pull away from you, further reinforcing the notion that the way the world treats you is solely due to race.
I am a minority>> (male nursing student). I am also 47 years old. I just transferred into the faster track for RN from the non-traditional track that I was in for a year plus...I was warned that I would be the "outsider" blah blah blah....and I understand the concept. However, I will not allow myself to assume that role. I have acclimated well and have made friends with my classmates. people have different personalities and such. It is up to each one of us as individuals to be the LEADER in being open to others and not waiting for them to do it. Not all will be receptive, but in my experience most will be receptive, regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, nationality. And those who are not, forget about them and move on.
I live in Buffalo, NY an there is definetly racism here. I am tired of people who feel that they are privedged to treat minorities differenty. The people who say that there is no racism are LIARS. Look at the nursing employment disparities in the heathcare arena. Where are a majority of the white nurses... in management; charge; case management; day shift etc. Where are the majority of minority nurses: evening/night shift; level one positions. Get real... My advice; continue your education; believe in yourself and demand equal treatment and respect. For potential nursing students; Yes they are trying to keep openings in school to a minimum for minorities; but if it's what you really want; go for it. Our day as minorities for growth; change and opportunity and most of all EMPOWERMENT is knocking at the door and they here us knocking:) For minorities who have acheived an advanced education; Never forget where you came from and lead by example. Peace.
well well well said....in my four years of nursing experience, i am seeing changes. Things are changing for good at work places...but still more to go!!!!
Selene006, BSN, LPN
247 Posts
When I'm at school, I remind myself that I'm there to acquire the knowledge, follow through with the required studying, and be on time. Sure, there are noticeable cliques (at school), and at times, there seems to be a clear division between groups of people. But I just mind my business and keep moving. I understand that you might gravitate towards your peers for support because you're all in the same boat together, but sometimes the friendships blossom, and sometimes they're non-existant. Atleast you can vent your feelings here and get some unbiased opinions...