Racial discrimination in Nursing....

memphispanda, RN · Nov 6, 2003

It may not be discrimination at all. It may be that your friend is a dedicated worker who actually believes in properly taking care of her patients and many of her co-workers do the bare minimum. Working on the weekends, I have seen the nurses who are sitting at the desk chatting at least half their shift, and they come in all colors. They are the ones who aren't doing any patient teaching and really aren't doing much more than passing meds and telling other people (especially MAs) to go do something.

sjoe · Nov 6, 2003

To balance things out a bit, you can also find several threads on this BB about nurses reporting that other nurses from a particular country, like the Philippines, try to get nurses NOT from their country to quit their jobs or transfer from their units so that they can keep all-countryperson groups together.

And of course racism is worldwide--always has been, always will be--particularly since the definition of "racism" itself, and its defining behaviors, varies from person to person.

ratchit · Nov 6, 2003

I've seen Phillipino/non-Phillipino tensions- usually because of a language barrier issue. As in the Phillipino nurses would speak in their language, which made the english speaking nurses uneasy about what was being said.

But what you described sounds like a perception issue- your friend seems to think she is working harder than her coworkers. Is she upset that she thinks she works harder than them? Or is she upset that she thinks the other nurses patients are not receiving good care?

If a nurse colleague presented me with either attitude, I would not be happy about it. Perhaps that is the problem, not racism?

Being busy all the time does not mean you are providing good care. Having down time does not mean you are providing poor care.

jayna, RN · Nov 6, 2003

It happens everywhere in the world and not only in the states.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2003

Jayna is right as sad as that is and I for one wish it was very very different. I purely HATE HATE HATE racism.

But on the other side - what she could be feeling is either bullying ( another pet hate of mine) or the "agency nurse" problem which is also worldwide. Agency or float nurses are often given the "difficult" or "demanding" patients and end up running their legs off. The rationale for doing this is varied from "it gives the regular nurses a break" through to " make them earn their money". :rolleyes: In truth it is not a good management strategy to load a person who is unfamiliar with the work environment and protocols with a heavy workload - in fact it is often counterproductive.

As for the nurses sitting doing less work - they, unfortunately, are also everywhere and my private name for them is the "A.. Glue Set" they get to work and glue their ....... to the seats at the desk and... well, you get the picture and you can also guess I do not hold them in great esteem.

sharann, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2003

I work with many nurses and staff from all around the world for the past 2 years and have had NO problems with anyone (except for the nasty Charge RN of the OR who happens to be from South Carolina, America.

BUT, 3.5 yrs ago, when I was a "baby-nurse"(New grad), I was literally torn to shreds by a group of (sorry to way) Philipino nurses who made it CRYSTAL CLEAR that I was taking a nursing position AWAY from one of their "own" who wanted to transfer. Now, yes this could have happned to any race, but they messed me up. They were petty, spiteful, sabotauged my work (can you believe they put patients in jeapordy?!), and talked ALL NIGHT in Tagolog at the nurses station, in the break room, etc.. Yes I reported this eventually (At my "termination" meeting).

Frankly, they did me a favor cuz I have a job I LOVE to go to every day. But I never forgot how mean and unwelcoming and vicious they were.

AGAIN, this is not directed against the Philipino's ok? Just MY experience.

Barbie38 · Nov 7, 2003

well ..thanks to all who answered my post. Now, at least we feel that it is not really a racistic profession.

We don't have anything against white or yellow nurses. In fact, if they would only know how a Filipina living in a foreign land, away from her loved ones..would feel..inside a stressful working condition..maybe reception would change.

Isn't that what nursing is all about? To care?? help??make good nursing care plans? and interventions?? to be of service......not only to the sick but also to fellow nurses.

KristinWW · Nov 7, 2003

There is a big teaching hospital here from which I was told by six nursing students to stay away. The reason? The Phillipino nurses would tear the nursing students to shreds and implied only Phillipino nurses would be able to work the units they worked.

Again, this is only hearsay but I'm not going near that hospital.

bellehill, RN · Nov 7, 2003

I was going to leave this one alone but I can't. My first travel assignment was at a hospital with a very diverse staff. The floor nurses were 50% Filipino and I found them to be very helpful and friendly. I did annoy me that they spoke their native language on the floor but I got over it. As long as you are a good nurse I don't care what race you are.

Barbie38 · Nov 8, 2003

I'm very surprised with that. Does this mean, Filipino nurses got some control over a big nursing hospital in that area? Maybe there has been an incident that preceded such hearsay...It would not be good to hear this..but I, as a Filipino thinks this group of nurses may have formed an organization to protect themselves from what most of Filipinos have experienced before. Maybe...just maybe, they feel that sticking out together makes them feel protected from racism. Well.....I hope this made them work better:confused:

Teshiee · Nov 8, 2003

I guess it depends on how you look at it. Racism exists and I personally think America is the most racist country in the world. I am just glad my parents didn't teach me to be so ignorant.