Racism in Nursing

firstaiddave908 · Jan 10, 2008

Emma123 said:

I am so very sorry that you have had to go through feeling prejudiced against. I don't know the specifics, but it will be helpful to you to document, document, document....the specifics. (ie: date, time, what was said, and the person saying it) and REPORT it. Your facility, as should any, should have policies in place to protect against descrimination of any sort. Descrimination, correct me if I'm wrong, is grounds for legal recourse, or at least termination. Do not tolerate it. And do not let it keep you from reaching your dream and being the best nurse ever. As silly as this sounds, I was just experiencing something similiar; my boss told me my hair looked trashy, because it is blonde. As for patients, that is a tough one. They can refuse care from any caregiver, as it is their right to do so, for any reason. I'm telling you this because unfortunately it may be something you will run into in the future. You're right...it's 2008, but some people are stuck in their ways and and have little hope to change. That doesn't mean that you have to endure the abuse however. If you find yourself being discriminated against by a patient because of your color, you could offer to switch patients with another staff member. Sometimes female patients refuse care because the RN is a male. Sometimes patients refuse care because the caregiver is an LPN, not an RN. We can't do much to change the patients, but you do have the RIGHT to work in peace and not be discriminated against.
Best wishes,

Emma

Very good point you made with your post. :up:

showbizrn · Jan 10, 2008

WOW!.

Unfortunatley, like other professions, Nursing has its share of bad apples.

We need kind-hearted and sensitive human beings (like you) to care for our patients, families and communities.

If you need a change of environment, when you complete your studies, GET OUT OF THERE. I can't fathem you learning anything positive from that ROTTEN LOT that you're working with.

Blessings and success to you---NURSE!

Dempather, RN · Jan 10, 2008

I fall into the category of 21-30 year old white women starting the job. I'm sorry to hear you've had some rough experiences. Sometimes, I feel like we talk and vent about our patients to do just that... talk and vent.

A couple weeks ago, a patient of mine had a 105 degree fever and I was packing him with ice bags. Somehow, I managed to compare the situation to basting a turkey (don't ask me how). I said it loud enough to another nurse for a doctor to overhear. While he didn't say anything, all I could think about was how horrible he must think I am.. comparing some superly febrile person to a turkey. It's a silly example, but sometimes.. words are just words. It doesn't change how much I care about my patients.

On the note of racism. Know that your situation isn't everywhere. I would kiss the feet of some of my african-american colleagues. The same with some of my Indian colleagues. And white colleagues. Don't let this deter you from becoming a nurse. In the end, it's always about the patient. And you can make a big difference in their lives and in their world (however, you must be prepared from some small racism on their end, too... mainly the older generation patients who are stuck in the past.. but we all learn to laugh that off because we know better).

Good luck with whatever you decide. :)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 10, 2008

You mentioned that your facility is sponsoring your education. If this is so, they may be envious of you. And, they can also just be jerks. I am also an African American LPN. I have not seen too much of the prejudical behavior towards me often, but that is because I work at a city hospital that services and hires mostly minorities. The LPN school I attended was intergrated with an even mix of all races. But, at times, I have felt belittled by nursing administrators over the years while I was an aide. I was always an articulate reader, speaker and writer, so, this shocked them, I suppose. I was also annoyed. The one time I did experience it as an LPN was a few months ago when the Magnet surveyors came to appraise the hospital. I felt a bit slighted on both ends; being Black as well as being an LPN (Magnet is Pro-BSN). I was able to see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices. But, to spite them I spoke as well as I could, answered more of their questions than most of the other nurses, shook their hands and walked away.

Jelena88 · Jan 10, 2008

Wow, I'm really sorry you have to go thru that. It's amazing how big of jerks people can be...

I'm white, but have always been interested in Africa, black people, their music, way of life... It's funny, too, 'cause, unfortunately, we don't have almost any black people living over here, so no one really knows how I developed that interest of mine...

But, I did, and am now so fascinated by black peeps. I even wish I was black myself :)

Anyways, descrimination, on any ground, not just by color of the skin, extremely pisses me off and I choose to just not deal with people who are in habit of descriminating others.

So just, keep your beautiful head high, be proud of yourself, your origin, your potential, go out there and become the best of a nurse you can and show those rude, disrespectful people how much better than them you really are!!! And, know that there are ppl out there who love you and respect you and believe in you, like these people here who are leaving encouraging comments.

P.S. If someone does happen to offend you again, just let me know and I'll be sure to come there and kick some serious butt!!! :):):)

sailornurse · Jan 10, 2008

abooker said:

Mark twain!
Why does this garbage still happen? Maybe some small people just want to feel image.

I'm guilty, I suppose, of racism myself. I recently handed a young african american woman from agency a shower list, stressed the importance of charting our residents' bms, and told her to ask the other cnas if she had any questions. She just kept standing there, looking mildly amused. The regular cnas, all black, were stifling giggles. Finally, she asked; "Do you want to give me report first, or shall we count the narcs?" turns out she was my relief. They tell me I must have assumed she was a CNA based on her age. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I have been on the receiving end many times in my career. One time the other RN (black) & I ( american-mexican) were listening to taped report when our CNA (white)from float pool showed up. We listened to the whold report, then the CNA asked," where are the nurses?" the look on her face when told "Umm, you are looking at them." was well,,, priceless!

I have been asked if I am "Here to empty the trash" & at one new job, an RN, also a latina/hispanic/mexican american, also assummed I was a CNA, was telling me to go "Get her lady off the bedpan". When I asked her if she should be doing this so she could, "Assess" she informed me that" since you'r e new, around here CNA's don't tell RN's what to do." me-"I'll keep that in mind." then I point out that my title was on my brand new badge

It has gotten to the point where I can almost tell what people are thinking. You can have some fun with them.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2008

Just be the best that you can be. Rise above and take the high road.

Harshly judging your coworkers for being judgmental, for not having a stethoscope, etc. isn't going to get you anywhere but frustrated.

Blantant racism however is illegal and I'm not saying your should ignore that.

nyapa, RN · Jan 11, 2008

I think we have all seen this in action. It must be a very painful experience. Mind you I have been called a "white @#@$" where I work. But I don't think that is quite the same thing as nurses from European backgrounds are in the majority here and we can support each other. I think it would be much harder for those from minority backgrounds.

Do not, do not allow these ppl to wreck what you are working hard for, and what the profession needs you for. You say you want to make a difference, and with your attitude and compassion you will! Hold your head high! They are not worth it!!! Don't let them win...

(((Hugs)))

Jay

SICU Queen · Jan 11, 2008

mba2brn said:

the other day a nurse who is also a ci at my school (not mine) was asking me about my aspirations as a RN. she put down everything I said. I wanted to laugh in her face but I am too professional. I just nodded as if I heard/understood what she was saying (have you ever heard the saying "never let them see you coming?" next thing she will know, I will be her boss). I even gave her the impression that I cared or valued her opinion. in reality, I see her as having low self esteem and being threatened by my ambition. thus, she in no way affects me emotionally because my esteem is far too superior to take the tiny punches she threw. gl!

okay, I am not getting why you'd get upset over an instructor asking you questions about your aspirations. I really hope there's more to this story than you've stated... because if there's not, I'm thinking you're being hypersensitive. also, if there was nothing more to the encounter than what you've written as quoted above, then your statement "next thing she will know, I will be her boss." is rather unsettling. what are you going to do? make her life miserable and then fire her because she's white and asked you about your career plans? please fill us in on the unspoken details... because the way you've written what's quoted above makes you sound just as racist as the people that the op is talking about.

to the op... I'm very sorry that you work with difficult people. please know that not all white nurses feel that way, act that way, speak that way. my preceptor in sicu was an african-american RN, she is still a good friend of mine, and she is the absolute best nurse I've ever had the privilege to work with. she has a work ethic that is beyond words, a knowledge base that is amazingly deep and is an invaluable resource, and it's been one of my professional goals to be like her when I "grow up" as a nurse. I've been doing this for 15 years and I'm still not there yet.

your skin color has nada to do with who you are as a person and as a nurse. you know this. do not ever let anyone make you feel less because of who you are. do what you want to do, let the hospital pay your tuition (smart move!), and damn the naysayers. :w00t:

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jan 11, 2008

lpnnursingstudent33 said:

I am a Cardiac Monitor Technicican at the best facility in a suburban facility. I've been there 5 years. It used to be a big trauma center, but they had to merge with upmc so it is just a community hospital basically it is a nursing home with a E.R. But anyway I'm African American and I want to be a nurse. I have been in the Nursing field for the last ten years of my life. Working in this field with the majority of the field being middle aged white women and the new white 21-30 year old girls. It is very hard working with these people especially when the are so prejudice or bias. They try to make you feel inferior or something. It's like they can't stand the fact that I want to be a nurse or that I have the facility paying my way to become a nurse. I mean I never knew how much racism there is in this field until I started working in the field. It is very said. It is even with patient care. I see why there is such a huge health desparity. It is crazy. I know because I see it everyday. I hear nurses say BAD things all day about their patients. Make bad jokes about the patients, STEROtype patients, judge their patients. A lot of the nurses I work with are just down right rude to their patients. I can't actually say it is seems to mean that a lot of the nurses are burned out but can't afford to retire or just don't want to. Some nurse on my floor have been there for over 30 years. Some don't even own stethoscopes on a critical care floor. Now how said is that.

Anyway sometimes I find myself getting intimidated of these people but I have never seen a group of evil spirited people. Some of them just make me sick. But on the other hand there are some excellent nurses there too. That actually care about their patients no matter what status they are or what color. That's the kind of nurse I will become.

This is 2008 and I think it is time to shape up or get out of the business. I quess there will always be health care desparitites I don't know but I will try to make a difference once I become a RN.

I am a middle aged white nurse..( how I hate to say middle aged) I have been a nurse for 22 years , and have seen many things in my day. I am sorry you have experenced such awful things, there are bad apples everywhere, I have worked with some wonderful nurses of all colors, shapes and sizes... I have also worked with some mean nurses of all shapes and sizes.. I want to encourge you to enjoy your schooling and you will make a difference in life. I treat all my patients as if I would treat my family. I love them all.. never change being the kind, loving person you are.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Jan 11, 2008

abooker said:

....I'm guilty, I suppose, of racism myself. I recently handed a young african american woman from agency a shower list, stressed the importance of charting our residents' bms, and told her to ask the other cnas if she had any questions. she just kept standing there, looking mildly amused. the regular cnas, all black, were stifling giggles. finally, she asked; "do you want to give me report first, or shall we count the narcs?" turns out she was my relief. they tell me I must have assumed she was a CNA based on her age. that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

well...I certainly will give ya credit for even sharing this story with us ~ thx!

sailornurse said:

I have been on the receiving end many times in my career. One time the other RN (black) & I ( american-mexican) were listening to taped report when our CNA (white)from float pool showed up. We listened to the whold report, then the CNA asked," where are the nurses?" the look on her face when told "Umm, you are looking at them." was well,,, priceless!
I have been asked if I am "Here to empty the trash" & at one new job, an RN, also a latina/hispanic/mexican american, also assummed I was a CNA, was telling me to go "Get her lady off the bedpan". When I asked her if she should be doing this so she could, "Assess" she informed me that" since you'r e new, around here CNA's don't tell RN's what to do." me-"I'll keep that in mind." then I point out that my title was on my brand new badge

It has gotten to the point where I can almost tell what people are thinking. You can have some fun with them.

yup...been there...experienced that too in this day 'n age... LOL! it *is* priceless to see the looks/reactions of folks who judge a book by it's color. I don't get too put-out by it as it happens infrequently, but I only get upset whenever said persons are more nastier because they were mistaken. most folks realize their faux pas & apologize. when that happens, it's no big deal.

skyeyes · Jan 11, 2008

Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor. Use this incident as an example of what not to be when you venture into the field. Best luck and hurry up and graduate there is a whole world waiting out there for you to make a difference!!!