In Dean Catherine Vincent's pediatric pathophysiology course, all of her white middle-class students did exceptionally well but a Mexican-American student in her class failed miserably. What was the reason for the minority student's failure? Could it be mere coincidence? It would not be the first time in history that a teacher handed out grades according to his/her racist beliefs. "Studies have reported faculty bias toward minority students in grading papers, judging clinical performance, and assessing written examinations" (Villarruel, Canales, & Torres, 2001). "Nurse educators need to acknowledge that, with a few exceptions, racism is endemic in our programs" (Barbee & Gibson, 2001).
What can be done when the faculty at Oakland University sides with Dean Vincent? Isn't it convenient that her exams are graded by hand affording her the opportunity to grade exams in any manner she pleases including racist ones?
Whites make up 86% of the registered nurse population. Despite the dramatic increase of Hispanics in the U.S., there has been no significant increase in the number of Hispanic nurses. I wonder what's keeping Hispanics out of nursing?
My goal was to get feedback (positive or negative). I may not agree with everyone's opinion. I've made no attempts to hide facts. I set a goal to publicize my point-of-view and stuck to it. It hasn't been entirely comfortable for me but I felt it was important.
you know i think it's vey distrubing how some people love to tell others when it's time to get over something! it's like when someone dies...everyone feels there should be a time limit to grief! i'm sorry but there is none! only the person who is affected can say when it's time to move on...and when they must continue to take whatever action they need to ...to help them feel better about what they feel has happened to them! no two people react the same way to anything...and for someone to say...this is someone else's fault or they shouldn't do this or that....i don't agree! it's the person who is dealing with the problem who can say whether or not this is real...their in the situation... not the person who is standing on the outside looking in. that person can never see...or feel what is another is dealing with! so it bothers me to see people trivialize someone's else's problems! i see racism up and close and personal..and no i don't attribute it to everything that happens in life...but if i feel i'm dealing with a racist...then that is what i'm dealing with!
manuel...you do what you have to ....to deal with the situation you're facing! only you can decide what you need to do! yes everyone has right to their opinion...but you don't have a right to shove down someone's elses throat...especially since you're aren't there in the situation!
jmho....and i'm sticking to it... i tried to ignore this one...but just got over the top!
Unless you know what it feels like, REALLY what it feels like to be there.......nobody but that person can know.
Until you've had it done to you. I think that racism's hate is multifocal and has no identifiable face. Its origination point is invisible to those in pain. They just know that they are.
Where there is pain there is a need for healing, whatever the disease.
I often see people with a diagnosis of CHF who keep talking about thier Pneumonia....they truly believe that that is the problem since they FEEL like it is..they cough and are miserable...and insist that fresh air is the cause....when we nurses work to educate the clients as to the true culprit we are not judging thier feelings as invalid..just taking an object look and noting that there is more than one possible cause for the FEELING that exists.
I am a minority. I have a foster daughter who is of a different minority group. I have seen racism at its's most hideous. But by always accepting the pain of a minority person as being caused by negative emotions in another we may miss the chance to find a truer cause.and, when you claim that only Manuel can say how he FELT in the situation, you are saying that since only HE knows how he feels, that settles the matter.....but...........to say that the feeling of being hated for one's race means that one IS hated due to race means that we must all decide that WE know what the instructor was FEELING........WE, as readers of the post, decide that if someone FEELS that the instructor is FEELING hatred, it must be true........seems like the ONLY ONE who can KNOW if the instructor FEELS prejudice is that instructor.
I stated in an earlier post that as a nurse I had never experienced racism but I do recall other times when I have.
One in particular comes to mind when I was younger (maybe 11 or 12) when we were on a family vacation and traveling through the midwestern states. We stopped at this restauraunt and the waitress who was obviously uncomfortable came up to the table and told us "I'm really sorry folks but the manager won't let me serve you because you are mexican". We had to get up and leave with all those eyes watching us.
That is an example of racism and there have been other times as well.
I'm not sure if what you are experiencing with your studies is or is not Manual and if my earlier post stating you were perhaps oversensitve was out of line I apologize but my point was that one can let the feeling that you can't get ahead due to forces beyond your control will slow you down in reaching your goals.
The hispanic student may have had a language barrier.... In that situation most universities/colleges... wouldn't accept her... so she would have had enough english in her interveiw...
Also if her reading/writing where the weakness - then most colleges and universitys would have a tribunal of sorts to assess and exam students verbally....
I won't go into more details here... and ultimatly to me compassion and over all effeciency are my things - then I can't see a problem.
There is a socialogical element that she did poorly because of her self conciouness... seeing everyone white around her...
I have reviewed the posted material on your web site including the examinations and your commentary. I fail to see how you can attribute your performance to racism.
A substantial portion of your point deductions resulted from a failure to answer what was asked. For example, a question would ask for pathophysiology and clinical manifestations and your answers would address only the pathophysiology. Whether these omissions resulted from an inability to answer or carelessness in reading the question I have no way of knowing. But clearly, the questions were unambiguous and they were not fully answered. Moreever, in my opinion the test preparer was rather consistent as to style and format. As such, even if such omissions were due to carelessness on exam #1, there should have been no such mistakes on subsequent exams; that is one could pretty much count on questions with multiple requirements/characteristics to be addressed. Unfortunately, similar mistakes recurred.
Similarly, a significant portion of your point deductions resulted from a failure to provide an answer of any kind. I have no idea whether or not you would have been able to answer the questions had more time been provided. Failure to honor your request to verbally answer questions beyond the time provided for the rest of the class in my view is not in any way racist.
By your own admission, you failed to adequately prepare for Exam #3. You were well aware that the testing would be rigorous, yet you chose to give less than your best effort.
Finally, I should point out that that the language on the front page of each exam makes it clear that in no way should they have ever found their way to your web site.
I regret that I must reply in such an abrupt manner, but frankly I find it troubling that an inflammatory charge such a racism has largely gone unchallanged on this thread.
It seems that the best we can do is let it go dormant. It responds to the best of treatments by mutating into a more virile form that is then spread by the host.
Take universal precautions.
Racism is a carousel that nobody can seem to find thier way off of.
Very nicely put rstewart! That's a great first post!
Manuel - I sense your frustrations and anger, and by no means wish to minimize it. But I've looked at the test. And I have to agree with some of the other posters here that I don't think the questions were answered as COMPLETELY as the instructor had been asking for.
You said in an earlier post about how demoralizing failing this class is for you. (Please, I'm not quoting, too tired to look back for your EXACT words). I understand that, but I feel that it is out of these feelings that you are grasping at straws here.
I do feel that perhaps you're being overly sensitive. If everyone in my nursing class that had failed a class quit, we would have barely had a class at all.
And I just had to speak to your comment about there being to black nurses on the ICU unit. Is it too much to assume that no black nurses in that area wanted to work ICU? Or am I just looking at the situation through white girl glasses?
And you've blatantly violated the school's policy about reproducing the exam. I would think they could suspend you entirely for that.
However this turns out Manuel, I hope you find the answers you're looking for and the peace you deserve.
i tried to ignore this one...but just got over the top! 
fergus51
6,620 Posts
I hear ya:)