My first RN job has lead me to a more rural part of the country. As a person of color, I have never experienced racism to this degree.
Some instances are subtle at work, but some are pretty blatant.
My first experience occurred when my preceptor mentioned repeatedly that I have a "black card" so I must be golden at my new position. (I never questioned her on what she meant.) My preceptor also mentioned things like "since you are black things will get stolen from you." Phrases like 'slave driver' have also repeatedly been mentioned in passing with my preceptor. Since I was on orientation, I let a lot of comments go and ignored them, due to fear of being let go or retaliation.
Now, the worst thing is that I have noted on several occasions, confederate flags waving from behind pick up trucks.
I'm not sure if I can stick it out for over a year in this place. What would you do?
I agree! I am white and was born and raised near a county in southeast TN where racism is abundant. However, NEVER allow one RN with a race problem to determine your steps. Do not let those rebel flags deter you. As a "native" of these parts, I can tell you only one kind of people wave those flags anymore, and their kind represent a backward, mistaken, usually poor background. Those kind of people will never make it as far as you have (hmmm hmmm....graduating college)....so dismiss them. Your preceptor needs talked to by your manager. DOCUMENT every incident. Every phrase in quotes as well as witnesses standing by. When you have gathered enough information, take it to your manager and ask for action. Also, for those who may get mad about my rebel flag comments- Save it. I live here and it is bad enough you take up road space with your vehicles.
OP, do not ignore the comments. The more you let that go, the worst it gets. Those ignorant, Metamucil lacking parasites that you are working with are just feeding from you ignoring their comment. On your next day off, stop by HR and ask them to show you policies about EO. When asked why, tell it like it is. Do not fear about loosing your job. You will find another one within 24 hrs.
I ofter hear comments but with Hispanics and their accent. In my position, if I catch an ignorant soul, they will remember me for the rest of their life. No one has NO right to judge anyone because of their color, race and so on.
If you like your job, stick around but do not let these parasites treat you as such. They will either get used to having you around or if they do not like it that much, they will move on. Stick to your guns.
Can you tell us where you are (I've not read the entire 12 pages..) When I was stationed in Georgia, I used to get patients that would ask for a white nurse. This did not happen all the time, but when I was charge RN and later went to become a nurse manager, I would tell them that we are short staffed and dealing with matters pertaining to race, color or religion is the least of your problems while in MY ICU. The PT never said anything else after that and I made sure they always got a non caucasian staff for their duration of their stay in my unit.
Evil? Yes, but in my unit I rule and my staff does not condone such behavior. Specially if the pt comes in thinking that all males are doctors and they are still thinking like it is the 1950s. I have no tolerance for that.
I am so very sorry you are having to put up with this. It is 100% unacceptable! Studies back in 2012 indicated that at least 60% of new nursing grads leave their first job within the first year due to nurse on nurse bullying. I totally get how stuck you must feel, knowing how important that first year is for consolidating your skills, but also for your resume. I'm afraid I don't have any useful advice for what you can do, but I want you to know I am sending you positive thoughts in the hopes that you find the strength to survive and address this.
I am so sorry that you are experiencing that! Leave as soon as you find another job. Things like that involving that many people are not likely to be resolved without it back-firing on you. Evil people stick together! As I have experienced this myself, it really will never go away. I am reminded atleast weekly that I'm an awful person and not a "real" person and I don't have a "real" life because I am white. I know it sounds strange because I'm not a POC but my job has been relentless about this from certain employees. Keep your head up and know that racist people are some of the most ignorant people!
My first RN job has lead me to a more rural part of the country. As a person of color, I have never experienced racism to this degree.
Some instances are subtle at work, but some are pretty blatant.
My first experience occurred when my preceptor mentioned repeatedly that I have a "black card" so I must be golden at my new position. (I never questioned her on what she meant.) My preceptor also mentioned things like "since you are black things will get stolen from you." Phrases like 'slave driver' have also repeatedly been mentioned in passing with my preceptor. Since I was on orientation, I let a lot of comments go and ignored them, due to fear of being let go or retaliation.
Now, the worst thing is that I have noted on several occasions, confederate flags waving from behind pick up trucks.
I'm not sure if I can stick it out for over a year in this place. What would you do?
I'm a middle aged white RN with 30+ yrs of nursing experience. I live in a poverty stricken, heavily Hispanic major urban area. Let me assure you this racism stuff goes in all directions. I've had pts request another nurse because I don't speak Spanish or just because they want one of their own race, and in this extreme customer service oriented environment nowadays the request is honored. Also other staff frequently speak in Spanish to each other which makes for a hostile feeling work environment.
The point is, I don't know if any of us can entirely escape racism, I own a house, have a good life outside of work, less than10 yrs to retirement. At this point not willing to uproot myself so just
The state's Human Relations Commission (some states call it Labor Relations Commission) AND the EEOC are your friends here. Speaking from the point of view of the Hospital's (or any place of employment's) HR department (have 3 family members that are the head of HR departments in various companies)..... a company's worst nightmare is having the LR and/or EEOC in their business. Once a complaint is made, they are obligated to investigate. I HAVE used them in the past and have gone through a settlement procedure through them. They pull not only your records, they pull ALL records and dig deep. Companies do NOT want this. The mere mention of either entity usually starts a big ball rolling. Good Luck and I am sorry this happened to you.
I am white and middle aged recently moved back to the Midwest and yes those racist attitudes still exist in some areas of this country. . I want to change jobs because I for one don't think that way and have lived other places where it was not so accepted and flagrant . Please find another job if it gets too much for you .A year would be good but not at the expense of your mental health and it would be so hard if not impossible to grow as a nurse in that environment .I am very sorry you are experiencing this.
First of all, there will ALWAYS be problems no matter where you are. It's hard, especially for a young woman, to tolerate at times. I say that because I'm 62 years old, and have learned to ignore fools; I just consider the source and move on. As for the racism aspect, you have grown up in a time where our leader - someone we should be able to look up to - foments racial divisiveness at every turn. As a result, racism on both sides of the aisle are more obvious. Trust me - everyone feels it.
The Confederate flag, despite all the chatter, is NOT a racist symbol. If you do some research on the Civil War, you will also see that the primary reason for the war was not slavery, but industrial vs agrarian societal living and the laws that govern them. I find the rush to remove all things that 'offend' sad. If we forget what happened, we are doomed to repeat it. There were good and bad people then and there are both around now. It will always be so.
I wish you well. I truly do. I hope you are able to hang on there. Try and ignore the uneducated and provide a shining example of what a good nurse is. In time (yes I know this part is hard) people will see your skill and goodness.
In England and Europe where the nazi swastika is illegal, the confederate flag is used in its place.
What is the racial divisiveness that President Obama - you do not even have the respect to say his name - has fomented at every turn? Being Black? Being a Democrat?
And an agrarian society based on slavery is not one that can be defended, and if slavery was not so important to Jefferson Davies and the South, why did they not renounce it?
No one can tell you which is the correct path for you to take. I have nursed forty-five years and my guiding light has been if the situation does not allow me to Nurse, if the situation causes me emotional and/or physical illness then it is time to seek higher ground. A good question to ask yourself, how will present circumstances affect my future? Good luck with your life and nursing career.
Kidsnurse75
1 Post
I agree! I am white and was born and raised near a county in southeast TN where racism is abundant. However, NEVER allow one RN with a race problem to determine your steps. Do not let those rebel flags deter you. As a "native" of these parts, I can tell you only one kind of people wave those flags anymore, and their kind represent a backward, mistaken, usually poor background. Those kind of people will never make it as far as you have (hmmm hmmm....graduating college)....so dismiss them. Your preceptor needs talked to by your manager. DOCUMENT every incident. Every phrase in quotes as well as witnesses standing by. When you have gathered enough information, take it to your manager and ask for action. Also, for those who may get mad about my rebel flag comments- Save it. I live here and it is bad enough you take up road space with your vehicles.