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?
To be honest, it seems as if most of your issue is with your preceptor. I see three options, suck it up-ignore the preceptor and focus on your job, tell the preceptor to please stop, or go somewhere else. This is healthcare, and I'm sorry, but it sounds as if your whining, even though it shouldn't happen, it will. Your job is people. I've had to assist racist patients many times, and have been treated like dirt by coworkers, called names, and been called racist on multiple occasions. I am Caucasian, and have had many interactions with those racist against me (which is more common place in the south than the other way around, and I do speak from experience). But I don't see colors, I see people. Whatever. It's healthcare. Oh, and by the way, I have a confederate flag on my car and my truck, and it's not because I'm racist-my past relatives fought for the confederacy (and it wasn't just a race war of course). My best friends are African American, and I'm currently dating someone that is.
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.
Thank you for your reply. The supervisors are neutral and appear to be nice. The hospital is very short staffed so maybe being any other way would not be in their best interest. The other day I overheard a patient speaking very loudly to a nurse manager, he said " I almost punched me a N****r last night." She smiled and said "oh you did," Gleefully. I was in earshot. She said nothing to me. I just don't know how this is ok, today.
You know, I would say "unbelievable," but sadly I know it's not. I don't understand how such blatant racism is being displayed where you are. Most bigots have learned to hide that stuff when not among their own miserable kind.
I'm a life-long Southerner. Some of the people I love are deeply racist. Needless to say, I don't talk politics or race-relations with them. Or gun control. Or, well, a lot of things. But they know how I feel, so they generally refrain from spouting bigotry in my vicinity. People at your workplace aren't going to show you that kind of respect, obviously; plus, they know their behavior is tolerated.
I would love to have a crack at some of those people. I know how to piss them off. But, honey, I have to tell you that racists are angry, angry people these days, and I for one wouldn't trust any of them. Among that kind are always a few who will not stop at verbal insults.
Please move on if you can. You are unhappy and it's affecting your mental health. You are already a hero for not telling those idiots to take a long walk off a short pier. Love.
why did so many of the states put it into their articles of secession?
RE:
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,"
I'm so sorry that's just intolerable behavior! Truly reprehensible!! Especially for people in what's said to be a caring profession. Nursing is really tough & I WOULD say tough it out but the understandable anxiety you have is a deal breaker to me. It's not worth all that. You can't teach ignorant people who aren't interested in learning what's right & what's wrong. Truly sad this situation exists at all. Find a better job where you are respected as a person & a professional. Again, I'm so sorry.
RE:"These are the most insane comments I have ever read on this site. What the OP is experiencing is illegal and should not be tolerated. Filing a charge with the EEOC is free and easy. Obtaining a lawyer costs more but it will be worth it when you don't have to work ever again and can send all your children to private universities while luxuriating in your custom built house. I cannot believe nobody has suggested that you file an EEOC complaint at the very least. If I were you I would have the jobs of every single person in leadership at the facility. I would also make sure they never worked again."
That sounds like something a racist would say. Lol. But there are a lot of you out there... To bad that word is thrown out so much. It's all about ignorance.
I'm from Southern California. When the KKK have a rally here, we put them in the hospital. That being said I live in a rural area with real honest-to-god peckerwoods and aryan nations. The N-word is pretty common and I still slip up and use it. I was raised by ignorant fools. What is amazing to me is how people are so blind to this issue, even to the point of thinking whites can be racist.
News flash - racism means oppression. White people are not now nor have they ever been oppressed. The amount of blatant white privilege displayed in these comments truly stuns me. We are supposed to be educated people who took sociology.
I just think that something needs to give. We need another Malcolm X. It's been too long for stupid white people to get all bent out of shape defending this atrocious behavior, minimizing this, talking about how the rebel rag is "culture"
I at least admit I am racist and privileged and that I need to fight this institutionalized hate. My daughter is better than me about it but this stuff was supposed to be over a generation ago.
I am just flabbergasted. Such a long way to go.
Holy crap, I commented before I realized so many things.
1. I had no idea you were a man.
Please please please, if you are able: LEAVE. At least go to your wife. You are in such an unsafe situation and I'm afraid for you. I cannot even imagine how badly you feel. I am so sorry.
2. Every single white person in here who is downplaying what is happening to you, needs to shut their mouths. Your feelings are valid, your fear is justified, and you're not misinterpreting ANYTHING.
3. White people in here telling him he's overreacting: SHAME ON YOU. Shame. On. You.
4. Please keep us posted. I'm going to be thinking about you all the time.
FLmalenurse
2 Posts
To be honest, it seems as if most of your issue is with your preceptor. I see three options, suck it up-ignore the preceptor and focus on your job, tell the preceptor to please stop, or go somewhere else. This is healthcare, and I'm sorry, but it sounds as if your whining, even though it shouldn't happen, it will. Your job is people. I've had to assist racist patients many times, and have been treated like dirt by coworkers, called names, and been called racist on multiple occasions. I am Caucasian, and have had many interactions with those racist against me (which is more common place in the south than the other way around, and I do speak from experience). But I don't see colors, I see people. Whatever. It's healthcare. Oh, and by the way, I have a confederate flag on my car and my truck, and it's not because I'm racist-my past relatives fought for the confederacy (and it wasn't just a race war of course). My best friends are African American, and I'm currently dating someone that is.