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?
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 didn't realize a response doesn't nest from the post I'm responding to, and instead goes after the last post, which leaves the last poster thinking you are responding to them, which, as you noticed wasn't the case. So, no I was addressing the person suggesting governmental intervention, and i have found it is not a magic wand, and can take a long time, be difficult, time consuming, and with little outcome.
If she were further along in her career it might be a fair try, but right now, she'd just in too vulnerable of a place.
Me? (Not sure whom you're addressing.)
It's a figure of speech. The answer, though, is yes--verbally. And would do it again.
Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal UnionThe people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
And now the State of South Carolina having resumed her separate and equal place among nations, deems it due to herself, to the remaining United States of America, and to the nations of the world, that she should declare the immediate causes which have led to this act. . . .
In the present case, that fact is established with certainty. We assert that fourteen of the States have deliberately refused, for years past, to fulfill their constitutional obligations, and we refer to their own Statutes for the proof.
The Constitution of the United States, in its fourth Article, provides as follows: "No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due." [editor's note: this is the Fugitive Slave Clause in the original Constitution whereby the North promised to return escaped slaves to their "owners" in the South]
This stipulation was so material to the compact, that without it that compact would not have been made. The greater number of the contracting parties held slaves, and they had previously evinced their estimate of the value of such a stipulation by making it a condition in the Ordinance for the government of the territory ceded by Virginia, which now composes the States north of the Ohio River.
I am really sorry this is happening to you. I just tumbled upon your post and the many responses and I apologize I didn't (couldn't) read every word of every response. Let me channel some of the people that have helped me deal with adversity (abuse both psychological and physical...) It can sap your soul. It is so very, very painful. Nothing you're going to read here or elsewhere will make it hurt any less. But let me give you some perspective
1. No one gets through this life without pain. Look around you and you'll be looking into the face of people who have suffered, or are currently suffering. You just don't know it.
2. Do you know anyone who has a burden greater than yours? Would you change places with them? (I just lost a dear friend to esophageal cancer. I'm ashamed at how I reacted to some... relatively speaking... trivial news about one of my joints.)
3. Have you looked for a person who has been through things like this and triumphed? (For me, support has been found in the church. I don't know what your beliefs are, but the black church... Dear Lord! got generations of people through slavery and Jim Crow. Have you looked for a spiritual mentor? One who has survived racism without becoming bitter? Did you see how the people at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston responded in the face of death? They set an inspiring example of love and courage that moved the hearts of thousands upon thousands of people.)
4. If you flee from racists... they own you. If you let bullies win, then they've won. They don't deserve to win. To win, you have to be a better, stronger person than they are.
5. In your time at this hospital and in this town, how many friends have you made? If you have a friend who is white, you've demonstrated that race means nothing and you're no better, or worse than the next guy. The racists have just lost a round. If you've made a friend who is non-white, hopefully you can both support each other in tough times.
So, you can flee and maybe relieve some of the immediate pain. But will you be any better equipped emotionally and spiritually when you encounter the next racist, or the next difficulty that challenges your character?
Yep... I've just become my mother. And my father. And my Grandmother. And about a dozen or so pastors, and teachers (including nursing professors) I've known along the way. They wrapped their arms around me and made me stronger. They didn't fix my problem and make the pain go away. But I'm glad they were there for me and that I survived and I can take joy in what I did and who I am.
As a person of color who arrived in the USA, NYC 46 years ago, as a graduate nurse, soon to get an RN ;license, I remember some of those comments. I also remember the glares I received as I approached a lunch table by staff I had worked with all morning. I remember being told that I should try several deodorants as Black people might tend to "develop a body odor" as Spring approached. What I remember most about my tenure at St. Clare's Hospital in midtown was the coercion to go on the night shift, which my friend who posted above explained to me years later. The coercion was to threaten to refuse to sign my release to get my RN license until I went on the night shift. This was a clear abuse of the practice of The State Education Department in Albany to ensure that graduate nurses that were sponsored to come here by hospitals actually showed up to do those jobs. I was lucky & had support from other nurses, including family. I even had subtle support from ancillary staff who whispered encouragement whenever they got the chance. Whether I would leave a city depends on what I wound be leaving behind, in the final analysis. Best wishes on your career.
I would like to add to some of the other excellent advice, that I had been down a similar road at one time, and still run across issues from time to time. Thank you for making me sit and think of strategies. One I can suggest is you can show some people all the truth in the world and they'll never see it. They have to figure it out for themselves. My thoughts are the dumb act. Just keep saying "I don't understand, can you explain" as sincerely as you can.And keep giving the same question to their answer, until they get to the obvious core and say something so racist when they try to explain, that it becomes apparent to them.
I disagree. I believe in all work areas people should all be speaking the same language, or the language of clients, as needed.. When on break or lunch they can speak whatever they want.
How can speaking in your mother tongue make an environment hostile? I would think it is your prejudice that makes you think like that. Don't you speak in your own mother tongue in the workplace? So do others. Please stop this Eurocentric thinking. Accept other people like to speak in their own language, unless you are part of the conversation. Then and only then it would be rude. Two Filipinos should be speaking in their own language to each other and not in a foreign language for fear of offending some self appointed layer of law.
The fact that you actually choose to acknowledge that there are specific instances that minorities get unfair treatment is highly commendable! As a minority it may not seem like much to some , and may even come off as whinny. However, I have found that their are many individuals who would rather ignore or make excuses for actions of prejudice instead of just saying the treatment is flat out unfair and behavior is offensive. In order for it to cease we need more people to acknowledge that others are most definitely treated differently even if it's subtle, there is a difference. Thank you
The people of Georgia having dissolved their political connection with the Government of the United States of America, present to their confederates and the world the causes which have led to the separation. For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery.
Mississippi
A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union.
In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.
Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-
Texas
A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union.
The government of the United States, by certain joint resolutions, bearing date the 1st day of March, in the year A.D. 1845, proposed to the Republic of Texas, then *a free, sovereign and independent nation* [emphasis in the original], the annexation of the latter to the former, as one of the co-equal states thereof,
The people of Texas, by deputies in convention assembled, on the fourth day of July of the same year, assented to and accepted said proposals and formed a constitution for the proposed State, upon which on the 29th day of December in the same year, said State was formally admitted into the Confederated Union.
Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated Union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-- the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits-- a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave-holding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association.
Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal UnionThe people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
And now the State of South Carolina having resumed her separate and equal place among nations, deems it due to herself, to the remaining United States of America, and to the nations of the world, that she should declare the immediate causes which have led to this act. . . .
In the present case, that fact is established with certainty. We assert that fourteen of the States have deliberately refused, for years past, to fulfill their constitutional obligations, and we refer to their own Statutes for the proof.
The Constitution of the United States, in its fourth Article, provides as follows: "No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due." [editor's note: this is the Fugitive Slave Clause in the original Constitution whereby the North promised to return escaped slaves to their "owners" in the South]
This stipulation was so material to the compact, that without it that compact would not have been made. The greater number of the contracting parties held slaves, and they had previously evinced their estimate of the value of such a stipulation by making it a condition in the Ordinance for the government of the territory ceded by Virginia, which now composes the States north of the Ohio River.
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.
Good luck.
Evil? Yes. You showed more concern for yourself than for your patients. And even for your staff of color. Maybe those staff didn't want pts who hated them.
Wher I can I try to not to put staff and patients with each other that are in conflict. it doesn't help anybody. When I am unable to oblige, my staff is usually understanding. I tell the patients I have to work with who I have tonight, and the only way to guarantee they will get exactly what they want in a nurse, is to go private duty.
Evil? Yes. You showed more concern for yourself than for your patients. And even for your staff of color. Maybe those staff didn't want pts who hated them.
gypsyd8
1 Article; 276 Posts
This is utter horsepucky
And you know it.