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?
This makes me angry. It makes me angry that this is happening to you. And it makes me angry that all we can do, as your fellow nurses, is to say "I'm sorry". Shame, shame, shame on the people around you for their ignorance. If they make you feel this way, I can't imagine how they make their minority patients feel. Although I can't help but to also think that they're mostly this ignorant and thoughtless because of how they were raised... which partially isn't their fault.
*deep breath*
I think that you should do what aligns best with what you value at this certain time. If you value job security, emotional health, family, fighting for justice, etc. I think that you should take some time off from work to really think about what you want for yourself and then pursue it. Also, this may or may not be related, but most new-grads do feel tons of anxiety when first starting their job. This might be contributing to the before-work anxiety. I'm only mentioning because it might keep things in perspective because I had tons of before-work anxiety too for a good 6 months before I became more "seasoned" at one year.
But I just want to say, I stand in solidarity with you that this isn't right. At all. And I would probably keep a journal of this just to keep track of what's being said/how you're being slighted/and if you took any actions against it for your records.
I'm an old white lady, originally from MA, but living in NC for the past 18 years.
I am so sorry you are experiencing this, but I'm not surprised. I knew racism existed when I lived in MA, but here in NC it is sometimes so blatant!! Many people in the south seem to think that because I am white I am also as bigoted as they are, and I have been appalled at some of the things I've heard over the years.
Try your best to stick it out for a year, but if you are really suffering, leave and just make sure your next position is for at least a full year!
You are a strong person!!! I don't think you would survive nursing school if you weren't!! YOU know you are capable and YOU know you are a good person, so walk tall and try to ignore things in public. If you are repeatedly being harassed on the job, report it. If it is your supervisor or charge nurse, go to the next level.
Remember, though, your health and safety come first!! If you are being affected or you feel unsafe, get out!!! It doesn't make you weak, it makes you smart!
Specializes in Psych., Rehabilitation, Developmental Di.
Chutney, I am Native American and Mexican, I have experienced some racism. It sounds as if your job.is in the south. Rebel flags makes me think this. I was a nurse for 27 years. A male nurse to boot. Make no mistake, gender prejudices exist along with all the other forms.
My first reaction was "get out". After cooling my jets, my opinion is conditional. If you fear for your safety or the safety of your family, you might consider getting out. Racism is an illness and should have a medical diagnosis number. That's what I think. People inflicted with this terrible social disease have been known to behave irrationally. Blowing up three innocent little girls in a church proves this point. In your case, is it the community you live in that is racist, the hospital you work at, or both? If I were you I would seek opinions of other people of color where you live. Maybe they will be able to enlighten you on the topic. Maybe it's only a few people at work that are the problem. That's easy to handle. Documentation of incidents. You're a nurse. You know how to document. Names, places, times. The who, what, and where of things. Handle it at the hospital administrative level. When a patient or any person has their life saved by a nurse, they don't care what the color of your skin is. Hang in there Chutney. Do your job as you were trained. Once you establish yourself as a competent, prudent, intelligent, and capable professional, peoe will see you in a different light.
Racism is everywhere. If you leave now, where ever you go, won't change your color.
I think as long as you make your safety a priority, you'll come through smelling like a rose. My daddy taught me to never run from a problem because where ever you go, there you are.
Good luck, remember, you are not judged by your color in the eyes of God, you are judged by your deeds. You are descended from a long line of great African American women. Rosa Parks, Marion Anderson, Michelle Obama, and so many more. Be proud of that and be proud.of becoming a nurse.
The fact that the part you find to be the worst, is that people have Confederate flags on their trucks, leads me to believe that you understand that terms such as "slave driver" are generally not racist in the least. As a matter of fact, I feel its a little racist that you find that term troublesome because it came out of a Caucasian persons mouth.. I get told all the time I can use the "male card" can that be taken as sexist? Of course.. As a matter of fact, ive even been told by a coworker "of color" as you put it, that since im white i get the benefit in my job..can that be taken as racism, heck yeah.. Do I care about either? not in the least. Im using as example and personal experience, not comparison, because if I was offended, heck yes I'd leave. So while I do believe that there may be racial slurs happening, I sincerely doubt people are purposely being disrespectful to you due to the color of your skin, if they were and you had any sense of pride at all, you wouldn't even have to ask the question...you'd be out in a heart beat. However I will say, regardless of circumstances, I am very sorry you feel so troubled at your workplace. If you're not comfortable there, then yes, I'd say you should leave.
There is a wide range of responses on here. There seems to be a lack of understanding that racism is not like being called nasty names. It is treating another human being like they are unequal, that they are LESS than another human for an irrelevant factor (their skin colour) that they are born with and could not change even if they wished to.
It isn't defensible and there is no requirement or responsibility on the part of the OP to understand or fit in or change the minds of their colleagues.
The OP is not whinging or whining and in my country it is ILLEGAL to discriminate against others in such a fashion in the workplace. Surely it is a human right in America also? Of course, it still goes on in the UK, there is still racism everywhere in the world. But it is not like workplace banter or teasing or overly sharp words, it is demeaning and degrading and soul-destroying and UNACCEPTABLE.
I'm absolutely shocked at so many people saying to suck it up and deal with it, it is never okay under any circumstances and tales of "well I was discriminated against but I persevered and earned respect and now everything is okay" are not helpful. Many people successfully sue companies for unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexuality etc. This is not the time for a "make the best of it attitude". That perpetuates the belief it is in any way acceptable. NO NO NO.
I hope your job offers pan out OP and you can stop having to put up with being treated as less than a human being. We are all one race, the human race.
You may not like it but I'm going Devil's Advocate here. Think about it before you get angry and call my comments racist, especially since you don't know what race I am. :)
"Confederate flags waving behind a pickup" as far as I'm concerned, that's part of US History and you need to get over it...it's a flag from 200 years ago. By that thinking we should be tearing down Monticello also...
The slave driver comment...Not unusual, I use it all the time myself. Strange how things can be made racist by the person claiming that others are racist. C'mon...
I think you're a bit thin skinned and are buying into the hype that's currently running through America right now. I'm sorry you're feeling this way but I think you need to rise above and tough it out. Might it be that you came into the "rural area" with a chip on your shoulder?
If you have to ask that question, then I'd say yes but it doesn't mean that you have to make a move immediately. Through planning and preparation you should can make this a reality eventually.
My cousin, Jeff has had some issues similar to what you're experiencing plus I think you both will have much in common. He's married to a wonderful Caucasian lady who's the best thing that has happened to him. They have 2 wonderful girls.
If you want me to, I can put you in contact with him through FB.
Think about it... but in the meanwhile, I'd like to say that you should go back to school ASAP and do a degree program especially if you only have a diploma or completed a ADN program. My cousin that I mentioned just completed his BSN. It cost about $30k; He saved because he got his ADN from a community college.
Going back to school will help you engage your mind into something more productive. An average accelerated degree program runs about one and half to two years which will give you a good timeframe to execute your plans.
Afterwards, both your spouse and you can scout around for jobs in cities with a more diversified population by the end of the program. Try to go for your Masters though as a long term goal... NP or Healthcare Admin.
Definitely utilize Employee Assistance for counseling services and your local church for pastoral counseling will be beneficial, too. One other suggestion would be to get a gym membership and exercise regularly.
While working my way through nursing school as a nursing tech in Columbia, South Carolina, I recall a time I was assisting a RN with an elderly southern female patient. When the patient heard me speaking, she politely asked me if I was a N-word. I replied her politely and unbothered, "No ma'am, I'm an African American." She politely replied, "Oh" and that was the end of it. The RN couldn't get out of the room fast enough to tell her colleagues because she was in stitches over my response. Would it help you to know that happened in 1990's?
Since that time, I've worked in Buffalo, New York through travel nursing as recent as 2011 ... a few of the elderly Caucasian male patients would swear when I'd ask them, "Can you tell me who the current president is?" Was that hurtful? Sure it was but I can't control what others do or say but I can control my own behavior. I stopped asking that question and replaced it with a different question like, "Can you tell me who the current Vice President is?"
I've learned that in life that it takes all kinds to make the world go round. As Maya Angelou stated, "When folk know better, they do better." Exposure has a lot to do with many things or a lack thereof in the case of the place you're working at. Allow the people to get to know that they can't judge a book by its cover; let them get to know you.
I wouldn't leave. Just do your work and be professional and above it. I'm a white female but with olive skin and dark hair and eyes. While wearing a mask I have been asked, sometimes in not a nice way by patients (black & white), "Are you a Mexican?". I would always reply, "No I'm just a plain old white girl". If someone points out that you are black, you could just respond that yes, you are and probably always will be a black female. You could also change the subject or just don't answer and let them sit there in awkward silence. They might get tired of looking like morons. If it gets worse I would definitely bring it up to hospital administration. Don't be offended by the term "slave-driver", that's a term used frequently for an abusive boss and generally isn't intended to be racist. Also, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I've been lucky to work in places where people are only concerned with having good employees no matter their race or gender.
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.
The confederate flag belongs in a museum so we will not forget the parts of our past-- even the ugly parts. No matter the original intent of the flag, the fact remains that it's most common association is with racial discrimination. T
he swastika has stood for so much more in history as well, but as intelligent adults, we know that the most common association is offensive to pretty much everyone.
I have read through most (but not quite all *yet*) of these posts and it is such a sensitive subject. I am so very sorry that anyone experiences discrimination. I hate it in all it's subtle or blatant forms. For my part, though I hate confrontation, I recognize that I want to take responsibility and call out discrimination when I see it. If I was working alongside you, OP, you can bet that I would say something to those nurses/workers. I wish you the best.
Let me elaborate on the confederate flag issue: Not everyone who flies it is racist. For some people, the flag means something more, and that is the Constitutional right of states to govern themselves. This issue might be compared to the death penalty. While the intentional taking of a human life is wrong, states have a right to punish crime.
I totally agree that slavery is WRONG and make NO excuses for it, but the issue should have been fought in the state governments and not on the federal level. Furthermore, what many fail to realize is that the goal of the civil war was not so much to free slaves as to keep the United States together as a whole and prevent the succession of the confederate states.
What of the white person in the inner city exposed to the n-word (even when used as a term of endearment as in …my n…â€)? Is this racist?
The term slave driver has its roots in Africa, specifically in Egypt when the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites. Perhaps a more common Biblical term was task master.
Why is it assumed that it is assumed racism against African Americans when such terms are used? It leaves out the many other cultures that have suffered slavery.
As to the term African American, that too assumes that ALL people of color are descendants of the Africans brought to this country for slavery. It fails to take into account people of color from other parts of the world like Asia and South America.
The answer is to treat ALL people with respect and dignity, AND to lead by example.
wanderlux
5 Posts
This makes me angry. It makes me angry that this is happening to you. And it makes me angry that all we can do, as your fellow nurses, is to say "I'm sorry". Shame, shame, shame on the people around you for their ignorance. If they make you feel this way, I can't imagine how they make their minority patients feel. Although I can't help but to also think that they're mostly this ignorant and thoughtless because of how they were raised... which partially isn't their fault.
*deep breath*
I think that you should do what aligns best with what you value at this certain time. If you value job security, emotional health, family, fighting for justice, etc. I think that you should take some time off from work to really think about what you want for yourself and then pursue it. Also, this may or may not be related, but most new-grads do feel tons of anxiety when first starting their job. This might be contributing to the before-work anxiety. I'm only mentioning because it might keep things in perspective because I had tons of before-work anxiety too for a good 6 months before I became more "seasoned" at one year.
But I just want to say, I stand in solidarity with you that this isn't right. At all. And I would probably keep a journal of this just to keep track of what's being said/how you're being slighted/and if you took any actions against it for your records.