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?
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
do your coworkers know that you are married to a local? is it possible that knowing that would ease your situation? if first answer is no, and second yes, would having your father-in-law meet you for lunch in the hospital cafeteria help? frankly i am more fearful for you now that i know you are male.... good luck.
Can I please double like this?
I also think that if people know you have family members of their same race, they may be kinder. It might let them know that you are just like them.
But, yes, now that I know the OP is male... I think, sadly, the situation may not be able to be over come. [emoji29]
Normally I would say get your year and then bail. My concern is that the same patients and coworkers who dislike minorities often take pleasure in getting you fired or reporting you to the board. They feel they will "put you back in your place" if they strip you of your license or get you terminated. I had a patient tell my aide that he did not want a colored nurse a few weeks ago. While I cannot be responsible for his mindset, these are the same people that believe you give inferior care and complain about you no matter how well you treat them. Hang in there.
Specializes in ER, Public Health, Community, PMHNP.
@ OP I would leave. As a person of color myself, I would be scared for my life, the environment from management to your peers seem to hostile. Not the type of place for me. If you are looking for experience have you tired with the staffing agencies in the metropolitan areas to get some experience under your belt. There must be something better out there for you. Good luck!
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 never questioned her on what she meant."
Well, you need to "question" these statements. That is how you deal with racist comments, real or perceived.
I have been on the receiving end of these types of statements at two different facilities ( I am lily white, it runs both ways).
I handled each and every problem at the time, with the offending individual.
As far as I'm concerned, flying the Confederate flag is a slap in the face to Black folks, especially outside the south. It's code for "I don't like Blacks". The people who do it are usually from the shallow end of the gene pool.
Yeah that's how I see the confederate flag as well. Especially since there are so few people of color here to begin with. [emoji15]
@ OP I would leave. As a person of color myself, I would be scared for my life, the environment from management to your peers seem to hostile. Not the type of place for me. If you are looking for experience have you tired with the staffing agencies in the metropolitan areas to get some experience under your belt. There must be something better out there for you. Good luck!
Yeah I'm definitely not going to be able to stick around like this. The anxiety is too strong. I'm hoping now with some experience that I could get a better position at an urban area.
Normally I would say get your year and then bail. My concern is that the same patients and coworkers who dislike minorities often take pleasure in getting you fired or reporting you to the board. They feel they will "put you back in your place" if they strip you of your license or get you terminated. I had a patient tell my aide that he did not want a colored nurse a few weeks ago. While I cannot be responsible for his mindset, these are the same people that believe you give inferior care and complain about you no matter how well you treat them. Hang in there.
Gosh I never thought of that like that. I hope that doesn't happen to me.
The latest most racist encounter was when my aide told me that my pt called me a 'darky'. She laughed and said "well he is really nice even though he called you that". I was just amazed and horrified.
This is so true and I guess I thought some how I was safe because of being Up North.... Boy, was I wrong.
I can say, growing up in Northern Michigan (part of the Underground Railroad) racism is absolutely alive and well in the North. I grew up among teenage boys and their dads who would fly their confederate flags and make racial slurs. In their case it was ignorance plain and simple. They had never had to experience or even *see* anyone experience prejudice. Since everyone they knew was white. It was almost an attitude of "it's harmless." They never saw it so they could ignore the hundreds of years of hate. Some of them moved away and I saw them change, some of them are still there.
Im deeply sorry you are going through this. It's completely unfair and disgusting.
I can say, growing up in Northern Michigan (part of the Underground Railroad) racism is absolutely alive and well in the North. I grew up among teenage boys and their dads who would fly their confederate flags and make racial slurs. In their case it was ignorance plain and simple. They had never had to experience or even *see* anyone experience prejudice. Since everyone they knew was white. It was almost an attitude of "it's harmless." They never saw it so they could ignore the hundreds of years of hate. Some of them moved away and I saw them change, some of them are still there.
Im deeply sorry you are going through this. It's completely unfair and disgusting.
Thank you for your reply. It's a reminder that we have a ways to go.
OP, for your future reference, before applying in a hospital, come to cafeteria any weekday at lunch time. Just sit for an hour in a corner and observe. If there are very few people of color in uniforms, AND especially if they do not mix but sit all together, AND especially if there is a big difference between local population demographics and those of hospital workforce, you may want to think twice before applying there.
Also, if a hospital has a document named "diversity statement" or "pledge of inclusion" or "tolerance oath" or something along this line posted on website, it means public confession of having, supporting and gladly promoting institutional rasism, xenophobia and intolerance.
That's a good idea to "scope out" a possible workplace to get a feel for the culture. But I have to disagree with your next statement. Most hospitals have some kind of diversity or inclusion statement. True, some may have it because they were forced to, but others, like mine, actually do believe in inclusion and respecting diversity.
OP, I am so sorry you're experiencing such ignorance and disrespect. It saddens me that you can't choose a workplace without worrying about this kind of behavior. All it takes is a few idiots to sour the whole experience, and it seems like this place has more than its share.
If you do stay, I suggest you look for allies that treat you like you deserve and draw energy from them. If you don't stay, I sure don't blame you. I hope you find the right place.
vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN
2,717 Posts
Can I please double like this?
I also think that if people know you have family members of their same race, they may be kinder. It might let them know that you are just like them.
But, yes, now that I know the OP is male... I think, sadly, the situation may not be able to be over come. [emoji29]