Thoughts on the prevalence of name discrimination in nursing?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 23, 2014

I guess I'm not entirely clear on what you are asking. Do employers discriminate in choosing which people they'd like to interview based on the name on the resume? Are they inferring race or religion based on the name?

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jul 23, 2014

It's possible, but not probable.

But, I work in the big city, where multiculturalism is the norm.

and, it would be easy enough to prove. If Mohammed applies and Kimberly applies with pretty much the same resume and only Kimberly gets called in for interviews in that could indicate that there is indeed bias. I'd like to think that the quest for the best candidate makes names pretty irrelevant to most interviewers

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

I have a VERY unusual name; it has never stopped me from getting positions or interviews or jobs.

If someone doesn't pick me solely on my name, no worries, I know some other facilities that will be willing to hire me. :yes:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

It's possible, but not probable.
But, I work in the big city, where multiculturalism is the norm.
and, it would be easy enough to prove. If Mohammed applies and Kimberly applies with pretty much the same resume and only Kimberly gets called in for interviews in that could indicate that there is indeed bias. I'd like to think that the quest for the best candidate makes names pretty irrelevant to most interviewers

And I wonder what they'd do when Kimberly showed up for her interview in full head covering, as a devout Muslim? :)

Nola009 · Jul 24, 2014

I guess I'm not entirely clear on what you are asking. Do employers discriminate in choosing which people they'd like to interview based on the name on the resume? Are they inferring race or religion based on the name?

I live in a small city / large town. The type of place where there's only two hospital groups in control of the whole region. I guess I'm asking if having a last name that's very hard to spell or pronounce could become a real problem. If I had a lot of great nursing experience I wouldn't be as worried. The problem is that I'm still just trying to get some good experience. I follow up with my applications, ask if there is anything I could/ should be doing differently, and these hospital HR people just say "No. Keep trying." Are they just saying that? I have kept trying. I am currently working in a specialty some think is no good (LTC). I want to know how I can get a hospital to give me a chance? It's starting to feel like they have been pitching my applications as soon as they come in because I never even get to interview.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

And I wonder what they'd do when Kimberly showed up for her interview in full head covering, as a devout Muslim? :)

Hey I know a Mohammed who is a Christian, and a fair amount of blond-haired, blue-eyed hijabi's. :yes:

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

I follow up with my applications, ask if there is anything I could/ should be doing differently, and these hospital HR people just say "No. Keep trying." Are they just saying that? I have kept trying. I am currently working in a specialty some think is no good (LTC). I want to know how I can get a hospital to give me a chance? It's starting to feel like they have been pitching my applications as soon as they come in because I never even get to interview.

I really think they are genuine; most hospitals have a 500:1 ratio and higher per desirable areas; they have to sift through internal employees; experienced nurses with varied experience or desiring to transfer specialities, as well as new grads; it is truly the luck of the draw.

I applied to a particular job FIVE times and for TWO YEARS and they FINALLY called back for an interview and I nailed it; but the went with an internal candidate; the silver lining in this story is the director was so impressed, he wanted to forward my résumé to one of the nurse managers and of course I said YES-I can hope something comes from it, but I keep pounding the pavement...but it feels good to have contacts in, and then it's still a matter to time, either way.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

People with black-sounding names such as Tameka, Jamal and Raheim are 50 percent less likely to receive callbacks when they submit resumes, regardless of how qualified they are.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-names-a-resume-burden/

Personally, I am a black female with a mainstream name that was popular during the Baby Boomer generation (think Carrie, Lindsay or Kelly).

Name discrimination happens on several fronts: people attempt to guess one's age based on the name. For instance, people these days do not really name their little girls Debbie, Linda, Pamela, Judith or Janet, as these names were popular a couple of generations ago.

Chica22 · Jul 24, 2014

Agreed! After many rounds like you experienced, a hospital recruiter said in-house "networking" was key.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

Agreed! After many rounds like you experienced, a hospital recruiter said in-house "networking" was key.

As well as getting to know those recruiters are good as well... :yes:

Nola009 · Jul 24, 2014

Everyone in my network is on the outside looking in. Most of the other nurses at my jobs are kind of new and never have wanted to or found work in a hospital. A group of young BSNs at one job said they never wanted hospital work. It sounded crazy, but they looked serious because they had been working at a SNF since graduating two years prior. Most (all as far as I know?) can't get a hospital job because the school produces way more grads than the area can handle. Knowing that, I have ventured away, as far as I can commute, but I don't know anybody in these other areas I have been trying. Should I send candy or sandwiches to these HR people? Would that work in my favor?