Virtual Nurse Preceptor

Latasha Greene Carroll, BSN, RN · May 16

Hi

I know you graduated some time ago, but Im looking into this program and just want some input about real experiences. Im currently a BSN RN. How would rate your overall experience, were the professors fair, is it majority papers like I've read before from others and did you land a position? Please include the good and bad of it :))

Lisha Tinsley · May 18

Hi Latasha,

Unfortunately, I was not able to land a position in leadership and pretty much gave up, although I was in leadership previously some years ago. I gave up because I see if I'm not white I'm not offered the role. I've been told to go work on the units and then apply for a manager position, but I will not do that. So I'm currently staying in my position due to the uncertainty of this country's administration and I'm about to get married. It's a bunch of paperwork. I believe I did 36 papers and the majority of teachers are fair with the exception of some and unfortunately, they were women of color 😔. I feel like I wasted my time and money, but this is nursing and it's a catty field. I wish you the best of luck and if you any other questions, please reach out. You may have more success than me and I pray you will.

Linda Pole · May 18

Hello!

I'm glad to share that I found a preceptor and graduated with my master's degree in February 2023. Unfortunately, your story resonates with my own. After graduating, I applied for several positions at the job where I've worked for over 20 years but was not selected. Deep down, I suspected it was largely due to my race, though I initially convinced myself it was because of my lack of experience. However, I soon noticed that white colleagues with less education and experience were being hired instead.

I raised this issue with HR without explicitly framing it as a racial concern, but all I received were weak excuses. When they realized I was aware of what might really be happening, they offered me a night supervisor position, which I made clear I wasn't interested in, as it wasn't the role I applied for. I could have escalated my complaint to the union or higher, but I didn't want that level of attention after being with the organization for so long, which is disheartening.

Currently, there's only one Black person in a management role on the day shift. From our personal conversations, she shared that "they" are making her job very difficult, and if she weren't close to retirement, she would have likely left. Additionally, there are no Black charge nurses on the day shift either; diversity is primarily seen in the evening and night shifts.

I truly empathize with your situation and hope for positive changes in the future. Sadly, this is the reality we face, and I can only wish it were different.

Lisha Tinsley · May 20

Hi Latasha,

Unfortunately, I was not able to land a position in leadership and pretty much gave up, although I was in leadership previously some years ago. I gave up because I see if I'm not white I'm not offered the role. I've been told to go work on the units and then apply for a manager position, but I will not do that. So I'm currently staying in my position due to the uncertainty of this country's administration and I'm about to get married. It's a bunch of paperwork. I believe I did 36 papers and the majority of teachers are fair with the exception of some and unfortunately, they were women of color 😔. I feel like I wasted my time and money, but this is nursing and it's a catty field. I wish you the best of luck and if you any other questions, please reach out. You may have more success than me and I pray you will.

Lisha Tinsley · May 20

Hi Linda,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I'm sorry that we as women of color are still experiencing this type of racism in this field. Being in the medical field for over 25 years and to be told I need to return to the floor in order to be considered for a leadership role is very insulting coming from a recruiter who doesn't hold a license of any sort, but here we are. I wanted to become a leader to make a difference and bring more women and men into this field that is dominated by whites. Once again, we're not qualified to have a seat at the boardroom table and it's very transparent that we have more experience, degrees, and certifications than the majority of these folks in these leadership positions. We will eventually reach the level of success we desire, we just have to take a different road to get there. Stay in touch!