Why do minorities have more respect for nurses?

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

I have been a nurse for over 20 years. I currently work in Miami. The hospital is in an area where we get a lot of Cuban and Haitian patients. I have been at this hospital for 6 years. The patients and families we get are so very respectful of nurses. I know this is a sensitive subject but I'm just stating my experience. I am white myself and receive far less respect from white pts and families like I do minorities. Before working in this area of Miami, I worked in white areas of south Florida like Orlando,Del Rey, Boca Raton and West Palm beach. It was a nightmare working there as the pts and families(mostly white)had Zero respect for the nurses. I took more verbal abuse working in white areas of Florida than when i was in the Army! Why are minorities more respectful of nurses than white people? Overall from my experience white people simply don't respect nurses like minorities!

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Healthcare is minimal to non existent on many of the islands.

In general, patients from resource limited parts of the world are very thankful for vaccinations and really any treatment of acute and chronic conditions.

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

Healthcare is minimal to non existent on many of the islands.

In general, patients from resource limited parts of the world are very thankful for vaccinations and really any treatment of acute and chronic conditions.

You are SO right Maggie! I have done missionary work in many Latin countries and it's simply amazing how respectful they are to nurses. They are also very grateful for every thing we do!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

As an African-American female, I think the answer in many of your experiences has less to do with racial/ethnic background and more to do with social class.

Many of the people in upscale parts of Florida (Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, et al.) are wealthy and view nurses as servants and chambermaids. However, in my personal experience, the undereducated and the working poor often hold nurses in high esteem.

I am now an RN with a BSN, but started out as an LVN. My family of origin is not very educated or college-fluent, so to them, earning an LVN license is like becoming a doctor. However, families who are well educated and higher on the social class hierarchy might frown down upon any nursing license because they may view it as beneath them.

These are just my conjectures. Use them as you please.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I was going to say the same thing as Maggie. I know the Haitians are very appreciative of the assistance they receive. It comes down to who has more of a sense of entitlement. I think the people from the areas you mentioned don't have the feelings of entitlement. Quality medical care just isn't available in those countries.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Other cultures seem to have greater respect for education and all of the professions including nurses, teachers and professional musicians.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Also, it's often a matter of survival to get familiar with the tactics they need to use to avoid antagonizing white folks.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

As an African-American female, I think the answer in many of your experiences has less to do with racial/ethnic background and more to do with social class.

Many of the people in upscale parts of Florida (Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, et al.) are wealthy and view nurses as servants and chambermaids. However, in my personal experience, the undereducated and the working poor often hold nurses in high esteem.

I am now an RN with a BSN, but started out as an LVN. My family of origin is not very educated or college-fluent, so to them, earning an LVN license is like becoming a doctor. However, families who are well educated and higher on the social class hierarchy might frown down upon any nursing license because they may view it as beneath them.

These are just my conjectures. Use them as you please.

Have to agree with this. Working in Boca, and the Palm Beach area was h$&l. Things are bit more chill in other areas.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I did Home Care in some of the worst neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago.

My patients and their families would watch out for me. I had one patient whose next door neighbor always "just happened" to be sweeping his stoop when I made a visit.

I had one patient who was fairly important in the gang hierarchy. I made it clear that I never wanted to encounter anything I would have to swear to in court-when I made a visit, his lieutenants would nod to me as they exited his apartment.

I did my job, got in and out, held my head up when I was walking. One patient told me, "If it wasn't for visiting nurses, we wouldn't have any kind of good care."

As opposed to the rich family who expected me to come in the servant's entrance and take off my shoes.

[Libby1987]

Any class/individual that thinks it's reasonable to pitch a fit over an imperfect latte is likely to be over-demanding anywhere they go and it seems like it's becoming more pervasive. Anyone watch the recent South Park's *Yelper* episode?

I've worked for years in a non diverse middle to occasional upper middle class community and most are notably appreciative and respectful.

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

As an African-American female, I think the answer in many of your experiences has less to do with racial/ethnic background and more to do with social class.

Many of the people in upscale parts of Florida (Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, et al.) are wealthy and view nurses as servants and chambermaids. However, in my personal experience, the undereducated and the working poor often hold nurses in high esteem.

I am now an RN with a BSN, but started out as an LVN. My family of origin is not very educated or college-fluent, so to them, earning an LVN license is like becoming a doctor. However, families who are well educated and higher on the social class hierarchy might frown down upon any nursing license because they may view it as beneath them.

These are just my conjectures. Use them as you please.

I agree with you for the most part. I have worked in areas of Florida where people certainly come from money and nurses are considered servants. I have worked with white people that come from rich,poor , middle class and it's still the same demanding disrespectful treatment. Where I work now in MIami is almost all minorities. On occasion we get a white pt/family transfer from another hospital like Orlando or Palm Beach and they walk in the door complaining. The last white family I received from Orlando reported me for failure to set up their wifi and failure to make hotel arrangements for the family!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I can't say that I've had the same experience. And while I do agree that economic status can be a factor, behavior varies wildly- even within each economic group. I get educated, well-off patients who are very pleasant. I also get patients who roll off the street with nothing, but feel they deserve the golden sun on a platter.

Your question is the weirdest sort of "compliment" ...I wonder how well it would have gone over if you'd asked why white people were so respectful and minorities were not.