Why do minorities have more respect for nurses?

[Runman1914]

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!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I wonder what the reaction of people would be to a thread titled "Minorities make the Worst patients!"

Accusations of racism no doubt.

And, might I mention again that S Florida is not mainstream America. The cultural mix there is rather unique. Your well off sector consists of a good percentage of pushy New Yorkers.

The whole premise of this thread is offensive.

I read the first page and honestly thought I just wasn't getting it.

I thought it was a tongue in cheek thread, and I'm notorious for not getting the joke.

Then I figured out that posters were serious. That making negative blanket statements about a segment of the population is ok, as long as it's the majority.

Or making positive blanket statements are ok as long as it's the minority.

I'm not sure which one is more insulting.

[MsQueensRN, LPN, LVN]

I've had disrespectful homeless patients and adoring rich patients, honestly I think it just depends on the person. I've had people who initially thought it was appropriate to yell at me for attempting to administer a dose of insulin at the beginning of my shift later apologize and offer to give me all the money in their pocket because of my kindness ( of course I didn't take it). Sometimes people suck, sometimes people are frustrated with being in the hospital and you happen to be the one who's there. I don't really read too much into it. I usually just kill them with kindness and by the end of my twelve hour shift they are either apologizing and thankful or they don't say anything at all because they have nothing to be mad about. At least I know that I remained professional and they can't say I did anything wrong.

[mtmt99]

This has not been my experience at all. I work in an area where the demographic is majority African American, and many of the patients are lovely. However....I am commonly treated badly by minority patients who frequently comment on my race. I have been told "I hate white people" called an "old, ugly-ass white woman" cursed at, hit, spit on, and yelled at. I have seen no difference in rudeness or lack rudeness in particular racial groups. This is a daily occurrence by people who view nurses as their personal handservants.. To some degree I blame the whole "customer" mindset of hospitals which place the patient experience above the safety and well-being of staff. This encourages patients to expect "service" as opposed to healthcare.

[DrVen1]

Nurses have status similar to doctors in a lot of overseas countries. In many cases they are the doctors! My husband is from Africa and over there becoming a nurse is almost like a status symbol...so that could be a huge reason ☺️

[DrVen1]

The attitudes of African Americans towards Caucasians are completely different from that of West Indians, Africans and other people of color not born in America. The latter tend to (not always) have a better view of Caucasians. I'm sorry you had to experience this..there's no excuse for that type of behavior. NONE. í ½í¸‘í ½í¸‘

[Tex.]

Nurses have status similar to doctors in a lot of overseas countries. In many cases they are the doctors! My husband is from Africa and over there becoming a nurse is almost like a status symbol...so that could be a huge reason ☺️

My coworkers from Africa tell me that a nurse is about as low as one can get, and they the only people that go to nursing school are the ones that couldn't "cut it" at university. I was, and am still, shocked at that statement. But, they still catch A LOT of flack for being a nurse from their people back at home.

[Tex.]

Perhaps it's regional?

[DrVen1]

It could be regional. A lot of my husbands relatives are nurses and it's a big deal. Of course everyone is encouraged to get the highest level of education possible. My husband and his aunt uncle and cousin are all doctors....

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

Perhaps it's regional?

I think you're right

[Trilldayz,RN BSN]

The attitudes of African Americans towards Caucasians are completely different from that of West Indians, Africans and other people of color not born in America. The latter tend to (not always) have a better view of Caucasians. I'm sorry you had to experience this..there's no excuse for that type of behavior. NONE. ������������

And why do you think AAs might have a negative view of Caucasians? I think the history and current climate of the nation in regards to racial inequality *just* might play a role.

[DrVen1]

I think it's a combination of racial inequality both real and perceived and also lack of exposure---on both sides. You'd be surprised at how many AAs and Caucasians rarely interact with each other...in this day and age it still happens..

[Trilldayz,RN BSN]

i can agree with that. But i can't say it's truly 50/50 when it comes to the interactions between whites and minorities.. Usually it's whites who tend to "separate" themselves from the "others" than the other way around. One group chooses not to interact by choice, while other don't interact by force (figuratively and literally).

But yeah, anyway, let me get off my soapbox! hahaha