yet another paper i need help with

pricklypear · May 21, 2005

I don't think I have ever given any thought to the aspect of minorities in nursing. The only personal experience I have had is with nurses for whom English was a second language. This poor girl was from a very poor country (I cannot for the life of me remember where). She had been given some sort of scholarship for nursing d/t her grades in HS. Her country sent her to another country to train, then sent her to the US for a year to work through some exchange program. She had never been given any English instruction at all. All she knew was what she picked up when she got here.

She was a fine nurse, but the language barrier was a huge problem. Especially with doctors. I can't remember how many times she came to me with the phone and asked me to speak to some doctor because he was mad since he couldn't understand her. I finally started making her calls for her. At the time, we worked with a lot of doctors with very thick accents and broken English - and boy, did they get angry when WE couldn't understand THEM.

I don't know if that has any bearing on what you are writing about! But as far as other minorities, I would think that the area would make a huge difference - just like with any other job or profession. What about focusing your paper on the minority situation in your state/area?

GrnHonu99, RN · May 21, 2005

I don't think I have ever given any thought to the aspect of minorities in nursing. The only personal experience I have had is with nurses for whom English was a second language. This poor girl was from a very poor country (I cannot for the life of me remember where). She had been given some sort of scholarship for nursing d/t her grades in HS. Her country sent her to another country to train, then sent her to the US for a year to work through some exchange program. She had never been given any English instruction at all. All she knew was what she picked up when she got here.
She was a fine nurse, but the language barrier was a huge problem. Especially with doctors. I can't remember how many times she came to me with the phone and asked me to speak to some doctor because he was mad since he couldn't understand her. I finally started making her calls for her. At the time, we worked with a lot of doctors with very thick accents and broken English - and boy, did they get angry when WE couldn't understand THEM.
I don't know if that has any bearing on what you are writing about! But as far as other minorities, I would think that the area would make a huge difference - just like with any other job or profession. What about focusing your paper on the minority situation in your state/area?

i know this is my problem as well...i never gave it much thought...my group picked the topic..sigh...think along the lines of men in nursing, do we do a good job recruiting them, what do we do to encourage them into the nursing profession, what dont we do that encourages them...its easier to use men but of course my group wants to do minorities...

MistyDawnRN06, BSN, RN · May 21, 2005

I know that recruiting nurses from the Phillipines is a big issue in nursing right now due to nursing shortages. I'm sure it would be easy to find info on that online.

Some colleges still practice affirmative action - accepting minorities over the majority. Some colleges practice a non-spoken affirmative action.

Maybe you could find some stats on minority enrollment rates for nursing schools. I don't know about minority employment. I know there are minority scholarships available.

This may help:

http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/mar-apr-04/ar030411.pdf

stidget99 · May 21, 2005

My only problem w/ minorities in nursing is the huge communication barrier. It affects every aspect of nursing..from bedside, to nurse-doc interactions, to nurse-nurse interactions. I honestly believe that it definitely compromises pt care when English is a second language.

GrnHonu99, RN · May 21, 2005

My only problem w/ minorities in nursing is the huge communication barrier. It affects every aspect of nursing..from bedside, to nurse-doc interactions, to nurse-nurse interactions. I honestly believe that it definitely compromises pt care when English is a second language.

yes this is a good point, in fact, i think i started a thread about this awhile ago, about a korean girl in my class who didnt understand english...anyway..what i really meant was more a long the lines of african americans and such...not really non native speakers allthough that may make a good topic....

GrnHonu99, RN · May 21, 2005

I know that recruiting nurses from the Phillipines is a big issue in nursing right now due to nursing shortages. I'm sure it would be easy to find info on that online.
Some colleges still practice affirmative action - accepting minorities over the majority. Some colleges practice a non-spoken affirmative action.
Maybe you could find some stats on minority enrollment rates for nursing schools. I don't know about minority employment. I know there are minority scholarships available.
This may help:
http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/mar-apr-04/ar030411.pdf

thanks! this is very helpful...the only thing i could think of was minority scholarships...gee i hope the other ppl in my group have more t han i do lol....

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · May 21, 2005

I go to school with many native Africans and a problem can be communication, biased testing.

Communication because no one seems to have a whole lot of time to take to interpret something for them. Its a shame because these are smart people who are having a hard time because of the new testing format (where they are used to essay style tests they must now do multiple choice and it hurts them at first). They can also have a hard time with studying since some may not be as fluent in english as others.

Another bias problem comes when people who arn't as fluent in english have to answer a question in multiple choice format in under a minute. It can take them longer to read the english and may not get in the answer in the time limit but may know their stuff nursing wise.

GrnHonu99, RN · May 22, 2005

I go to school with many native Africans and a problem can be communication, biased testing.
Communication because no one seems to have a whole lot of time to take to interpret something for them. Its a shame because these are smart people who are having a hard time because of the new testing format (where they are used to essay style tests they must now do multiple choice and it hurts them at first). They can also have a hard time with studying since some may not be as fluent in english as others.
Another bias problem comes when people who arn't as fluent in english have to answer a question in multiple choice format in under a minute. It can take them longer to read the english and may not get in the answer in the time limit but may know their stuff nursing wise.

wow good point!! actually in my undergrad as a psych/soc major we talked quite a bit about standardized testing and how most of the SAT's and whatnot are aimed at the middle class white student! SO...great point!

I am having such a hard time with this paper...just coming up with some ideas...there has to be some minority nurses out there (besides me lol since obviously im no help to myself) who have felt some bias trying to get into our field or maybe the oppisite..felt it was easier for you to get in? anything you guys have ill take!

pricklypear · May 22, 2005

I can understand why you are having such a problem! We all have heard of the lack of minority representation in other professions like law enforcement, teaching...but not nursing. I have only lived in, and been really exposed to nursing culture in 2 states so my view is not very wide. But I think maybe something is going on because in both states I have noticed something. In Arizona, the Hispanic population is not really such a minority anymore, but I guess they're still considered one. Anyway, there seem to be a higher percentage of Hispanic ancillary staff than nurses. In Kansas, there seems to be a higher percentage of black ancillary staff. Why is that? Is something keeping them away from nursing school? Is it financial? Are they discouraged either outwardly or culturally by something? Maybe the only way to find out would be to poll minority ancillary staff. See, now I'm interested... Maybe start a thread for minority ancillary staff. Ask them if they want to continue to nursing school : why or why not. A thread for minority nurses - ask them if noticed any hurdles on their way to nursing school or in school that their non-minority peers didn't have. Maybe some started out for nursing, but were discouraged by something or someone.

nurse_wannabe · May 22, 2005

Minorities in nursing is a very broad theme, and in my opinion, will be difficult subject matter. You probably won't find much written info. I guess I would start at my local hospital and LTC facilities. Find nurses who are considered "minority," and see if they would mind scheduling an interview at their convenience. You could even take their phone # and call them at home later, or type up a bunch of surveys and tell them you will pick them up the next day. Keep it simple... have your questions prepared in advance. Ask them about things that are relevant to the angle you wish to take with your paper. A few examples would be: "Have you ever felt as though you were passed up for a promotion/pay raise because of your ethnic background?" "Have you ever felt that you received extra rewards because of your ethnicity?" "Do you feel that coworkers or patients respond to you differently than they do majority nurses?" "How did your family respond when you told them you were going to be a nurse?" "Did you feel you were treated any better or worse than your non-minority classmates in school?" Just sit down with your group and have a brainstorming session of questions to ask. Assign each member a facility or floor of the hospital to canvas. It looks like there are a few organizations set up specifically for minority nurses. I found a few websites but I have not looked at them in detail:

http://www.minoritynurse.com/

http://www.ncemna.org/

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MJU/is_4_10/ai_113304787 (looks like a good one)

http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/diversityfaq.php (very informative)

http://www.minoritynurse.com/about/magazine.html Magazine published for minority nurses. Here you can see if any schools or medical facilities near you get the magazine. Also check your local library.

I hope this helps a little. Good luck!

GrnHonu99, RN · May 22, 2005

Minorities in nursing is a very broad theme, and in my opinion, will be difficult subject matter. You probably won't find much written info. I guess I would start at my local hospital and LTC facilities. Find nurses who are considered "minority," and see if they would mind scheduling an interview at their convenience. You could even take their phone # and call them at home later, or type up a bunch of surveys and tell them you will pick them up the next day. Keep it simple... have your questions prepared in advance. Ask them about things that are relevant to the angle you wish to take with your paper. A few examples would be: "Have you ever felt as though you were passed up for a promotion/pay raise because of your ethnic background?" "Have you ever felt that you received extra rewards because of your ethnicity?" "Do you feel that coworkers or patients respond to you differently than they do majority nurses?" "How did your family respond when you told them you were going to be a nurse?" "Did you feel you were treated any better or worse than your non-minority classmates in school?" Just sit down with your group and have a brainstorming session of questions to ask. Assign each member a facility or floor of the hospital to canvas. It looks like there are a few organizations set up specifically for minority nurses. I found a few websites but I have not looked at them in detail:
http://www.minoritynurse.com/
http://www.ncemna.org/
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MJU/is_4_10/ai_113304787 (looks like a good one)
http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/diversityfaq.php (very informative)
http://www.minoritynurse.com/about/magazine.html Magazine published for minority nurses. Here you can see if any schools or medical facilities near you get the magazine. Also check your local library.
I hope this helps a little. Good luck!

I agree, i wish I could change it but my group is set..blah...so let me phrase it this way...

its more of a debate than anything along with another debate i have to do as well...sigh...

The profession of nursing welcomes minorities into nursing

The profession of nursing discourages minorities from entering the profession

i need points that support both of those...so far i have nothing...i cant find many articles either...