NursingStatement.com
by Dr. Robert Edinger
Helping Nurses Since 1995 
drrobertedinger@gmail.com

Being A Black Nurse | Racism and Racial Discrimination We've Seen and Faced | Our Stories
 

Being a Black nurse comes with its own set of challenges, including facing racism and racial discrimination both within and outside the healthcare system. Black nurses often encounter various forms of bias, stereotypes, and systemic issues that can impact their professional experiences and patient care. Here are some perspectives that shed light on these challenges:

 

Microaggressions and Stereotyping:

Black nurses frequently experience micro-aggressions, which are subtle, indirect, or unintentional acts of discrimination. These might include comments like, "You're so articulate for a Black person," implying surprise that a Black nurse can communicate well. Such remarks undermine their professional competence based on racial stereotypes.

 

Unequal Treatment:

Black nurses have reported instances where they feel their opinions and decisions are seen as having less value than that of white colleagues, by colleagues and superiors. This can negatively affect patient care and lead to a lack of trust within the healthcare team.

 

Patient Prejudice:

Black nurses might encounter patients who refuse their care based on race. This situation is emotionally distressing and can affect the nurse's sense of professional fulfillment and purpose. Constantly facing discrimination and bias can take a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of Black nurses. They might experience stress, burnout, and even leave the profession due to these challenges.

 

Advocacy and Resilience:

Despite the challenges, many Black nurses are resolute advocates for change. They actively work to address racial disparities in healthcare, improve cultural competency training, and create more inclusive environments within healthcare institutions.

 

It's crucial to address these issues within the healthcare system. Steps can include implementing diversity and inclusion training, creating safe spaces for open discussions about racism, ensuring fair promotion and leadership opportunities, and continuously working towards eliminating healthcare disparities based on race.

A conversation between Yeti, Aldina, Sheba, and Abby represents a range of experiences, and while they highlight challenges, they also underscore the resilience, strength, and determination of Black nurses in the face of adversity.

So, we are going to talk about what it is like being a black nurse in the racism that we face.
Aldina is a radiation Oncology registered nurse. Abiola works in medicine and Sheva works in long-term care. So how was everyone's experience or journey through nursing school? Did you guys face racism? Someone said she was lucky to not experience it in school. Like nothing from my professors, nothing that was outright like, I am treating you like this because you are Black. But I did see a clinical instructor. I had a classmate, who is from China, and he is learning English as a second language, so it is not the absolute best, but it has gotten him so far in nursing. He finished. He graduated, so he knows enough. This clinical instructor was, I guess, he was talking to her and giving a report or something, and she got so annoyed with him. She is like, you do not even speak good English. Do you think you are going to make it in Canada if you do not speak good English? That day I was like, no, but hold on, wait. But how is your Mandarin, though? Yes, how is your Mandarin?

Sheba thinks that there are distinct levels or layers of racism. She said that one of the things that she really noticed was in school, for example, she saw that there was a bias towards white skin. People do not notice it. For her, she was one of two Black people in her program. She said, I remember we would be doing skin and we would be doing different skin conditions. Well, excuse me, teacher, how would that look on me? They would be like, well, it would look red. I am like, Red? It is like they are not informed. They do not know. They do not know, and they are teaching us. It is like you are teaching us how to care for everybody, but really, we are only taught how to care for a certain race in a sense, because if you're teaching me how to see this particular skin condition or how to treat this person, it doesn't really work with everybody. Everybody, yes. I think that just the overall experience of going to school really opened my eyes to the everyday experiences of racism.

Abby recounts that one day in clinical this nurse came up to me, and she was like, are you the nurse that I cannot pronounce her name? I look and I am like, Excuse me? She is like, Are you a man? I am like, my name is Abby. She is like, oh, sorry, then I am not looking for you. I am looking for the muscle lady. I was just like... This was in public. She is saying this. She is not even trying to hide this. Where do we even start? Are we talking about coworkers, clinical instructors, or even our colleagues? It was not easy. Honestly, it is awful. I faced it frequently. I was shocked. When I was at the hospital, there was one lady who had issues with one patient, and I really did not know what was going on. But my manager switched us. Now, it was his nurse. I went in and he is like, Oh, great, another Black person. I just turned and walked away. The fact that you already dislike me because I am Black, is a problem. A month ago, when we were working together, and I came to help, that was not my unit, and someone said, oh, you cannot help me because you are Black. I was like, what is it about my skin that affects you?

Where I am, it is white, and they do not know anything about Black people. Some even think we are all Muslim. When I came to Canada, I had dreadlocks. I am sitting in class. I am just trying to get my education. And then behind me, I just feel a... But what? Just a... What is that? I never understood those thoughts. And then she is like, I am so sorry. I really wanted to touch them. No! Can you walk up to a stranger and want to touch their hair? And then I cut them off. Now I have an afro.

Do you know? I have had a, where are you from question. Oh, that question? Where are you from? I do not know. Where are you really from? I am from Ottawa. Because when you say, I am from Ottawa. They will say No, no, no, where are you really from? I get a, where are your parents from? Because I am like, my parents are from what? I am a first-generation immigrant of whoever is going to come from me.
But then because I know what you mean, I know what you are asking me, ‘Why are you in Canada’? I am sorry. You are saying like, why are you in Canada and you are not this complexion? I am just like, oh, I am from here. They are like, oh, but where are your parents from? What type of black are you?
I am like, Oh, like Bahamian. They are like, Oh, but what about your grandparents? I am like, Oh, Nova Scotia. And I am like, do you mean slaves? I do not know.

I am usually like, oh, I am from Kenya. You are like, oh, is that in Africa? I am like, yes. And they are like, Oh. Yeah, I try to be nice, because I understand they want to be nice and learn more about me, but it comes across not very well. One of my patients thought I was related to one of the corrupt people in my country. He saw me and he was like, where are you from? I am like Angola. He is like, Oh. They are stuff that was like you all of you are like, cousins. And I am just like, just because I am a lighter. I do not think I have ever met her. No. I know a lot about your country, and I am like, that is amazing.

Somebody outright said to one of my colleagues, I do not want a nurse without a hijab because I want to see your face. But you do see their face. I want to see my nurse's face, and I am like... Wow.
It is like - You're seeing their hair has nothing to do with how well they are going to do their job, right? My face does not affect how I do my job. My religion does not affect me keeping you alive. But I have a question, though said Yeti? How do you guys react to when racist comments are being made, I'm a very outspoken person. I will call you out on it. I know we like to blame dementia, but the ones who have this sickness aside, those who are conscious of what they are doing, what do you all say?

Well, the first time it happened to me, I felt like maybe because I was still a new nurse, I really did not say anything. I just walked out, and I said, I cannot do this. But the time when that patient said I could not help her, I was outspoken about it, and other people did not like that. It is interesting because she had wanted me to get her a white nurse, and I said, no. And other staff members were like, no, you need to cater to her needs. I am like, you want me to get someone else who is doing another job when I can do the exact same job because I am Black? I cannot do it because I am Black. I could not. I had to speak up and be like, can I go home? Well, the first time it happened to me, I was shocked because I came from somewhere where everybody's Black. I am not dealing with racial problems. I am dealing with whatever other problems we have, and like tribal. But then when I came here, I realized that it is the color of my skin that you do not like. Because by the time you get to know someone's tribe, you really like to research the person. But here you are just judging me based on the color of my skin, and you have decided that I am not good enough. The first time it happened, I freaked out. I did not say anything. The second time it happened; I was giving her care, and then halfway through the care, she changed her mind. She was like, I do not want a colored person to do my care. I said, Okay, peace and blessings to you, beloved. You hang in there, sweetheart. You hang in there, right? And then she was like, no, no, I am fairly sure I can find a white nurse. But on that day, there was none. She was stuck with me. Then she came back to me, and she was like, well, I guess. I will take you. I guess. I do not know. As I was doing it, I was like hurt. You cannot treat someone like that and then expect them to be okay with continuing to help you or to care for you. I know that this is the profession that I chose, but this is a human being working in that profession. We are in the caring profession, but that does not mean that you can treat me any type of way.

Notice that when they see us as Black people, we cannot be the nurse? There is no way we are the nurse. Are you housekeeping? All the time. Are you this? I am the nurse. Yeah, I am the nurse. I am the nurse. I am the nurse. They are like, Oh. I see. It is like they assume for some reason we cannot be the nurse. We have to be the PSW or the kitchen help, or something, anything, non-professional.

Like I just want to be in the position where I get that manager position to just be able to be inclusive and be like Yo, this is not how things are going to work on this unit. We need more Black males, and more Black women here. Because right now, we are being taught, or we are being managed by people who don't know where we come from. It is hard to even talk to them about it.