Discrimination Experienced in the Nursing Profession by Minority Nurses: Fifty True Stories from Nurses in New York City

By Melvina Semper DNP

Even in todays diverse world, discrimination unfortunately still occurs on the street, in schools, and in the workplace. In her compilation of fifty true stories, Dr. Melvina Semper provides a disheartening look into the experiences of twenty-first-century minority student nurses and practicing nurses working in New York City hospitals.
Dr. Semper, who holds three nursing degrees, interviewed fifty nurses whose personal stories reveal the ill treatment and lack of promotion, diversity, moral support, and other barriers students and nurses must face on the job. From the Hispanic nurse whose patient requested that only a white nurse care for her, to the Russian nurse who was only allowed to work night shifts, to the minority nurse who witnessed an accidental patient death and then was told not to talk about it by her white managers, Dr. Semper not only shares real-life stories but also highlights the need for stricter laws, enforcement of affirmative action, and the regulation of health care facilities to eradicate racisms at all levels.
Discrimination Experienced in the Nursing Profession by Minority Nurses offers eye-opening stories that will create awareness of the obstacles, racism, and discrimination that minority student nurses and practicing nurses face while working in New York City hospitals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491797525

Melvina Semper DNP

Melvina Semper earned a bachelor of science in nursing, a master’s degree in nursing, and a doctorate in clinical nursing practice. After nine years at the bedside as a nurse, she began teaching several college courses, including critical care nursing, medical surgical nursing, and leadership nursing. The mother of two lives in New York City.

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Copyright © 2016 Melvina Semper.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-9751-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-9752-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016910745

iUniverse rev. date:   08/09/2016

Contents

Preface

Story # 1   Only a White Nurse to Care for White Patients

Story # 2   State, Local, and City Officials Fail to Protect Minority Nurses from Racism and Discriminations on the Job

Story # 3   An Act of Homegrown Discrimination Conquered by Love

Story # 4   Inhumane Treatment toward Minority Nurses

Story # 5   Racism and Discrimination Contribute to the Nursing Shortage

Story # 6   A Minority Nurse’s Simple Solutions to Eradicate Racism and Discrimination

Story # 7   Lack of Diversity and Increased Prejudice on the Job for Minority Nurses

Story # 8   Widespread Racism in Nursing Schools and on Minority Nurses in the Workplace

Story # 9   Minority Nurses Frequently Passed Over for Promotion despite Being Adequately Qualified

Story # 10   A Minority Nurse Took Her Discrimination Case to Court

Story # 11   Underrepresentation for Minority Nurses

Story # 12   A Nursing Student’s Exposure to Racism

Story # 13   A Workforce without Diversity Is Destructive to the Nursing Profession

Story # 14   A Nurse’s Constant Fight against Racism

Story # 15   The Effects of Racism in the Nursing Profession

Story # 16   A Nurse’s Story to Create Awareness of Racism and Discrimination

Story # 17   The Power of a Nurse Advocate

Story # 18   How White Nurse Managers Plot to Mistreat Minority Nurses

Story # 19   Messages of Racism Sent to Patients

Story # 20   The Lack of Diversity in New York City Hospitals

Story # 21   How Racism and Discrimination Violate the Principles of the Nursing Profession

Story # 22   Removing Obstacles in Nursing Practice

Story # 23   Using Faith to Overcome Racism on the Job

Story # 24   Failure of Local, State, and EEOC Officials to Fight Discrimination on the Job

Story # 25   A Minority Nurse’s Experience of Racism and Discrimination in the Workplace

Story # 26   How Qualified Minority Nurses Are Constantly Passed Over for Promotion

Story # 27   No Equality in the Workplace for Minority Nurses

Story # 28   A Call for Minority Nurses to Take on Managerial Roles

Story # 29   Turning Racism and Discrimination into Positive Ventures

Story # 30   A Minority Nurse’s Love for the Nursing Profession

Story # 31   Minority Nurses Continue to Fight for Equality and Justice in the Workplace

Story # 32   Tough Road Ahead for Newly Graduated Minority Nursing Students

Story # 33   How Lawsuits Can Bring about Change in Racism

Story # 34   A Minority Nurse’s Experience of Being Passed Over for Promotion

Story # 35   Managerial Positions Given to Unqualified or Less Qualified White Nurses

Story # 36   How Racism Contributes to My Dislike for the Nursing Profession

Story # 37   The Destructive Effects of Racism on the Nursing Profession

Story # 38   Why New Nurses Don’t Stay on the Job

Story # 39   Experiences of Other Minority Nurses

Story # 40   Finding My True Passion within the Nursing Profession

Story # 41   Lack of Respect for Minority Nurses and Patients

Story # 42   A Minority Nurse Discusses Her Discouragement with the Nursing Profession

Story # 43   Minority Nurses with Advanced Practicing Degrees Are on the Rise

Story # 44   Planting Seeds of Racism in Nursing Schools

Story # 45   How Minority Nurses Fight to Remove Racism from the Workplace

Story # 46   Shared Experiences of Some Minority Nurses

Story # 47   Institutional Racism and Injustice against Minority Nurses

Story # 48   Harsh Disciplinary Actions Taken against Minority Nurses Compared to White Nurses

Story # 49   Always Strive for Success and Be the Best You Can Be

Story # 50   A Diversified Workforce Produces Great Success

Conclusion

About the Author

To all the minority nurses who bravely shared their stories for the many years they have been abused, wrongfully terminated, experienced discrimination, passed over for promotion, underrepresented (and still are) in New York City hospitals, and also to the prospective nurses—to demonstrate to them that achieving your goals and dreams is within reach. When those who are ignorant put obstacles in your way, find that inner strength and remove those obstacles to continue on your path to great things. To those who shared their stories, kudos to you. Be strong, and never give up the fight. You are brilliant, smart, and educated. Finally, to my two children, Bilthorne and Elora, as well as my four grandchildren, who inspire me and ignite that spark within me to focus on social changes so they may live in a world of peace, equality, and justice for all.

Preface

This book contains fifty true stories of the experiences of minority nurses working in New York City hospitals. Its purpose is to create awareness and identify how racism and discrimination in the workplace affect minority nurses and the fabric of the nursing profession. This book reveals the ill treatment and lack of promotion, diversity, and moral support and other barriers minority nursing students and practicing nurses face on the job while working in New York City hospitals. Minority nurses are severely underrepresented within the health care setting in New York City in the twenty-first century. It highlights the need for strict laws, the enforcement of affirmative action, and the regulation of health care facilities to eradicate racism and discrimination minority nurses encounter in the workplace. Attention to these concerns is crucial at all local and state levels, as well as within New York State’s Office of professional services.

Are you a minority nurse working in the community, nursing schools, or a hospital or nursing home setting in New York City? Have you experienced racism or discrimination on the job? Have you ever been passed over for promotion just because you are a minority nurse? Did you have the qualifications for a job and instead it was given to a white nurse less qualified? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this book is for you to explore.

I was compelled to write this book to create awareness for all minority nurses in nursing schools and actively practicing as well as retired minority nurses. Throughout my nursing career as a registered nurse in New York City, I have experienced positive experiences, as well as negative ones. However, as I pursue my nursing career and have the opportunity to meet and work with many minority nurses, their struggles and the injustices they face in the workplace are becoming obvious. It is extremely difficult for me to turn a deaf ear to the many stories of