I am in the bible belt south and I am asian I need advice?

I am in the nursing field. you know how that is as it is already with women gossiping (as I've heard).. I am a new nurse who was assigned to a specialty floor with a blond nurse (much older than I ) who was showing me the ropes. She was at first unpleasant and when I didn't fire back but simply bowed my head in some despair within the first 30 minutes of meeting, she gave me a smile and said, "C'mon I'll show you around". When i arrived on the unit, the other (all white females) were not very open-appearing, but looking at me with narrowed apertures. I couldn't help but feel, "well, aren't there any asian or black nurses here?" I found one black female girl who was a nursing assistant. Well, I am friendly, but I disliked the sorority feel to the unit in which the ladies were exchanging rather explicit sex jokes and talking about having been laid the night before, and who in the hospital (including patient's family) was hot, etc. The nurse was sharing her sex life and asking me.

Well, to an extent, I felt she was of a vivacious personality, so I just simply replied the truth--I am not seeing anyone, don't really care to at the moment. She further asked if I married, kids? I answered, no kids no marriage desired. Well, I am new to this kind of environments and just replied within the context of a trust of this kind of intimate conversation. She shared so much readily with me and she openly talked about her sex life and her desires for this person and that openly to other nurses.
I am pretty serious at work and felt it was a distraction, but told her I appreciated her showing me around.

But at the end of the day, I felt so drained--emotionally. I felt like she put herself out there, but I was an entirely opposite person who didn't have anything in common with her. My main objective today was to learn some skills necessary to be a safe practitioner; socializing in a sorority enviroment was difficult! I regret I even opened my mouth at all.

Hi,

Hmmm...this sounds familiar. I also live in the "bible belt"- NC (although from CA). I've worked in the nursing profession for a long time (as CNA & RN), so I can relate to what you are saying here. The politics & gossip bu11sh1t is one big reason I left it for a while (I now work as a Teacher Asst- long story- but studying to go back into the nursing field). And the training is often innadequate for what they expect of you & not always what they say they will give you.

I'm not ethnic, but "different" in ways that makes me stand out from many, so I've experienced some of what you describe (you might call it discrimination). I've found that most people probably don't really try to make you feel bad, but some do. And I don't like to adhere to narrow-mindedness, such as what you described of your new colleagues.

If that is truly the way your new mentors behaved, it is unprofessional & immature. It sounds like they were rude & disrespectful to you as a new nurse & as someone of differing ethnicity. Being a new nurse can be very scary- maybe they have forgotten what it felt like. Being a minority, in a new job, can feel uncomfortable, & intimidating if it feels like you are not accepted. Maybe this sort of behavior is their way of coping, but I can see how you may have regretted disclosing information.

Some people are ignorant. Even some nurses can be ignorant, though most are (probably) not. Many nurses are compassionate & caring, w/ very high principles of how to treat people. I've met many terrific nurses, including one outstanding preceptor.

Good for you for choosing to be a nurse. Don't let petty, small-mindedness thwart your pursuit of what might turn out to be a wonderful career choice for you. Be yourself & stick to your own principles if they are what you value. And remember- part of good nursing is learning to be somewhat tolerant of the jerks in the world. Also remember why you chose to be a nurse in the 1st place- because you care! So try to focus on your patients that you can help. As for co-workers, acknowledge the people who treat you right & try to forget about the ones who don鈥檛.

You are welcome & I'm glad that I could help. Report It

Thanks again for your thoughtful comment in the newer post! You are a kind heart and best wishes when you too resume nursing!! we really need sincere and kind people in that field and I know you'd agree... Best to you Report It

Hey, just pretend to agree with anything they say. Next, start your own website or "blog" on blogger.com (anonymous) and write what you REALLY think on there! You will get the satisfaction of having a gossip site featuring these people! If you want, change their names. Everytime somthing horrible happens at work, just say "hmmm... more stuff for my blog!"

Report it to your supervisor.

So what's the question? You are in the big bad world. You are going to have to adjust to your surroundings. You sound like you have white trash peers. Good luck.

I don't know - maybe give them a break. I talk about that kind of stuff with my girlfriends all the time. Maybe in a few weeks they'll warm up to you and vice verse.

However, if you feel some racial discrimination, that's another story. I couldn't imagine being the only person of a particular race at a new job. It would be uncomfortable. I hope they open their eyes and hire people that represent our country as a whole. Good Luck!

If I were you I'd give the job and community a short grace period and if it doesn't improve radically, leave. Come to Southern California where minorities are accepted and Asians are a large and very respected minority. Nurses are in short supply and you will get many job offers. Leave the Bible Belters to their ignorance.

You may just ignore the vlger jokes and narrowed apertures.

I feel you. I'm "ethnic" in a field (nursing!!) that does not represent my ethnicity. Hold you head up high and be proud of who you are and where you come from--even if it's not mainstream, understood, or respected. I'm not saying being snobby, just strong. Don't compromise your values just because others are quick to flaunt their lack of them.