A subtle discrimination
By ingrid
@ridingbet (66857)
Philippines
August 7, 2017 6:26am CST
Have you witnessed a subtle discrimination? I have. This morning, 2 newly-hired nurses came to the ward accompanied by the nurse III supervisor, who was the former clinical coordinator of our college of nursing. Ms. LC, the nurse III brought the 2 nurses and endorsed them to the senior nurse-on-duty.
The other staff nurses looked at these 2 RNs (registered nurses) from head to foot, and one of them (staff nurses) asked where these 2 graduated their nursing degrees from. When one of the RNs answered in her native/vernacular dialect, the staff nurses laughed softly. The RN blushed.
The staff NODs (nurses on duty) speak good Pilipino language, so they should not laugh at the newly hired RNs. They were showing discrimination already.
I approached the 2 RNs and gave them assurance that we are all Pinoys after all, and we have our own distinct manner of communication, whether in English, Filipino, or in our regional languages or dialects, and NO ONE, should ever show discrimination to us.
This is my own personal opinion.
14 people like this
15 responses
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
7 Aug 17
When I was a University student, I went on a one month vacation in Manila and a friend of my cousin's sort of looked down on as I was a probinsyana. But I surely showed him how educated I was compared to him.
4 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
@Letranknight2015 Yes there's even class racism. The middle class people usually look down on the lower class. Especially the newly rich ones.
2 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (51556)
• Philippines
7 Aug 17
It's a shame really, even in our country we have discrimination and racism @toniganzon
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
there are many probinsyanas who are well-educated, so i believe those who are in the big cities should not look down on us. i also studied here in our province, and i am an alumnus of St,. Paul College (now university), from grade 1 to college.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
why should i, i am not a regular employee of the hospital. they have a nurse supervisor to call their attention or reprimand them.
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
8 Aug 17
I would have called out those who laughed immediately. There is no room for discrimination at work or anywhere for that matter.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
yes, i should do that if only i am a regular employee of the hospital, but we are visitors because i am an instructor of the college of nursing, and the hospital is a tertiary training hospital.
these nurses are already regular nurses, N1 and senior nurses, while the 2 are JO nurses.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i agree. i am older than most of the staff nurses and i think i have the right to espress my thoughts, but not derogatory of course.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
thank you, but i cannot just say my grievances because i am not a regular employee of the health institution. i still have to tell my observation to the nurse-supervisor, which i did yesterday.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
yes, and yesterday, one of the 2 RNs had her duty in the substation where i got the patients for my students to handle, and she was so appreciative of what i did.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34730)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
I agree! No discrimination should be shown since we are in one country and are Filipino.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51556)
• Philippines
7 Aug 17
Maybe She herself is ignorant and not open minded to other Nurse whos from another place. What did they say?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i did not talk to these nurses. they should act professionally though.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i agree. and it should not be a basis of how a region is improving, or remote.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i don't think the other nurses heard me, because i talked to these 2 when they left the nurses' station. yes, discrimination is present everywhere.
1 person likes this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
7 Aug 17
@ridingbet - Ms Ingrid - I can imagine the reaction those nurses would have had if I were there in front of them, trying to talk in Tagalog... I am still trying to learn how to do just that. Note: they would be laughing at me even to today... -Gus-
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i think it will be understandable because you are not a native Filipino, am i right? unless you are one, and you are from a remote place in our country, but still, it is not nice to laugh at someone else's manner of speaking.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
7 Aug 17
Good for you that you were kind and supportive to the new nurses. They should be respected.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
thank you. i was once a newly graduate nurse, so i know the feeling. i am not even fluent in speaking the main dialect of my place, and when i speak, the other native speakers laugh.
@AkoPinay (11544)
• Philippines
12 Aug 17
Luckily, I haven't experienced it in my whole life. But I was mistaken as a "no read no write maid" many times outside school/office 
sounds like there are more rude people in medical field compare to other fields. At my hometown most nurses and midwives are rude especially in government hospitals/clinics that is why I always go to private hospitals (nicer employees) even I am poor.
sounds like there are more rude people in medical field compare to other fields. At my hometown most nurses and midwives are rude especially in government hospitals/clinics that is why I always go to private hospitals (nicer employees) even I am poor.1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
14 Aug 17
maybe those rude nurses and midwives only think of their professions as income-generating occupations that is why there was no humanitarian emotions involved when they see clients/patients.
1 person likes this
@JeeyanDee (2692)
•
10 Aug 17
Wow. Descriminating your fellow Filipinos, your own countrymen, I believe is the worst kind of descrimination if there is any. Shouldn't they help each other, uplift and guide the newbies and warmly welcome them? Ugh. Just classic immature and stupid attitude where to boost your confidence, you bring other's down.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
11 Aug 17
this is an isolated case, so i don't think you should generalize it as 'classic immature and stupid attitude'.
1 person likes this
@JeeyanDee (2692)
•
11 Aug 17
@ridingbet Oops I don't mean to offend. What I meant was what those two nurses did, despite being Filipinos or not, were being immature and acting stupid, nothing more. By classic, I meant that is a usual immature attitude. I believe you thought I was criticizing them because of their race? I wasn't and I would never do that.
