Conference paper
In our own Voices: the Experience of Overseas-Trained Registered Nurses of Institutional Racism within Healthcare and Academic Institutions [Institutional Racism within Health Care and Academic Institutions: The Experience of Overseas-Trained Registered Nurses]
The Complexities of Racism: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Racisms in the New World Order, pp.162-172
International Conference on Racisims in the New World Order, 2nd (Caloundra, Australia, 06-Dec-2007–07-Dec-2007)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2008
Abstract
Racism has been an issue in nursing since the era of Florence Nightingale, famous for her work as a nurse during the Crimean War. Nightingale's contemporary was Mary Seacole (1805-1881), a black nurse born to a Scottish naval officer and a Jamaican healer and Nightingale's rival after the war. Unlike Nightingale who came from an aristocratic family and was paid to care for wounded British soldiers, Mary Seacole paid her own way to the Crimean War. She self-funded the establishment of the British Hotel near Balaclava, near the front lines, which she used as quarters for wounded British soldiers. This initiative came after Seacole's application to the British War Office to assist in the war was rejected three times, as was a personal offer to Florence Nightingale herself. This rejection was, in Seacole's own words, due to her "somewhat duskier skin", Britain was not just ready for black nurses. Seacole went bankrupt after the war, but the public raised money to pay her debts because of her personal contribution to the Crimean war. However Seacole died a miserable woman. Until recently, Seacole's contribution in the Crimean War has been in the shadows, although straight after the war itself Seacole received honours from the governments of Britain (the Crimean Medal), France (the Legion of Honour) and Turkey, and possibly Russia too. Seacole's experiences of rejection continue to happen today in the nursing profession and nursing institutions. Does this mean the nursing profession (including Australia) is not yet ready for nurses of colour?
Details
- Title
- In our own Voices: the Experience of Overseas-Trained Registered Nurses of Institutional Racism within Healthcare and Academic Institutions [Institutional Racism within Health Care and Academic Institutions: The Experience of Overseas-Trained Registered Nurses]
- Authors
- M N Chi (Author) - Victoria University
- Contributors
- Hurriyet Babacan (Editor)Narayan Gopalkrishnan (Editor)
- Publication details
- The Complexities of Racism: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Racisms in the New World Order, pp.162-172
- Conference details
- International Conference on Racisims in the New World Order, 2nd (Caloundra, Australia, 06-Dec-2007–07-Dec-2007)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2008
- ISBN
- 9780980474411
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2008 The Authors. Reproduced with permission of the authors.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449536802621
- Output Type
- Conference paper
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