Experiences of Black Women in the Nursing Profession and the Conditions of Their Tolerance of Racism in the Workplace

Prior research provides evidence that Black women in the Nursing profession experience a significant amount of racism in the workplace. These acts of racism are both overt and covert and come from administrators, staff, patients, residents, and family members of the patients and residents. Using data from a survey of 38 Black women in the nursing and nursing support profession, I test the relationship between having a strong connection to a caregiver identity and tolerance of racism. Additionally, I examine how the strength of one’s racialized gender identity moderates this relationship. I find that those with a stronger caregiving identity also have a stronger racial identity. Results from the model suggest that as the connection to one’s caregiving identity increases Black women’s likelihood of tolerating racism from staff and administrators decreases.