More prejudice over rank than colour

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Professions
• Nursing Studies
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The National Health Service (NHS) is increasingly multi-ethnic, presenting unique challenges.
• Prejudice and discrimination can impact healthcare professionals within diverse work environments.
• Existing discourse often focuses on ethnic discrimination, potentially overlooking other forms of bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of prejudice among nursing staff in a multi-ethnic NHS setting.
• To compare the prevalence and nature of prejudice based on ethnicity versus professional role (Enrolled Nurse vs. Registered Nurse).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of anecdotal evidence and personal experiences shared by nursing staff.
• Exploration of reported incidents of discrimination within the healthcare workplace.

Main Results:

• One Asian Enrolled Nurse (EN) reported experiencing more prejudice due to their EN status than their Asian ethnicity.
• This suggests that professional hierarchy and role-based bias can be significant factors in workplace discrimination within nursing.

Conclusions:

• Prejudice in the multi-ethnic NHS is complex and not solely based on ethnicity.
• Enrolled Nurses may face distinct forms of discrimination related to their professional role.
• Further research is needed to understand and address role-based prejudice in nursing.