• An increased number of Asian nurses surveyed reported experiencing workplace discrimination and racism.
• Study authors indicate discrimination contributes to nurse burnout.
• For many nurses, racism from patients, nurses, and instructors begins in nursing school.

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In a [hen-ui-link href=”https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809393″ target=”_blank”]recent JAMA study[/hen-ui-link], three-quarters of U.S. nurses of Asian descent reported job harassment, unfair treatment, or feeling “invisible” in the workplace within the past year. Perceived discriminatory behaviors included racial and ethnic slurs and a lack of professional advancement.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The same nurses also reported deep feelings of [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nurse-burnout/”]burnout[/hen-ui-link] — feelings study authors said were exacerbated by the discrimination.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The study surveyed 236 nurses descending from East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Hawaii, Guam, and Samoa and other Pacific Islands.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“Our findings in this study contribute to the growing empirical evidence indicating that racial discrimination plays a substantial role in burnout among Asian nurses,” wrote study first author Jin Jun, Ph.D., RN, a nurse and researcher with the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, and her colleagues.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nurse Discrimination and Burnout: The Study Data[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses in the study reported that racism adversely affected their well-being and experiences at work.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Workplace discrimination is associated with a detrimental decrease in the well-being of Asian nurses, highlighting the issue of anti-Asian racism,” Jun and colleagues wrote. “Building a knowledge base presents an opportunity as an initial step toward integrating and engaging Asian nurses in antiracism efforts within the workplace.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]In addition to the primary finding showing that 75% of Asian nurses reported workplace discrimination, other key findings included:[/hen-ui-text]

• Those who revealed frequent discrimination at work were more likely to have burnout than those who experienced infrequent discrimination.
• Forty-two percent of respondents reported definite or complete burnout.
• Respondents who primarily spoke English were more likely to report burnout than those who primarily spoke their native language. According to the study authors, this suggests potential cultural or linguistic associations with burnout.
• Working more than 40 hours a week was associated with an increased likelihood of burnout.
• Asian nurses reported an increase in discrimination since the COVID-19 pandemic, which famously [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/covid-19-has-driven-racism-and-violence-against-asian-americans-perspectives-12″ target=”_blank”]inflamed anti-Asian sentiment[/hen-ui-link] in the United States.

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Researchers collected data on individual and work demographics, primary language, cultural identity, and nurse-to-nurse teamwork. Notably, many of the study respondents held advanced degrees.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Asian Nurse Discrimination: An Ongoing Issue[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This is not the first time a recent study has uncovered discrimination among U.S. nurses — and nursing students — of Asian descent.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Another [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rwjf473632.pdf” target=”_blank”]2023 study[/hen-ui-link] found that 40% of nurses experienced [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/racism-in-nursing-school-study/”]racism while in nursing school[/hen-ui-link], reporting that it was a part of their school culture. Over half of Asian students, along with Black and Hispanic students, were more likely to experience microaggressions than white students. (Microaggressions are more subtle forms of discrimination, with indirect expressions of hostility.)[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Not only do Asian nurses experience biases from their colleagues, but their [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/black-and-asian-nurses-face-most-discrimination/” target=”_blank”]patients display prejudice[/hen-ui-link] toward them as well. Many are also subject to higher performance expectations and stereotypical name-calling.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The COVID-19 pandemic and its negative association with Asian people have apparently added to an already growing problem. Another study published suggests [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9501614/” target=”_blank”]microaggressions against Asian-American nursing students[/hen-ui-link] have increased since the outbreak of coronavirus. Students described various microaggressions (such as ‘side-eyes’ and verbal assaults) from patients, nurses, and clinical instructors.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The authors of the JAMA study acknowledged that larger studies are needed to confirm the phenomenon. Nevertheless, the results “reflect a significant amount of anti-Asian racism in the U.S.,” Jun and colleagues wrote.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Sources”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Findling M, et al. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/covid-19-has-driven-racism-and-violence-against-asian-americans-perspectives-12″ target=”_blank”]COVID-19 Has Driven Racism And Violence Against Asian Americans: Perspectives From 12 National Polls[/hen-ui-link]. (2022). Health Affairs[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rwjf473632.pdf” target=”_blank”]Insights Into Nurses’ Experiences and Perceptions of Discrimination[/hen-ui-link]. (2023). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Jun J, et al. [hen-ui-link href=”https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809393″ target=”_blank”]Workplace Discrimination and Burnout Among Asian Nurses in the US[/hen-ui-link]. (2023). JAMA[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Kim S, et al.[hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9501614/” target=”_blank”] Asian American nursing students’ experiences of racial microaggressions amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Focus group discussions[/hen-ui-link]. (2022). NIH[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]