sonal feelings affect what I was hired to do.
Racism has recently come to the forefront of the nation's attention,
so I think people have no choice but to pay attention. How long the
focus lasts will depend on how long the government and institutions
push the issue.
I think constant conversations about the social atmosphere in hospi-
tals need to take place. If workplace environments do change, minori-
ties would believe they have a better chance to move up and feel
more confident. Oftentimes, we feel like we can't advance our careers
because of the color of our skin.
Despite these challenges, I love my job. The best part of my day is
having the opportunity to go to work and make a difference. We all
must remember that our efforts must focus on patient care, not on
our personal feelings and agendas. We are all a team and must act
accordingly. Let's work with each other, not against one another.
Natalie Jupiter, CST
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Lopatcong Township, N.J.
J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 3 3
Ready for the Start of a Bigger Movement
S
ince civil unrest after George Floyd's killing has spread across
America, it hasn't been unusual to overhear my colleagues
talking about how "thugs and animals are destroying our
cities." Do I object every time I hear it? That depends on the day. I
might if I got pulled over on the way to work for no reason or got
handed a menu by a patient when I walked into their room because
they assumed I was a member of the kitchen staff. Most days I ignore
the comments or change the subject because I'm tired of trying to jus-
tify why African Americans are angry.
In addition to not always having the energy for those conversations,
