I feel isolated and left out

[inshallamiami]

I just started a new job, in my specialty that I LOVE, but the problem is I feel like an orphan because all my co-workers speak spanish to each other,and my spanish is not that great. I have worked in the miami area for years and this hasn't been a problem until this particular hospital. I do pretty good with my spanish patients but when I'm in a procedure where EVERYONE is speaking spanish (including the doctor/pt/techs etc.) I feel very left out and kinda sad. Is it because I'm new? I mean, I'm 55 years old, should I care that much about "fitting in?"

Of course, sometimes I wonder If I'm missing something important in regard to the patient, but I just can't stand there and say, "could you translate that into english" when they speak it constantly to each other.

My supervisor, on hiring me, knew I spoke only "medical" spanish. and he emphasized the importance of TEAM WORK but how can I be part of a team if I can't communicate fully?

Should I find another job that won't reject this gringa?

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

i used to work in an area very close to the OP, but the primary language was kreyol (creole). i think i was one of the only people there for a while who didn't understand the language. during a code most of the nurses and doctors would holler orders out in kreyol, and one day i got so fed up i screamed "how the hell do you expect this patient to get what you are ordering when i dont know what you just said". and the doc said to me that if i wanted to work there, i better learn the language. so thats just what i did. instead of getting upset and quitting, i found a group of wonderful nurses and techs who taught me conversational kreyol. and it really tickled patients when this blonde haired, blue eyed white girl walked in the room and kreyol came out of my mouth.

i only worked there for a short time, but i do have an understanding for a language i never would have before... and it really impresses people on a resume!

i think if you feel like they are excluding you purposely, then i would look for another job. but since you are in miami, it definately wouldnt hurt to learn spanish. even if you dont have that job anymore, you will be bilingual, which is so important in that area!

good luck to you hun!

[Agnus]

This is evidently the culture that has developed at the hospital. by culture I do not mean spanish I am referring to the hospital's culture. Hospital cultures unlike spanish culture can be changed.

Many many work places not just hospitals require English only while in the work place. The only exception is when speaking to a customer, patient, client who speaks no English and requires translation.

How successful you may or may not be in working to change this where you work I do not know. However, if the rationales were explained to management you might get somewhere. Especially where safety is concerned. This is the USA it is not your responsibility to learn their language it is their responsibility to speak English.

It is frightening to think that Spanish is predicted to become shortly the most widely spoken language in the US even possibly the dominant language when world wide the language of business is English.

This will set the US back.

[inshallamiami]

"i used to work in an area very close to the OP, but the primary language was kreyol (creole). i think i was one of the only people there for a while who didn't understand the language. during a code most of the nurses and doctors would holler orders out in kreyol, and one day i got so fed up i screamed "how the hell do you expect this patient to get what you are ordering when i dont know what you just said". and the doc said to me that if i wanted to work there, i better learn the language. so thats just what i did. instead of getting upset and quitting, i found a group of wonderful nurses and techs who taught me conversational kreyol. and it really tickled patients when this blonde haired, blue eyed white girl walked in the room and kreyol came out of my mouth. "

"i think if you feel like they are excluding you purposely, then i would look for another job. but since you are in miami, it definately wouldnt hurt to learn spanish. even if you dont have that job anymore, you will be bilingual, which is so important in that area!"

Actually, I do speak some spanish, have little or no problems speaking basic spanish with my patients, and lived in central america and mexico for a year, It's just that I'm not very fast or very fluent. They knew this when I was hired. And since i believe they do understand I can't keep up with their rapid spanish, I just wonder why they do it, and how I could handle it. Quitting is certainly an option, it's an option for anyone who "doesn't fit in". Like an older nurse amongst a younger group, like a black nurse amongst rednecks, like a kind, smart person amongst jerks. But maybe there is another way, a better way, and maybe the group could give a little too!

[Selke]

Have you spoken with HR about this issue? There may be a hospital policy to speak English while on the job. Speaking English while at work is a policy in many hospitals to prevent just this kind of situation from happening (e.g. can't speak Tagalog, Spanish, whatever to prevent shutting out other employees from conversations -- which may also involve patient care concerns).

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Actually, I do speak some spanish, have little or no problems speaking basic spanish with my patients, and lived in central america and mexico for a year, It's just that I'm not very fast or very fluent. They knew this when I was hired. And since i believe they do understand I can't keep up with their rapid spanish, I just wonder why they do it, and how I could handle it.

"Mas despacio, por favor. Quiero aprendar pero no puedo comprendar cuando ellos estan hablando rapidamente."

Repeat as necessary.

[inshallamiami]

yeah right, drive em crazy:lol2:

[inshallamiami]

And i could ask HR but they too, are Cuban/Latin, and they too speak it around HR so I dunno......