Speaking native languages at work...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

A Sacramento hospital this week passed around a questionare to its nurses. Here is the question...

Diversity Council Needs You!

To give us input on the question of staff members using their native language(s) at work. We value your opinion. This survey will remain anomymous. Please respond and explain in full if possible.

...following was several blank lines to explain, essay type, how you felt about the issue.

In case you're wondering, here is my response:

________________

I was always taught that whispering in public was rude. It makes others around uncomfortable as to what is being discussed and is exclusive-not inclusive-- to others.

Speaking in a foreign language within earshot of patients, guests or co-workers who don't understand the dialect is the same as whispering. It alienates others and by its nature says "I'm speaking about something I don't want to share with you."

In our hospital's very diverse environment, we all need to be especially sensitive to the cultures and backgrounds of others. No matter which of the dozens of languages spoken at (our hospital) we may understand, professionalism requires we adhere to the language we all speak fluently-- the one we used during our license exams and that all hospital

documents are written in.

Thank-you for asking!

_________________

Should be good fodder for discussion here.

:roll

... and if questioned on your floor by JCAHO, they certainly won't accept an answer in other than English.

Case closed.

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Cali...

First: I have maintained from the start that one should speak the language of the land in which one works when in direct contact with patients or within earshot of patients (after rereading Heather's post, I understood her point and agreed). I also have stated the same for the teamwork aspect amongst co-workers. One should not speak in English one minute, then turn and speak another language during a workrelated /patient realted discussion, etc.when in the presence of other Englishspeaking coworkers. I agree with you on that.

Second...

"professionalism" does not come in one language only (English).

Professionalism is behavior..(spoken and UNspoken)..and the choices we make about our behavior. It goes waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond just the "language issue". Because two nurses (doctors, housekeepers, whoever...) walking down the hall are conversing in another language does not make them unprofessional. Enjoying a conversation with a "mate" from your country in your language during break does not make you unprofessional. If one is concerned with the patient's welfare and the reputation of the hospital and its employees, one will act accordingly, but it should not mean that such rigid rules must be applied and enforced. That takes "choice" out of the picture altogether, and personally I prefer to CHOOSE how to act and go home at the end of the day feeling good about my choices, knowing I have CHOSEN to act professionally.

Yes, we are taught many things in school, but we still CHOOSE to act on what we've learned. And we must take responsibility for the choices we make.

One's language is part of one's identity and therefor personal. I don't feel we should keep trying to put everyone into one mold. We are nurses but we are also INDIVIDUAL human beings with our own backgrounds and world experiences. We express this in many ways, and one of them is through our language. As long as we act professionally at work, it shouldn't matter what language it's in. Personally, I feel our problem is that we can't see past our own experiences, our own backyard. We mistrust anyone who does not share our own experience. That's JMHO, and I know many will disagree.. what else is new? Surely there are better and more reasonable solutions than "my way or no way".

I sadly detect an undertone in your letter that expresses something deeper...

Semstr.........what part of my other post are you having trouble with understanding?????? I have told you that, YES, we have TRIED talking with these women....or I should say 'young ladies'.....they are all under 30. We have made several attempts to befriend them.........we get the same response.......NO ENGLISH.

I don't think I ever said anything about feeling sorry for them or that they should be 'grateful'....I stated that I was glad that they have a chance to start a new life here. I just wish we could treat our own people as well. They get paid $8/hour, tax free, free housing, free transportation to and from work, food stamps, free daycare, uniforms........They are not 'highly educated' because we have other Bosnians working in different parts of the hospital as their education allows. They have been attending engish classes for several months now and don't seem to be learning a thing.

If I were in their situation, I would certianly make an effort to learn as much as I could about the language, culture, etc of my new homeland.

What will these people do when questioned by JCAHO??? oh boy...

I don't believe ANYBODY deserves a free handout....regardless!! I work hard for my pay and they should too......it is really starting to be a hassle constantly asking for rooms to be cleaned. We had to wait 4 hours to admit another paitent because these girls were nowhere to be found.......oh they were found, sitting outside for a 15 minute break that lasted 1 hour and 45 min. We only get 30 min for lunch.

If you have a job..............WORK!!

ok, Nannanurse I believe it when you say you tried and tried.

But don't forget these young women come from a very different background and culture. "Hurry up", "quick" or "stat" are words not very often used (and then with a different timing) in mediterean and balkanese Europe.

Then as seeing the USA as their new homeland........do they see it like that? Or do they, as refugees I guess, believe they will be going home after a few years. That would make a big difference too.

Hey, I know it is not easy to work with people with differences in their working ethics, but I don't think this is something just found in foreign nurses, housekeepers etc.

Take care, Renee

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Must agree with Smstr here, Nana......

We as nurses are constantly being reminded to be aware of cultural differences and to be sensitive to them... I believe this should apply not only to patients but to human beings in general.

My father, for whom I have always had the greatest respect, taught me a valuable lesson very early in life: "never judge a person until you have walked in their shoes". My dad has been gone a long time now, but his words will remain with me forever.

As Smstr says... how could we possibly know what these women have endured and the memories that haunt them.. and surely they long to return to their home.. this being merely a transitional period. While I'm sure they are grateful for the opportunity to be away from their past turmoil, at the same time I can't see them totally acclimating themselves to our country if they dream of returning home. How can we begrudge them the joy of talking with their collegues in their native language... possibly the only scrap of their identity they have left to themselves? We have been taught in school about "culture shock".. this is a reality and I'm sure these women live it dailey, their world experience being so totally different than ours. As for learning our language, I'm sure they know enough to get by. But probably have no intention or desire to perfect it if they dream of home and hope to return.

We chatter a mile a minute, and for someone new to the language, it's all they can do to understand the very basics. I'm sure these women feel overwhelmed dailey.. not only by the language, but by our customs and way of living.. the "rush, rush" way of life we have here, our priorities, etc. It's a whole new and unfamiliar world, perhaps even frightening to some.

While I never condone or justify outright laziness, I do attempt to see beyond the outward appearance of things, and try to understand their perspective and how they must feel in "our" world..perhaps it's an expression of their feeling totally "left out", fear of their broken English not being understood or even worse, being laughed at... (yes, I HAVE witnessed with my own eyes OUR nurses mimicking and laughing at PATIENTS' broken English !!!) not to speak of the ridicule of other foreigners .......

You get more with a genuine smile and sincere attempts at understanding someone else's world than with impatience, intolerance, and only seeing things from OUR perspective. Let us carry what we learn in nursing academics beyond the realm of nursing and patients... let us apply it to LIFE in general. These women might be your patients at sometime....why treat them differently THEN, merely because they happen to be a patient? That tells me it is because it's something we are TAUGHT to do as patient advocates, but not something we necessarily CARE to do, or something that comes naturally from the heart.

Let's not be so quick to judge.. walk in someone else's shoes.. then take a second look.............And Smstr is right in reminding us that "laziness" is NOT unique to "foreigners"...so why single them out?

Originally posted by NMAguiar

... and if questioned on your floor by JCAHO, they certainly won't accept an answer in other than English.

Case closed.

^5 NM....I can't imagine why anyone would think otherwise.
Originally posted by jnette

how could we possibly know what these women have endured and the memories that haunt them.. and surely they long to return to their home.. this being merely a transitional period. While I'm sure they are grateful for the opportunity to be away from their past turmoil, at the same time I can't see them totally acclimating themselves to our country if they dream of returning home. How can we begrudge them the joy of talking with their colleagues in their native language... possibly the only scrap of their identity they have left to themselves? We have been taught in school about "culture shock".. this is a reality and I'm sure these women live it daily, their world experience being so totally different than ours. As for learning our language, I'm sure they know enough to get by. But probably have no intention or desire to perfect it if they dream of home and hope to return.

I'm sure talking crap about someone's child in a public elevator helped them transition from their past "turmoil" to a life easier to bare in America? As I posted before, if someone is bold enough to say it, why not have the courage and guts to say it without hiding behind a language that's obviously an advantage over listeners. Kinda like, "Say it to my face"?

I am ONLY addressing what I will call "Language Abusers", who for the sake of this post are people who use their 2nd language advantage to hide the cowardice crap they say. Again, I don't believe every 2nd language person does this, but some do.

Though your argument is passionate, it doesn't hold up in a workplace that has informed they want English spoken. I agree with your opening, "We can't possibly know what these women have endured". But whether they're speaking Polish, French, Ebo, Swahili, Spanish, Tagalog (sp?) or Holy Ghost tongues....It is not appropriate in a workplace that has stated English only. If my employers announce other languages are acceptable ...then so be it, there is no argument. But if an employer says "no" to languages other than English? Then abide by it or find a job where "your" language is acceptable. Rules...Respect them. Simple as that.

Save "personal preferences" for off duty time.

Most know me as the one to beat a dead horse thread to the end. However, this time, I give up. It simply is no argument here to justify breaking "rules" no matter if the rule is liked or not. See ya on another thread.....

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Agreed, Rebel. If working in a hosp. with such a policy, one must comply. I, too, must comply with a lot of things I disagree with. Doesn't mean I like it, doesn't mean I have to agree with it. But that's life.

Guess I was talking more in "general" terms... wasn't talking specifically about those hospitals with stated policies.

Guess I p***** a lot of people off... that, too, is life. I try to stay away from the argumentative threads, but this was one I feel so very strongly about. Sorry, Guys. Still friends?

Originally posted by rebelwaclause

Most know me as the one to beat a dead horse thread to the end.

Rebel, perhaps we should start some sort of dead horse beating company? :chuckle :D

Heather

Originally posted by jnette

Cali...

First: I have maintained from the start that one should speak the language of the land in which one works when in direct contact with patients or within earshot of patients (after rereading Heather's post, I understood her point and agreed). I also have stated the same for the teamwork aspect amongst co-workers. One should not speak in English one minute, then turn and speak another language during a workrelated /patient realted discussion, etc.when in the presence of other Englishspeaking coworkers. I agree with you on that.

Second...

"professionalism" does not come in one language only (English).

Professionalism is behavior..(spoken and UNspoken)..and the choices we make about our behavior. It goes waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond just the "language issue". Because two nurses (doctors, housekeepers, whoever...) walking down the hall are conversing in another language does not make them unprofessional. Enjoying a conversation with a "mate" from your country in your language during break does not make you unprofessional. If one is concerned with the patient's welfare and the reputation of the hospital and its employees, one will act accordingly, but it should not mean that such rigid rules must be applied and enforced. That takes "choice" out of the picture altogether, and personally I prefer to CHOOSE how to act and go home at the end of the day feeling good about my choices, knowing I have CHOSEN to act professionally.

Yes, we are taught many things in school, but we still CHOOSE to act on what we've learned. And we must take responsibility for the choices we make.

One's language is part of one's identity and therefor personal. I don't feel we should keep trying to put everyone into one mold. We are nurses but we are also INDIVIDUAL human beings with our own backgrounds and world experiences. We express this in many ways, and one of them is through our language. As long as we act professionally at work, it shouldn't matter what language it's in. Personally, I feel our problem is that we can't see past our own experiences, our own backyard. We mistrust anyone who does not share our own experience. That's JMHO, and I know many will disagree.. what else is new? Surely there are better and more reasonable solutions than "my way or no way".

I sadly detect an undertone in your letter that expresses something deeper...

Jnette,

If you are looking for undertones I don't post them. I am faceforward. No reading between the lines with me. That is not me.

This is suppose to be a conversation of threads not a conversation of undertones.

Yes, you are right about professionalism is more than the language we speak. The topic of this thread is Native Languages and so that is the aspect of professionalism we are discussing.

If someone is on a BREAK discussing anything with a co-worker WHO CARES what language they are speaking in as long as they are NOT in a public area of the hospital.

This is not about mistrust, IT IS about taking responsibility for our choices. Unfortunately when an employee acts unprofessional the patients will think that is the standard of normal that the hospital has set.

As an employee of any business you are a front line representation of that company. If the company want to be preceived by its money paying customers in a certain fashion than all of its employees should conduct themselves in that fashion.

If an employee doesn't want to conduct themselves in that fashion perhaps they would be happier if they found a company that fosters the environment they would like to work in.

A Medical Facility has a responsibility to maintain a certain standard of environment. Each contract with Medicare or Medical states that the facility will follow the state and federal regulations for all aspects of health care. Many of these are patient rights issues. If you are found not following these regulations that can and will yank that contract. Where would facilities be without Medicare and Medical money. Other insurance companies expect facilities to provide care at the same level that Medicare states. THIS IS WHY WE ARE SURVEYED. They want to catch us failing.

The CEO and upper management are not the only ones who have to conduct themselves in this manner. We are part of a team. We are all responsible for following regulations and polices.

Policies are written directly from regulations or from an occurance that happened in-house. The later is stated as a POC = plan of corrections. When occurance happen that facility states to the government how they will prevent this from happening again.

This is not a simple choice that each employee has. The simple choice is DO YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOUR FACILITY REPRESENTS an if not do you still want to work there?

I don't go to work to be "Cali", I go to work to be a "Nurse". I wear a badge that identifies me as an employee of the facility I work for. While I am wearing that badge THAT IS MY IDENTITY. If I am on break/lunch or out of the clinical/public area of the hospital I can have any conversation I CHOOSE.

Patients are not admitted to the hospital to have Individuals care for them. They need a NURSE, a professional, that is part of the team of health care providers.

It has been an eye opener to read these post. Many of us have different opinions. When you read these post many reference issues dealing with time spent off the clock or on break. During that time who cares what you do as long as you are a professional when you are on the clock.

I am glad that I don't have to deal with this issue in the magnitude as it is presented here.

Cali

jnette and semstr.............Please don't think that I have no compassion here.........I am a nurse remember. First of all, I DO know what it is like to live in another country. Not with the same avenue that these women have endured, but I was the 'odd man out' . I was asked to move by my uncle.......Sam that is, to Germany for 4 years. Leaving family and friends behind and trying to adapt.....it was not easy. I did try my hardest to learn as much of the language that I could. I was treated poorly by some and welcomed by most. It was still hard.

I come from a family of many cultures.....my dad was Cherokee Indian, my mom was Jewish and my husband is Irish. I think I know how to adapt well and accept people for 'who' they are not 'what' they are or where they are from.

These women are working in a hospital. It's not the Holiday Inn or working at an office that has closed for the evening. We are a HOSPITAL here and things get done a certian way. We have standards and the work is the same. I don't care too much about their 'personal life' and it should NOT interfere with their jobs. Sure they had a hard life........well, I guess I have a great excuse for 'taking my time at work and not being concerned if I get my job done on time'......by age 12 I was raped twice, been severly injured in a mva, have been hit by a car, mauled by a dog, lost a child, lost both parents months apart.....I could go on and on here...... You don't let your 'life' effect your job!! You don't take a job if you don't know what to do or speak the language. I surely would not.

Your opinions are yours, mine will stay mine. That is what makes AMERICA great. My father was injured fighting for OUR freedom and if I were living a life such as these women and was given the chance to start new in a FREE country....I sure as heck would make sure I could speak the language of such wonderful people. Keeping a hospital clean is a valuable and HARD job. You have to know what your doing and these girls don't.

As is usually the case as the posts on a discussion thread approach three-digits, I fear we've meandered off the original subject. It happens.

Just to realign the discusson, we began with an opinion poll in a California hospital inquiring about nurses' feelings regarding other nurses speaking foreign languages in the workplace. Here was my response:

_________________

________________

I was always taught that whispering in public was rude. It makes others around uncomfortable as to what is being discussed and is exclusive-not inclusive-- to others.

Speaking in a foreign language within earshot of patients, guests or co-workers who don't understand the dialect is the same as whispering. It alienates others and by its nature says "I'm speaking about something I don't want to share with you."

In our hospital's very diverse environment, we all need to be especially sensitive to the cultures and backgrounds of others. No matter which of the dozens of languages spoken at (our hospital) we may understand, professionalism requires we adhere to the language we all speak fluently-- the one we used during our license exams and that all hospital

documents are written in.

____________________

Hope this helps!

:roll

+ Add a Comment