English, please

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

The rule in my facility clearly states that ENGLISH is to be spoken in any patient care area or any area residents/patients might congregate. We have the hardest time getting our staff to abide by this rule. One of them was on the phone at the nurses' station (infraction #1) speaking loudly in a language that wasn't English (infraction #2). When I told him it was English only, he hollered at me that he was on the phone with his family. I told him to turn around and look at the 4 somewhat confused residents who were sitting near the nurses' station....he seemed not to get the point....anyone else having this sort of trouble????

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Specializes in Operating room and Trauma.

i am a foreign nurse working in th uk with other foreign nurses.i would say that in the the clinical area english should be spoken.i find it very inappropriate if my collegues from the philipines(not being rude to them)speak tagalog.

we have to remember the patients set the tone in the clinical milieu(meaning they speak english) and we should act accordingly as well.

as the old saying goes there is a time and place for everything.

ps by the way is hollor:coollook: an english word(very much doubt it) or just jargon

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I am sure management could show them the point so that they can better understand that. I can understand how important it is to have bilingual nurses etc, but should only be used as needed.

On your own time and in a place other than the work place, it is fine to speak whatever language you want. I do that all the time at home or on the streer, but at work or school it is a different story.

I speak 3 languages and am superbly proud of my heritage, but I must understand and abide by the rules.

On a personal experience note, I stopped going to this salon where I got my manicure and pedicures done because the employees would sit there the entire time talking in their native Korean. As a customer, I felt they were talking about my feet or hands and maybe laughing about me. Although it was only an assumption I refuse to expose myself to that. It was rude to the customer (me).

If they are on the street or a restaurant (not in the workplace where I am paying for a service), I do not care at all. There is a time and place for everything.

That is just my opinion of course. There are many who will beg to differ, but then again that is the wonderful thing about America, freedom of speech and everyone being entitled to their own opinion. :p

Good Luck :)

Jessica

Good Luck :)

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On a personal experience note, I stopped going to this salon where I got my manicure and pedicures done because the employees would sit there the entire time talking in their native Korean. As a customer, I felt they were talking about my feet or hands and maybe laughing about me. Although it was only an assumption I refuse to expose myself to that. It was rude to the customer (me).

I agree and would not continue going there either....we are only human and its human nature to be uncomfortable when we do not understand what others are saying.

We have this problem in acute care as well. Many is the time a group of Filipinos, Indian, or Nigerian nurses would congregate at the desk and speak their native language. It is IMHO very rude to those who cannot understand them. We had policies against it, but it was never enforced. :(

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I agree. When it comes to pt care settings, English should be the language spoken. It doesn't make the other pts feel comfortable when two techs are working over their bed and they are speaking their native tongue. It makes the pt feel like an "Non Entity", not worthy of being allowed in to a conversation which may or may not be about their treatment plan. They may be gossiping about a pt and that's plain rude.

I don't feel comfortable around this either, and I agree that English should be spoken at any time when pts might hear conversation.

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Let's forget the pts for just a moment. I was floated to ICU one evening and the entire staff including the docs were Filipino. After awhile I thought to myself, "This IS America right?" I was beginning to think I was drugged and taken out of the country. :uhoh21: I felt so out of place at my job, in my very own country. :o So if I felt out of place, you can imagine how the pts must feel when they can't understand anyone especially if they are confused to begin with. :stone

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My preceptor is Filipina and is critized by her coworkers for not speaking Tagalog on the floor. I 've seen her have entire converstions while they speak Tagalog & she speaks English. She also speaks Spanish, yet we never go around talking it outside of directly to patient conversations.

I think that's how all nurses should be. Model the correct practice even when it's not being practiced by others.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

At my work...you don't speak Spanish you may as well quit! Man oh man...I work in a assisted living facility with all white German ancestor raised older folks that really hate to hear another language! Then we had some Asians come in and they spoke their language and really ticked off some of the WWII folks (they assumed it was all Japanese and you wouldn't believe what that does to them).

Me, I don't mind it at all..but near residents I think English is the way to go so that you don't upset them... Yeah..not very PC or heck even 2000, but alas....they lived before us, gave us what we have today...we need to respect that even if the social rules aren't totally 2000 PC....

But then again..I love variety..but know its place with older residents. Heck, I have some that still say that anyone that isn't white can't even come into their room..and I am in OREGON! (well...we did have our rash of racism too).

Hard subject...I just say play it save with those you serve...use your language away from the residents...you never know if it sends them into a war flashback (which it has at my facilty!)... And always remember...we serve them...make it nice for them despite your own feelings...that is a true caregiver (which includes ALL healthcare teams..RN, LPN, CNA, EMT, Paramedic, MD, and the lot!!!!).....

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
i am a foreign nurse working in th uk with other foreign nurses.i would say that in the the clinical area english should be spoken.i find it very inappropriate if my collegues from the philipines(not being rude to them)speak tagalog.

we have to remember the patients set the tone in the clinical milieu(meaning they speak english) and we should act accordingly as well.

as the old saying goes there is a time and place for everything.

ps by the way is hollor:coollook: an english word(very much doubt it) or just jargon

yes, holler is an english word:

Main Entry: 1hol-ler

Pronunciation: 'hä-l&r

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): hol-lered; hol-ler-ing /'häl-ri[ng], 'hä-l&-/

Etymology: alteration of hollo

intransitive senses

1 : to cry out (as to attract attention or in pain) : SHOUT

2 : GRIPE, COMPLAIN

transitive senses : to call out (a word or phrase)

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IOn a personal experience note, I stopped going to this salon where I got my manicure and pedicures done because the employees would sit there the entire time talking in their native Korean. As a customer, I felt they were talking about my feet or hands and maybe laughing about me. Although it was only an assumption I refuse to expose myself to that. It was rude to the customer (me).

Jessica,

I hope you told the manager why you quit using this salon.

I agree we are in AMERICA where to my knowledge, English is still the language spoken. It really bothers me to buy a product and have to wade through all the Spanish advertising/information to find out what the product is and how to use it.

And Yep, holler is a word. Where I'm from, it also means a low area between two hills. Ya' know like hills and hollers.

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.....

And Yep, holler is a word. Where I'm from, it also means a low area between two hills. Ya' know like hills and hollers.

lol

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Jessica,

I hope you told the manager why you quit using this salon.

I agree we are in AMERICA where to my knowledge, English is still the language spoken. It really bothers me to buy a product and have to wade through all the Spanish advertising/information to find out what the product is and how to use it.

And Yep, holler is a word. Where I'm from, it also means a low area between two hills. Ya' know like hills and hollers.

Yes, we are clearly in AMERICA, where ignorance and prejudice abound. Have you ever tried thinking about what it feels like to come to another country, not speaking the language well, being away from all familiar people and surroundings? Ever thought about what it's like for immigrants on a daily basis? I'm sure having to deal with the inconvenience of wading through Spanish advertising/information pales in comparison to what they deal with on a daily basis. Have some compassion.

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