Diversity.. at what price? - Page 9
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Aug 29, '11 by madfowlQuote from rn/writerA small amount of sincere understanding and willingness to learn and appreciate another culture can go a long way. If the OP is of the mindset that diversity is an option, which in many locations it is not, then she clearly would be better off where s/he viewpoints on diversity is welcomed.There are very few medical environments where nurses don't have to deal with accents, and I think most of us are okay with that if we can still understand what's being said. I actually enjoy hearing accented English most of the time. But if it jeopardizes patient safety because I can't understand the message, then, not so much. At least with the patients we can use the Language Line or call for an interpreter. We shouldn't have to do that with co-workers.
To imply that that because a nurse wants to be able to communicate safely and effectively with her colleagues she is somehow being judgmental and close minded, well, that's kind of judgmental and close minded. - Guide
Aug 29, '11 by rn/writerNo amount of appreciation of diversity and sincere understanding will render an unintelligible accent understandable.
I think you are equating any resistance to a thick, nearly-impossible-to-figure-out accent to xenophobia, racism and bigotry. It may be for some. But for many of us it's flat out fear that mistakes will be made and patients will be harmed. It's naive and, irony of ironies, prejudicial to lump all of us into one category and label us as racist because we have a difficult time communicating with some people whose spoken English is poor.
I would suggest that sincere understanding is best when it goes both ways. - Guide
- Aug 29, '11 by madfowlAll Im saying is that if you work in a highly diversified place where you cant understand your coworkers, it is best to find another job. Yeah, the defensive replies brought a nice smirk to my face.DaretoDreamRN likes this.
- GuideAug 29, '11 by nursel56I suppose asking people to learn to speak more clearly is a no go, then? Maybe it's the people who stubbornly expect peoiple listening to make all the adaptations that need to find another line of work. Just a thought.kids likes this.
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Aug 29, '11 by Rob72Quote from nursel56Clearly not a football groupie!.
And the idea that not understanding unintelligible sounds is a sign we don't appreciate other cultures is absurd.
You guys are on a roll...!
madfowl, in the most ecumenical, egalitarian sense, I understand and agree. However. There are multiple studies out, clearly documenting that patients assent to and with care-providers whom they do not understand, in everything from blood draws to surgery.
Ultimately, the most tenable solution is for the minority party (whomever it is with difficulty in coherent, cogent, intelligible expression) to seek employment in a location where the language barrier is not so significant. That may mean the heavy Bronx-schnox, that hasn't been mitigated by 5 years in South Carolina, needs to move a tad north of the Mason-Dixon, or vice-versa. Equally, if the accent is African, Hispanic, whatever, there are certainly hospitals whose clientele are predominantly immigrants, and the thick accent is outweighed by the bi-lingual capability.Last edit by Rob72 on Aug 29, '11kids likes this. - Aug 29, '11 by Rob72Quote from madfowlSo, I am correct in understanding you, it is the responsibility of the minority to accomadate the majority, for the well-being of the society... as in, if I don't speak Hutu or fluent French, I probably should not plan on working in a non-Brit consular hospital, in Africa?All Im saying is that if you work in a highly diversified place where you cant understand your coworkers, it is best to find another job.Been there,done that likes this.
- GuideAug 29, '11 by rn/writerQuote from Rob72Addendum: Looks like you changed the person you were addressing this to. Okay. I guess we agree. I think. : )m/writer, in the most ecumenical, egalitarian sense, I understand and agree. However. There are multiple studies out, clearly documenting that patients assent to and with care-providers whom they do not understand, in everything from blood draws to surgery.
It's an unfortunately reality that patients go along with things they don't understand. One which we hope will be mitigated by translation services, language lines, and language-specific information sheets, or some combination thereof.
But, sad as it may be when patients do not fully understand their care, it is at least as serious when a nurse or a doctor can not understand a colleague. That kind of lack of communication has the potential to jeopardize life and limb and put everyone--employees and patients--in harm's way.
We're addressing the patient disconnect in many ways. If we were as active in taking steps to change the work situation, we might not be having this thread.Last edit by rn/writer on Apr 23, '12 -
Aug 29, '11 by MerlynQuote from Rob72Yes, it is the responsibility of the minority in a hospital to at lease make an effort to learn the language of the country. So that things can go smoothly between the staff. It's not that hard. If kids can learn the language, why can't adults? Learn a few important Phases first then others will fall into place.So, I am correct in understanding you, it is the responsibility of the minority to accomadate the majority, for the well-being of the society... as in, if I don't speak Hutu or fluent French, I probably should not plan on working in a non-Brit consular hospital, in Africa? -
Aug 30, '11 by EricJRNQuote from Ashley, PICU RNThe interesting thing is that most language proficiency classifications actually do take accent and pronunciation into account. For example, here are the descriptions that go along with one of the most common scales.It's very possible to be fluent in a language but very difficult to understand. So the informations about English proficiency and communication tests aren't really relavent.
http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/langu...iencyscale.htm
