Am being treated poorly

[sharann]

Hi,

So I recently changed facilities and I am working in my specialty and am doing fine getting along with people in general, BUT for one nurse in particular who constantly is talking to other staff in a non-English language. This is at the nursing station and in front of patients and other staff who do not speak that language. This is in California.

I have nothing, nothing against this persons culture but I am fed up with the constant talk and the disrespect and bad feelings it is causing. Are they talking about the weather, their kids, the patient, me? How would I know!!! This is against hospital policy(except on breaks and non patient areas). I went along with 3 other new employees(one of whom speaks that language by the way) to management to discuss how to handle this. They said that she has been warned and counseled about this many times and has been to classes etc. So my question is why does it continue? Am I so wrong to feel offended by this? This wouldn't fly if I was working in a foreign hosptial would it?

Please no attacks on how we Americans are too sensetive and that I hate non Americans becasue both my parents were from other countries(2 different ones) and I was raised on English since they couldn't speak one anothers language:)

Thanks, I am very upset becasue I believe that this is being tolerated and is not nice in general. We work together, why leave your co-wokrers out of your conversations on the job?

[catlynLPN]

Here's my thoughts. Take a class and learn to speak/understand her language. Then she won't have an edge over you.

{Not that I think that is the way Americans should have to do...I don't think that. But if it's making you uncomfortable personally, you're either going to have to do something about it...learn her language....or give it up.

I think it would be hilarious to let her know you could understand what she's saying.

I'm sure not everyone will agree with me, I'll probably get flamed for my thoughts.

JMHO

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I didn't say the language was Tagalog. I don't care what language it is btw. We have nurses who speak English, Spanish, Farsi, Russian, Tagalog, Korean.....

I believe that they should be more conscious of how they are acting. They NEVER do this in front of managers or the admins. Why is horizontal bad behavior ok?

She speaks excellent English also, better than many who were born here.

Thanks for the different perspectives. I will not let it rule me, nor will I move jobs(it exists in many places here). I especially will not learn that language, they know English! I DO think it would be funny as you said lpn if I DID know that language(but alas, I don't have 2 years to waste learning a language that is not supposed to be spoken in the workplace)

[RNperdiem, RN]

"Am being treated poorly"? I was expecting something more drastic than than nurses speaking different languages in front of you.

You are the new nurse.

She/they have been there longer than you and will probably outlast you.

The manager knows this.

If the language barrier is making you feel lonely at work, don't be afraid to start a conversation in English.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

"Am being treated poorly"? I was expecting something more drastic than than nurses speaking different languages in front of you.

You are the new nurse.

She/they have been there longer than you and will probably outlast you.

The manager knows this.

If the language barrier is making you feel lonely at work, don't be afraid to start a conversation in English.

So Sorry to dissapoint you, but this is poor treatment, especially when they have been hounding me to go to full-time status.

I don't give a hoot is they have been there longer. What makes you think she will outlast me, I was in my last posistion for 9 years, permanent staff, not per diem,

RNPerdiem.

Thank you very much for your opinion,next time I will make sure they are trying to poison me instead so I will be justified in complaining.

[Mulan]

If it's against the hospital policy, it's against the hospital policy.

If there were a no smoking policy, do you think they would or should let her get away with smoking?

Same with any other hospital policy.

[leslie :-D]

If it's against the hospital policy, it's against the hospital policy.

If there were a no smoking policy, do you think they would or should let her get away with smoking?

Same with any other hospital policy.

sorry mulan, but i have to disagree w/you.

when it comes to different cultures/ethnicities, human resources and admin tend to squirm a little more.

i'd be very surprised if 'english only' was enforced.

leslie

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

while i agree that it is rude to speak another language fluently in front of your co-workers, it is not against any law. i wouldn't like it either but it's not going to change. walk away when it's occuring. you won't miss anything since you can't understand what they're saying. i personally will not learn to speak their language, but that's just me. many nurses feel it's very valuable to learn their language. not me

when we moved here from the netherlands we didn't have the option to press #2 for dutch and hence we had to learn to speak english fluently all the time.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

They DO know English. Really they do, and speak it fluently and beautifully. Oh well. It is not against the law but it is against hospital policy, it is written down apparently according to management.

[Wicked Wahine]

Personally, I feel like this is an overreaction. Honestly, I've grown up around tons of spanish speakers (so ashamed to say I never learned it, I plan to though!), so maybe I just have a different perspective? I highly doubt they are saying mean things about you and if they are, they would be saying them regardless of language. Just give the other language speakers the benefit of the doubt that they're talking about something that doesn't concern you and go about your business.