Can't communicate with the new nurses

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

WHITE-COLLAR IMMIGRATION (sorry, this is going to sound very bitter): The always cost-effective United States is currently bringing in immigrants from around the world (e.g., Russia, India, China, Filipines) to compete with Americans for high-salary jobs with the expectation that this form of immigration can drive down salaries and benefits. For example, your three Filipino nurses would probably work for even half your salary and with hardly any benefits -- JUST to escape the poverty of living in the Filipines and enjoy the luxuries assoc. with living in the U.S. Then they remain here and rear large, resource-using families -- the children of these families end up competing with YOUR children for financial aid and quality education and, later, access to good jobs and healthcare. :dncgbby:
This kind of immigration allows the hospital/organization/corporation to keep the real money at the top, basically in the CEO's pocket, so he can send his children (probably named Ethan and Abigail) to ivy league colleges, buy his fat stay-at-home wife a brand new luxury car, and get that McMansion in the white, rich, gated community of his dreams. Meanwhile you and your patients get the proverbial shaft end of the stick -- nothing against Filipinos in general, they're good people (but, really??):
HOW MANY AMERICAN NURSING COLLEGE GRADUATES CAN'T FIND JOBS IN THIS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
I really hate this ******* country. My partner and I are moving north of the border as soon I graduate from nursing school. Canada has one of the STRICTEST immigration policies on this planet and some of the strongest labor unions on earth. For example, I will ONLY be employed by a Canadian hospital once every natural-born Canadian citizen has access to employment first. No cost-cutting, no bringing in busloads of fertile immigrants to drive down salaries and create ultracompetitive applicant pools. Man, we are in a lot of trouble.

I don't hate this country but everything you say is true...... :crying2:

merlee · Jun 17, 2011

These nurses had to pass the English proficiency exam and NCLEX. Ask them to speak slowly and clearly. If necessary, ask them every time you speak to them. If the patients have a problem understanding them, tell them to call the administrators.

Is your manager difficult to understand? That may be difficult to get around.

Have these nurses been here in the U.S. very long? If so, then they are aware of the language barrier.

BTW - - when I worked in New Orleans, I was told I talked too fast and was asked to slow down!! And I felt they all talked to slowly! And then there were the Cajuns - a language all to themselves, American born and bred, families here longer than mine!

Bearcub - - everything isn't perfect in Canada, either. You will be an unwelcome American to many people there. Best wishes to you, I hope you find the happiness there that has apparently alluded you here.

And weren't most of us from immigrant families only 3-5 generations ago? Only one of my grandparents was born here - how about yours?

netglow, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Yup this stuff is true. For all those who are going to flip out when reading all this, GROW UP.

This is now your world if you are a nurse in the US. Open your eyes.

I've been in re-certification class where everybody else leaves having completed the hands on and the written test. These nurses (employed at the hospital) are left either still trying to finish the written portion, or sent back to sit down and look at their tests again because they did not pass. Not to mention are unable to follow critique of technique in the hands-on portion - because they don't understand simple verbal instructions. I watched frustrated instructors actually physically move these nurses into the correct position because they didn't understand what was required. How pray tell, did they certify the first time? (or did they ever actually certify).

There are many US educated nurses from the best schools with proven ability who are passed over for hospital jobs routinely for nurses like these.

bearscrubs75 · Jun 17, 2011

Esme,

I'm not racist. This is not about race or ethnicity, I swear. I'd be as irate if the U.S. was bringing in Brits, Germans, and Irish (facets of my own European ancestry) to compete with Americans for jobs. It's about corporate G-R-E-E-D. It's about our nurses being able to work in safe, productive environments. It's about our patients receiving excellent nursing and medical care during the worst moments of their lives. It's about our hospital and nursing home units having safe nurse/CNA-to-patient ratios. It's about nurses receiving living wage salaries and good benefits to support themselves and their families -- for all the hard work we as nurses and nursing staff do and the time/effort/ blood/sweat/tears we put into our schooling and preparation. It's about our American nursing college graduates getting jobs right out of school so they can begin to build their lives, repay their student loans, pay taxes, start families if that is their wish, buy homes. Hospitals bringing in immigrants from other countries to work as RNs for lower salaries so "they" (e.g., CEOs, management) can benefit from not having to pay living wages/benefits is a kick in the crotch to Americans.

On the larger, national scale: it's about our American-born young people having access to THEIR BIRTHRIGHT: financial aid and resources for college to prepare them for the American workforce. It's about the future of nursing and health care in this country.

I know I'm going to get reamed from a lot of you for what I had posted earlier. Guys, we have over 300 MILLION people in this country right now. And the government keeps bringing in more and more (or passively allows it to happen) from third world countries or developing nations for jobs. *****!?!?!?! How many posts have you read on this site from nursing college grads who can't find work??????? I read something like this (the hospital bringing over non-English-speaking Filipinos to work for lower wages) and I get emotional and explode. Sorry if I offended anyone, really. :confused:

Elleveein, LVN · Jun 17, 2011

"so he can send his children (probably named Ethan and Abigail) to ivy league colleges, buy his fat stay-at-home wife a brand new luxury car"

LMAO hahahahahaha

bearscrubs75 · Jun 17, 2011

These nurses had to pass the English proficiency exam and NCLEX. Ask them to speak slowly and clearly. If necessary, ask them every time you speak to them. If the patients have a problem understanding them, tell them to call the administrators.
Is your manager difficult to understand? That may be difficult to get around.
Have these nurses been here in the U.S. very long? If so, then they are aware of the language barrier.
BTW - - when I worked in New Orleans, I was told I talked too fast and was asked to slow down!! And I felt they all talked to slowly! And then there were the Cajuns - a language all to themselves, American born and bred, families here longer than mine!
Bearcub - - everything isn't perfect in Canada, either. You will be an unwelcome American to many people there. Best wishes to you, I hope you find the happiness there that has apparently alluded you here.
And weren't most of us from immigrant families only 3-5 generations ago? Only one of my grandparents was born here - how about yours?

Merlee,

My maternal grandparents were Quaker Brits, German-Jew and Irish. Their parents were both immigrants here at the turn of the 20th century. My father's mother is Irish (her ancestors probably immigrated here during the nineteenth-century potato famine). His father's side: Welsh and Brit. I realize your point and yes we are a nation of immigrants -- mine certainly came here for a better life: to get away from famine, pestilence, Nazis.

This isn't about the fact that Filipino women want to come here to work. It's about hospitals hiring them over American college grads for lower wages. Even though you disagree with what I've posted, do you at least see the problem with this one element??

Canada: they really only hate Americans in Quebec. I'm going to Toronto :)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

esme,
i'm not racist. this is not about race or ethnicity, i swear. i'd be as irate if the u.s. was bringing in brits, germans, and irish (facets of my own european ancestry) to compete with americans for jobs. it's about corporate g-r-e-e-d. it's about our nurses being able to work in safe, productive environments. it's about our patients receiving excellent nursing and medical care during the worst moments of their lives. it's about our hospital and nursing home units having safe nurse/cna-to-patient ratios. it's about nurses receiving living wage salaries and good benefits to support themselves and their families -- for all the hard work we as nurses and nursing staff do and the time/effort/ blood/sweat/tears we put into our schooling and preparation. it's about our american nursing college graduates getting jobs right out of school so they can begin to build their lives, repay their student loans, pay taxes, start families if that is their wish, buy homes. hospitals bringing in immigrants from other countries to work as rns for lower salaries so "they" (e.g., ceos, management) can benefit from not having to pay living wages/benefits is a kick in the crotch to americans.
on the larger, national scale: it's about our american-born young people having access to their birthright: financial aid and resources for college to prepare them for the american workforce. it's about the future of nursing and health care in this country.
i know i'm going to get reamed from a lot of you for what i had posted earlier. guys, we have over 300 million people in this country right now. and the government keeps bringing in more and more (or passively allows it to happen) from third world countries or developing nations for jobs. *****!?!?!?! how many posts have you read on this site from nursing college grads who can't find work??????? i read something like this (the hospital bringing over non-english-speaking filipinos to work for lower wages) and i get emotional and explode. sorry if i offended anyone, really.

i didn't call you a racist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: so don't say i said something when i didn't!

i agreed with everything you said.......i just don't hate my country. there has recently been quite a few threads about this very subject...and some very ineresting links about this problem.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/new-grad-willing-573209.html

and the government is gtrying to import 20,000 more!!!!!

well as recent as may 13 2011 there as a bill that would open 20,000 visas to foreign nurses. ill attach a link to the bottom so you can read it.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/bills-1...12hr1929ih.pdf

imported care: recruiting foreign nurses to u.s. health care facilities

StudentMomAngel · Jun 17, 2011

The Philippines were apart of the US for a long time, I currently know tons of Flipanos who serve in the US Navy proudly. This is about language not anything esle. We are all apart of the "Melting Pot" of the US. Only pure American is the Native American {Eskimo to Navaho} so are you a Native American? I'm not second gen Flip {Grandfather who came here and FOUGHT for his country the US}. My Russian Jew Grandmother who to the day she died loved and lived for this country. I've served in the Navy 22 years til I retired three years ago. For this country. Do not belittle those who are now stepchildren of the US.

As for the orginal issue, speak up the chain. If only for the good of the patients.

Spoken as a Proud American who can't get a job cause I don't speak Spanish,in College Park,Md

Angel

bearscrubs75 · Jun 17, 2011

i didn't call you a racist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek: so don't say i said something when i didn't!
i agreed with everything you said.......i just don't hate my country. there has recently been quite a few threads about this very subject...and some very ineresting links about this problem.
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/new-grad-willing-573209.html
and the government is gtrying to import 20,000 more!!!!!
well as recent as may 13 2011 there as a bill that would open 20,000 visas to foreign nurses. ill attach a link to the bottom so you can read it.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/bills-1...12hr1929ih.pdf
imported care: recruiting foreign nurses to u.s. health care facilities

esme, sorry about the racist thing i jumped the gun -- thanks for posting the links for me, but i will seriously have an mi if i read about this new "visas" bill. i'll be sick to my stomach and ****** off the rest of the day. i need something light and airy right now, maybe some court-and-spark era joni mitchell and a disney movie... ahhhhh

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Esme, sorry about the racist thing I jumped the gun -- thanks for posting the links for me, but I will seriously have an MI if I read about this new "visas" bill. I'll be sick to my stomach and ****** off the rest of the day. I need something light and airy right now, maybe some Court-and-Spark era Joni Mitchell and a Disney movie... ahhhhh

Me too......((HUGS))

TheMiss · Jun 17, 2011

This entire thread is quite shocking to me.

I consider several comments racist. I will not point the finger though.

Every nurse who wants to work as a nurse in the USA has to pass an english language proficiency test and sit the NCLEX. That means every nurse working with you is a qualified RN.

However, not every nurse from a non english speaking country will understand a heavy US accent. If you slow down instead of raising your voice, if you speak clearly and don't mumble the new nurse might understand you.

Imagine yourself in a different country, in a different workplace where things are done differently. You are under stress and you have a hard time understanding the people. It's not easy.

Why don't you leave the US just once and have a look at a northern english hospital. Or an irish one. And try to understand those nurses shouting their own abbreviations and names during a busy shift. You would have a hard time understanding anything.

Every qualified nurse is a valuable addition. Have the patience to let them understand you.

The government is bringing in nurses because obviously - there are quite a few position which can't be filled by US citizens - for whatever reasons.

It's such an old and outdated view that those new immigrants are coming in and taking away the good jobs.

Frankly, such opinions are sad and hilarious - and speak of ignorance. Many people of every first world nation have the exact same complaint. It's fine to exploit 3rd world countries to the maximum - but beware to have some of the impoverished come to our holy lands.

hkrntobe · Jun 17, 2011

bearscrubs75

i agree. this is a hot button issue! why do we have so many perfectly good unemployed nurses here but yet, we are giving preferential treatment to those in other countries. countries might i add that don't extend the same courtesy. facts are, communication is the main tool needed for proper assessment. if a rn can't communicate effectively with the patient or his/her co-workers than its the patient that suffers. i love this country but, when those in power chose to benefit other countries while our own children starve and it's own citizens are forced to go without basic human rights such as medical care and shelter it makes me physical nauseous. this is not what our marines fight for. anyone know how we get a petition going to abolish this bill? how many more nurses must go on the bread line before we take action?!!

considering every nursing application i have ever filled out asks the question “are you able to read and speak english fluently?” i find this scenario even more appalling.

once again this is a perfect example of that fact that, in order to find employment as a nurse it’s not what you know (or don’t know), it’s who you know!!!

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: