Diversity.. at what price?

[Been there,done that]

I am working in a large inner city facility. Corporate expounds the benefits of a diverse working culture.

I understand the benefits of a large pool of talent. There is every nationality on Earth represented in this medical center.

Recently, I took report from the recovery room. The nurse had such a thick accent , I had to ask her to spell some of the words she was saying. During the shift, I "worked" with a resident that was also very difficult to understand. He is also from a culture that expects women to walk 3 feet behind them. Needless to say.. the communication was difficult and time consuming.

At the end of the shift, I gave report to a nurse from another culture, that had never heard of the procedure the patient had undergone. Another language barrier ensued as I tried to explain the case.

I find it interesting that they can understand my mid-west American accent, but not vice-versa. The communication effort is time taking away from patient care.

I have seen a Chinese nurse, trying to describe a (emergent) patient's condition, over the phone to an Indian doctor, with a nursing assistant yelling in the background trying to interpret for them.

Is there a solution?

[nursel56]

I 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.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

.

And the idea that not understanding unintelligible sounds is a sign we don't appreciate other cultures is absurd.

Clearly not a football groupie! 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.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

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.

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?

[rn/writer, RN]

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.

Addendum: Looks like you changed the person you were addressing this to. Okay. I guess we agree. I think. : )

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.

[Merlyn]

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?

Yes, 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.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

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.

The 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.

http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/mangngyrlngglrnngprgrm/theilrfsiproficiencyscale.htm

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

The 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.

http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/mangngyrlngglrnngprgrm/theilrfsiproficiencyscale.htm

Exactly right. I know the Berlitz Institute will not certify an individual who is not readily and easily understood by native speakers. (I'm passable, but not that good!)

http://www.berlitz.com/

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Yes, 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.

It has been shown that it is significantly more difficult to learn a new language as an adult than as a child. Not impossible, but certainly not as easy as you allude to.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Yes, 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.

At lease?

Did you do that on purpose?

[sharpeimom]

yes, 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.

at lease?

did you do that on purpose?

don't think so. i just have that feeling somehow...

[ygv101]

it is time to adapt the new world now, for you too, as a nurse, as you konw the impact of diversity of culture and nationality, please remember, if other RN or MD can speak American language with accent that means you need to be able to speak at least 2 different languages, be strong and be a winner, donot be a looser and sob in your frustrations.:)

[Merlyn]

it is time to adapt the new world now, for you too, as a nurse, as you konw the impact of diversity of culture and nationality, please remember, if other RN or MD can speak American language with accent that means you need to be able to speak at least 2 different languages, be strong and be a winner, donot be a looser and sob in your frustrations.:)

But what two languages? I can speak, or at least can be understood in Spanish, Polish, and Russian. Maybe we can learn the languages of my ancestors. How do you think we would do in Gaelic and Norse? Just in case we have a rush of injured Viking invaders for patients.