Do you really want work with foreign nurses?

[lucinka]

I am a BSN from Czech ¨Republic (small country in Europe). I will next yëar go do work to USA. I know I have to improve my english before (you can see from my writing). But I want to know your opininon now. Do you like work with foreign nurse who can quickly learn and do her best, but all is new for her and she has hundreds of questions? She can tell you a lot of interesting thinks about care in her country and bring you some new ideas but need a long time your help?

It is a chalenge for you or a nigtmare?

[ShayRN]

Lucinka,

I can be wrong but you can not speak language other than English in a healthcare facility. Unless you are asked to do so--to translate, to speak with the patient who does not understand English, etc. But no chatting in your own language! Nobody will like it + it's against many healthcare facilities policies. You'll be surprised how many rules you need to follow, but be wise and follow all of them. Good luck!

This must be a facility policy. I don't see how any institution can enforce something like this. We have doctors speak to each other in their native language, would this apply to them as well? I would imagine if it isn't affecting patient care (although it may be considered rude) it may actually be considered discrimiantion to prohibit people from talking in their native language. I wouldn't want to travel down that path.

[PralineLPN]

I've worked with European (Poland, Germany, Czech, etc) as well as African nurses before, and I have absolutely no problem with it. I find other cultures fascination, and I'm always willing to teach as long as you're willing to learn!

Paul

PS- about the speaking same lanuage thing, It's a facility thing. Ours doesn't care what you speak to each other, as long as you can communicate in English with the Patient. We have spanish, french, and a few other languages being spoken amongst our co-workers. I agree it would be discrimination. After all, It's a free country!

[dexter99]

I am a foreign nurse and all I can say is when your in Rome act like a Roman... I feel that the greatest challenge for us is not NURSING but the Huge adjustment in living in a totally different coutry w/ different culture! I wish you the best of luck... And remember you can't please everybody just be professional and do your job...

[dazey71]

i like working with foreign nurses. my preceptor was from the phillipines and she was great.

[GardenDove]

It depends on the individual nurse. Foreigners, like all people, have many different personality types.

[adrienurse, LPN]

Hello! My Grandmother is from Slovakia.

It's not at all unusual for nurses to work with people from other countries. I work with many foreign trained nurses and like everyone there are the excellent and the not so excellent. Use your time before you arrive to learn as much conversational english as you can. Please realize that being understood and understanding others is very important for safety. I feel very uneasy when I work with nurses who cannot make themselves understood to their patients and family and cannot communicate important details.

I'm sure you will be an excellent nurse here in North America. Good luck!

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

I love working with nurses from other countries and learning about their cultures. I only ask that they be patient with me if I have some difficulty with their accent and ask them to repeat something they say. BTW, I hope to visit Prague in a few months as my daughter will be studying there for a few weeks.

[cicada]

I just came from work feeling so proud of myself. The long story make short--The elderly patient -female-came on our floor with a posey vest and other restrains. She was violent in ER--we were told. I was approached by co-worker--male-- asking for help with translation because patient did not understand English and was non-compliant. So, I did and ended up taking vitals and performing other nursing tasks. Patient did not trust anyone but me. To everyone's surprise she was joking and smiling at me. No violent behavior at all!!! Question: what you, ladies, would do if you would be in foreign country and saw a guy approaching, then digging under your skirt. Even if he wants just to give you a Hep shot into the belly-- you would not understand it and kick him, then--end up in 4points restrains as this old lady did.

Lucinka, once again, good luck in America!You'll be a valuable asset to any healthcare facility.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

I want to work with competent nurses. Where they are from makes no difference to me.

I also like to learn and love working with people who can teach me new and different things. Wether it be about nursing or something like fishing or culture it's all good!

[cineva]

Hi ! I'm foreign nurse too ( from Romania ) and just started work in the US last week . the nurses in the hospital I work now are really nice and you can ask whatever question you have , they will never get upset and they will always give you a hand ! I like that I am ashamed to say that I would have liked to get that kind of support and help in Romania . On my floor there is also a nurse from Cehia so .... you'll probably meet more in the US . But .... one piece of adivice : learn to speak , read and understand English very good ! Otherwise , you'll have problems understanding your perceptors , doctors , other nurses as well as what the patients will ask or say . You're a nurse , you have duties and responsabilities and you MUST understand the patient's needs so you can address them in the most appropiate and fastest way . Nursing is the same all over the world but we need to adjust to changes we've made by arriving here , to the new system and .... to a new life ! Good luck in your next job into the US !

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I don't think you'd find many, if any, nurses who specifically don't want to work with foreign-born or foreign-trained nurses. You're a nurse, right? :)

But I can say that sometimes the accent thing can be problematic, depending on the country of origin, the thickness of the accent, and the familiarity of the "native" nurses with that accent.

I came across a nurse who had an accent I had a very hard time understanding, and when I asked her to clarify something she had said, she said (angrily), "What, you don't understand English? I'm speaking English, aren't I?!" Let's say that didn't go over too well.

As long as you're willing to understand that this may happen sometimes, and don't take it as a personal attack, I can't see where you'd have any other problems by being from another country.

Welcome :)