to my fellow filipina/filipino nurses working abroad

pilgrim · Feb 11, 2009

Sadly, this looks to me like an example of reverse discrimination. I agree with you that as professionals, we should be respectful of our colleagues at all times. Thus, speaking in our native tongue in the workplace where we are with people of other nationalities is not only unprofessional, it's also very rude. From your post, it seems this bad behavior has permeated other aspects of their conduct. I truly hope that the nurses you're referring to will be able to read your post and jolt them to reflect on their deed. This act only succeeds in further tarnishing the image of the Filipino nurse and should be avoided at all cost.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 11, 2009

The hospitals concerned need to do something about it. Things like this puts on a bad light for others

Mcgyver · Feb 11, 2009

I believe it is proper to talk to the management and the people concerned.

I will be working in Canada soon, and I promised my self to be always sensitive with my patients and co-workers in many ways, one of which is avoid using my native language infront of them if it is not warranted. :yeah:

suzanne4, RN · Feb 11, 2009

If you wish to speak in your native tongue with a fellow co-worker while you are on your own time, then it is just fine. Such as lunch breaks when you are not paid for those.

But it is never acceptable behavior to use it when giving or receiving report from another nurse that happens to speak the same language or at the nurse's station or in a patient's room unless the patient speaks that language.

Never should two nurses be in a patient' room and speaking a language that they do not understand over the patient's head. This is actually grounds for dismissal at quite a few hospitals now and it will not be tolerated and should not be tolerated.

If you see someone doing it, then say something to them. No matter what the language is, if not English and you are working in an English environment, then it cannot be used.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Feb 11, 2009

Thank you for starting this thread--it addresses an important issue that Filipino nurses need to be aware of. Unfortunately the same problem occurs at many facilities in the US as well.

I have seen Filipino employees "band together" and speak their language in front of others who do not understand it, both patients and co-workers.

I have seen them try and make non-Filipino workers look bad.

I have seen them intentionally exclude others from casual conversations at work.

This behavior reflects badly on all Filipinos. It further tarnishes an already-tarnished image of Filipino nurses.

Let me make it clear: It is considered rude to speak a foreign language in front of people who do not understand it.

It shows disrespect. If you cannot show respect to the citizens of the host country--whether it is the US or a European country-- don't go there! It's a lot easier to deal with a shortage of workers than it is to deal with the conflict and bad feelings that this type of behavior causes...

nursey2008 · Feb 11, 2009

I don't even mind if they occasionally speak in their language, especially its on their break. But it makes you really awkward if you see them talking and looking at other people as if they are talking about them.

I am currently having regular agency shifts on a ward working with a filipina nurse together and she is the best. We get along really well and is a great colleague. Hard working, helpful and friendly. So i didn't want to come across as racist by any means in my posting, in fact I am hoping to wake up some of the nurses who act in such a rude way as this is truly inferior behaviour and unprofessional.

INstead of teaming up against others why can't we just all work together and benefit from each others international experience??

Mcgyver · Feb 12, 2009

Thank you for starting this thread--it addresses an important issue that Filipino nurses need to be aware of. Unfortunately the same problem occurs at many facilities in the US as well.
I have seen Filipino employees "band together" and speak their language in front of others who do not understand it, both patients and co-workers.
I have seen them try and make non-Filipino workers look bad.
I have seen them intentionally exclude others from casual conversations at work.
This behavior reflects badly on all Filipinos. It further tarnishes an already-tarnished image of Filipino nurses.
Let me make it clear: It is considered rude to speak a foreign language in front of people who do not understand it.
It shows disrespect. If you cannot show respect to the citizens of the host country--whether it is the US or a European country-- don't go there! It's a lot easier to deal with a shortage of workers than it is to deal with the conflict and bad feelings that this type of behavior causes...

May I ask what have you done to correct those behaviors when you know it was the wrong thing to do?

I would be proper to talk to them, regarding this issue.Let us not generalize.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Feb 13, 2009

May I ask what have you done to correct those behaviors when you know it was the wrong thing to do?
I would be proper to talk to them, regarding this issue.Let us not generalize.

I dislike generalizations, too. However, some generalizations seem to hold more water than others. The OP started this thread to report what she has seen happening among the Filipinos she has worked with in Europe. I have noted the same behavior among the Filipinos in the US.

Perhaps it's just a coincidence; maybe the OP and I have been unfortunate enough to work in the only two places in the world where Filipinos exhibit this type of rude behavior. If so, I sincerely regret sounding as if I am making an unwarranted generalization. (I will note, however, that other posters in other threads in this forum have made similar observations.)

The suggestions made thus far in this thread are good, and I hope that nurses who are planning to work in other countries will take the advice to heart. It will serve you well in the long run, and make for a harmonious work environment.

As far as my own experience, I have reminded the workers numerous times that it is against facility policy to speak a foreign language. They don't listen. I guess I could write them up--that way, if it continues they could be fired. But who wants it to go that far? Not me. I just want them to follow the policy...

mauiboy · Feb 14, 2009

Thank you for starting this thread--it addresses an important issue that Filipino nurses need to be aware of. Unfortunately the same problem occurs at many facilities in the US as well.
I have seen Filipino employees "band together" and speak their language in front of others who do not understand it, both patients and co-workers.
I have seen them try and make non-Filipino workers look bad.
I have seen them intentionally exclude others from casual conversations at work.
quote]
how can you say that they are trying to make non-Filipino workers look bad when you don't even understand what they are saying? how can you say that they intentionally exclude others from casual conversations at work? if its casual conversations and doesn't relate to work then they speak in whatever language they want.

mauiboy · Feb 14, 2009

Hello,
I've been working now for 10 months in Ireland both in a nursing home and later as agency nurse in hospitals. I must say I generally have been very sad about quite a few incidents with fellow nurses especially coming from the philippines. I gotta be fair. there have been some who have been really good colleagues but in quite a few wards I saw filipino staff teaming up against european nurses. They speak their own language with each other at work, treat fellow european nurses not very nicely, in at least 8 different wards i have witnesses filipino staff teaming up in order to make european staff look bad.
.

i don't understand what you mean by teaming up against european nurses....if this is really happening,this is a case of bullying in any other language.

Daly City RN · Feb 14, 2009

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This story has been told many times over about two Filipina RNs speaking in Tagalog, rudely I must say, just outside a patient's room in a hospital here in San Francisco, California.

After a lenghty conversation it was time to say their goodbyes, one of the Filipina RNs said to the other: "Sige na 'day". (roughly translated: So long lady.)

Minutes later the patient who heard the two nurses' conversation in Tagalog was heard crying loudly. Nurses went to the crying patient's room to find out what was bothering the patient.

The patient, while still crying, told the nurses that she was "going to die".

When asked why she thought that she was going to die, the patient told the nurses who went to the crying patient's room that she just heard one nurse tell another nurse that: "She's gonna die!"

You see, "Sige na 'day" was heard as "She's gonna die!"

This story, whether true or not, was told in many continuing education classes and nursing meetings by Caucasian nursing supervisors.

My message is, we are all professional nurses, let's act professionally. Speak English in front of English speaking patients and staff. That's showing respect and consideration for others, then I believe that others will respect Filipino nurses more in return.

Indeed.

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