Are nurses in other nations bilingual? Should US be?

Nurses General Nursing

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I had an arguement with one of my nurse practicioners yesterday. Irregardless of how any of us feel about immigrants, legal or illegal, it's very frustrating to have to treat a patient when you or no one around speaks thier language. I've encountered it many times, and most of you have as well.

As a military brat, I encountered other cultures that told me that in thier nation, they were required to take other language classes in school, from primary and certainly be fluent in at least one other than thier mother tounge to have a university degree. I sometimes think that we should require nurses to learn at least one other language. My practicioner got HOT and tells me I am nuts. That other industrialized nations do not require citizens to learn a second language in school. Back it up.

Can any of you help me with where to find data to back up my arguement?

Well, lets say that 15 million English-speaking people moved to Portugal (not sure on this, but according to some quick research I just did, I believe the census there is between 10 and 11 million). Would they change their official language to English? Would they force the Portuguese people to learn English? I don't really know what would happen. Do you?

When you say "native Spanish-speakers", to me, that means people who were born in Spanish-speaking countries. An awful lot of them would have to get here awfully fast in order for them to outnumber us. If you are refering to children of immigrants, then they were born here, they go to school at English-speaking institutions, so they would know English, wouldn't they? They can speak whatever they want at home, but out and about, they should speak the language of the country they are in, and here, that is English.

I think this touches a nerve with a lot of people because it is like telling Americans that we are doing something wrong, or that we have to change what we are. Messing with the official language of a country is no little thing. I seriously doubt (but I don't know for sure) that many other countries have had this discussion. It's the forcing people who were born and raised in the US to learn a different language that is getting to me, and I think a lot of other people in this thread as well.

Just throwing this out there - So what should the primarily English-speakers do when the composition of the United States changes so that native Spanish-speakers are the majority?

Would we still be able to say "English first"?

That should not be allowed to happen, laws against illegal immigration should be enforced, and maybe it's time to close the borders, in fact it's past time, in my opinion. Illegals should be deported back to their own countries. This is not the United States of Mexico or of any other spanish speaking country.

When you say "native Spanish-speakers", to me, that means people who were born in Spanish-speaking countries. An awful lot of them would have to get here awfully fast in order for them to outnumber us. If you are refering to children of immigrants, then they were born here, they go to school at English-speaking institutions, so they would know English, wouldn't they? They can speak whatever they want at home, but out and about, they should speak the language of the country they are in, and here, that is English.

Not in California..........

Specializes in hospice, and home health.

I live in the UNITED STATES, If you are gonna live here, then you need to first come the legal way, learn the language, and get a job, and PAY YOUR TAXES!

Okay I am gonna hush now before I upset someone.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Just throwing this out there - So what should the primarily English-speakers do when the composition of the United States changes so that native Spanish-speakers are the majority?

Would we still be able to say "English first"?

Assuming they ever comprise the majority of the population, they won't ever comprise the force needed to overtake all the systems that already operate in English. Think about it... everything would need to be changed. New everything, written in Spanish. How would people who don't speak English to begin with ever gather enough power to make that happen? It won't happen and it shouldn't happen and since I have more than enough legitimate concerns in my life keeping me awake at night, this notion is one over which I'll not obsess.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am bilingual and think it would not hurt for all kids in the USA to study a foreign language. Like Steph said, politics aside, it's great for brain development and has helped me in my job performance COUNTLESS times.

I also encourage my Hispanic patients to take ESL classes, having learned some of them have been here for in excess of 15 years and have learned minimal English. I try to explain how it's in their best interests, just like I would explain why breastfeeding is, in a non-judgemental way.

Anyhow that is my less then 2 cents on this matter.

Hello/Bonjour

I live in an officially bilingual country, the official languages being English and French. In fact the area I live in has a lot of people of French descent, and almost all of those people speak English. Some of these descendants can only speak English and some are bilingual.

It became mandatory when I was 10 years old that French was to be taught from 1st grade until 10th grade. After 3 years of mandatory French in grade school and 3 years of French in high-school (2 of those years mandatory), do I consider myself bilingual? NOPE. For 6 years I passed French with B's and A's, yet I cannot converse, write, or read in that language. The problem with making French mandatory in English schools (IMO) is that the language is only being taught in the classroom, and there is little need to know or use French outside the classroom.

In fact, after working years in a hospital in my own community, I cannot recall a single time when we needed a French interpreter at the facility where I worked. Of course we had patients that didn't speak English and had situations where an interpretor was needed.

My point: It was a mandatory requirement that I learn French in school. I did what I had to and passed the courses. Making it mandatory will not necessarily make anyone bilingual.

As a military brat, I encountered other cultures that told me that in thier nation, they were required to take other language classes in school, from primary and certainly be fluent in at least one other than thier mother tounge to have a university degree.

I guess I'm curious, did most of these people from other cultures/nations choose English as their required language? You see, I ask because English is often referred to as the "global language." English may not be the official language of many countries, but it is most often taught as a second language around the world. By International Treaty it is the official language for Aerial and Maritime Communications, as well as one of the official languages of the European Union, the United Nations, and most international athletic organisations, including the International Olympic Committee. It is the language most often studied as a foreign language in the European Union by 89% of schoolchildren, followed by French at 32%.

You see there are about 38 countries, nations, territories, federations, republics, etc where English is considered the primary language. In 28 other countries, nations, territtories, federations, republics, etc where English may not be the first language it is considered an official language.

An FYI folks, English IS NOT an official language in the United States, in fact English only has official status in 30 out of 50 state. It is actually the de facto national language of the US.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Oh and the answer to question number one: yes, an overwhelming number of people (not just nurses) in other nations speak not only 2 languages, but as many as 4 or 5 or more. Why should we not learn at least one (besides our primary) here? It would never hurt ANYONE.

Yes, I do think immigrants to this country should learn English, and here are a few points on that. 1) Most in my area are at least making an effort, even if you can't see it. 2) Have you seen the waitlists for the ESL classes? Here they are ridiculously long. 3) If you want people here to learn English, be a part of the solution. Volunteer to teach ESL classes. You will not be turned down for lack of demand. Not if you live in my area (and, I suspect, many others).

I think it would be a great idea for adults to learn a second language so that we know what it is like to have to learn as an adult. That way we can know why someone may be reluctant to use their English after 3 months or even 3 years in the US. Learning as an adult is way different than learning as a child, and we need to understand and respect that.

I do think Americans need to step outside our comfort zone. Most people in other countries are learning English.

Thank you. You totally made the point that I was trying to make, expect you didn't come off as abrasive as I did LOL.

I can understand adults being reluctant to speak English because their English isn't perfect, my mom is like that. BUT.....she can communicate in an emergency and she does not expect the people of the United States to learn Korean to accommodate her......which is what many of the Spanish-only population seems to expect of us. I have lost count of how many times I've had pts be irate with me because I don't speak Spanish.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would like to add something about the UK, language is a huge problem in various parts of the country where large groups of immigrants have settled and don't learn the local language. I have nurse patients who have lived in the country over 30 years and haven't learnt anything as it wasn't required as the husband did it all even to the point of coming and translating (it wasn't expected for them to learn) Only now are the government saying something and bringing in a citizenship exam of which they have to prove a good command of the english language. I would love to learn another language and will probably go for Spanish but am finding it very hard to get started as it is hard to practice on one's own

This is what is currently required in the UK http://www.ukimmigration.com/family/uk_citizenship.htm

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Oh and the answer to question number one: yes, an overwhelming number of people (not just nurses) in other nations speak not only 2 languages, but as many as 4 or 5 or more. Why should we not learn at least one (besides our primary) here? It would never hurt ANYONE.

Most of the people in other nations speak other languages that they've learned as a child. It is much, much more difficult to learn a new language even as a teenager, much less as an adult. It is unfortunate that in this country we don't start educating children in second languages... except, interestingly enough, those who haven't learned English at home. So they're the ones who end up with the benefit of a bilingual education. The irony is that these leaves fewer funds to introduce English speakers to other languages that would benefit them as they move through life.

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