Encouraging Staff vs Discouraging Staff

[Kebner]

Good Day, I've noticed that my fellow workers communicate often in Spanish. Which is fine with me as long it's not negative communication. Or, as long as it's not in an English speaker only patient room, with 2 staff members speaking Spanish to each other. What are your thoughts? Do you encounter this event? How do you communicate what is appropriate or inappropriate? Thank you������

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

It is never a good idea to be having chit-chat like conversation in a patient's room to begin with in any language. You are all there for the patient, not to chat in any form that doesn't include the patient.

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

This is a huge problem where I work (except it's Tagalog.) it's not appropriate

[Kebner]

It should be something that is discussed in CNA school, and Nursing school. This should have been discussed at some point as a way of being polite and showing other people respect. However, raising kids ain't what it used to be, and parents themselves are poor at demonstrating any kind of self control these days. But, the professional aspect of talking in the patient room, without conversing with the patient needs to be a topic in hospitals, and all healthcare places. I agree, it is not comfortable from the patient's perspective.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

As a bilingual person myself, I do not think it is appropriate in patient room until the patient knows Spanish or another language in question. On the other hand, if several staff members speak a language other than English, I feel that they should be welcome to use it when not engaged in direct patient care, even if they are still within "patient care zone". Doing otherwise implies a hearty dose of mustrust, as everything spoken in a language other than English is considered to be negative by definition.

And no, speaking language other than English when sitting there and charting doesn't affect the holy Patient Safety And, yes, it is discussed at least in nursing schools.

It felt ridiculous when I had to call the NM and plead her to allow me to be on phone through Skype with my parents (non-English speakers) when a terrorist attack happened in my native city. The wifi connection was best near nursing station and that was considered "patient care zone".

[Kebner]

Ja, kann ich es verstehen. Ich spreche Deutsch, aber wir sprechen nicht auf Englisch in Deutschland. I do believe that like all things in life, there are exceptions to the rule. Like "I before E, except after C", there are exceptions in real life too:) I loved to speak German in Deutschland, so because I was in Germany I spoke the language (not English). When in America, I speak English because that is the language (I want to speak English). So, I show my love for the country that I reside in by speaking the language and adapting to the culture. That is respect, and cultural acceptance, I find it is important to support all cultures and showing natives respect. Hope that this is something you find, no matter who you are in the world.