Is this discrimination?

Chrispy11, ASN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

We have a phone translator, but bi-lingual employees can translate but only once they've gone through training and been approved. I believe they are paid extra for their services. When the services are used but not 100% of the time. I guess every system operates differently.

brownbook · Sep 29, 2018

I too hate the, "if they come here they should learn English" mentality. Mainly because most of "them" do learn or at least know and understand some English. "They" are not idiots! "They" have to learn English to buy gas, groceries, find the bathroom, etc.

With my Spanish skills I would not function well if I were ill and in a Spanish speaking country. In a stressful situation my Spanish speaking skills would disappear.

I speak limited Spanish. I worked 17 years in a hospital with a large Spanish speaking clientele. Every Spanish speaking patient I have made an effort to use my limited Spanish with has been kind, understanding, and use their limited English with me as much as they can. We joke that I will practice my Spanish and they will practice their English.

I always get a paid, bilingual, interpreter for assessment of a new patient or any complex issue.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

Do you know what the racial or ethnic affiliation of your leadership is? Skin color, while indicative, is not definitive. I would also ask what the public demographics mix? Just because a group is all a particular race or ethnicity is not evidence of discrimination.
Did they get off of a plane? Medical tourism is real and I worked in a facility where this was sometimes a literal comment, as in transport would wait at the terminal. If it is factual then there is no harm and the statement itself is not discriminatory in itself.
Ascribing negative traits to a particular race or ethnicity like Hispanic can be seen as racism in certain context but as a medical professional you know that there are real medical and biological differences between races and ethnicity. Genetics and culture play a significant role in out patient's health and we must acknowledge those difference. Arbitrarily assigning negative untrue attributes is definitely unethical however.
Being bilingual generally is not grounds for a raise or promotion unless being bilingual is acknowledged as a formal positive contribution. The fact that it is not in your job description can actually be a negative for you. Most places I worked actually forbade interpretation by bilingual employees unless they underwent training, testing, and obtained a certification in that language. Misinterpretation was a real problem and if the patient needed a translator then it was generally best to use a formal certified translator than use someone who spoke that language informally.
Just because you were born in the United States and associate yourself with the USA does not preclude you from being a minority if you otherwise meet that definition. Things like sex, race, ethnicity, and even age can place you into certain minority segments.
Sounds like you are feeling disenfranchised and upset with the workplace culture. I would highly recommend that you speak to someone about your feelings so that you can discuss your concerns.

The comment about the plane was very rude. I doubt this was a case of medical tourism, given the rest of OP's remarks.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

Hello haven't posted in a while. quick background before the meat. So I work at a fairly large health system, they currently own 95% market share so options here are not many. If you look at the pictures of the board of directors, they are all white. All my charge rn, the dept director, and her four clinical supervisors are all white. I happen to not be white, and I am bilingual. I have heard comments from physicians like: "they get off the plane and want us to fix all their problems". "That pt doesn't pass the smell test, hispanics are too emotional." The second comment was about my pt who came in with acute head pain worst of her life. History of Htn among other things and geriatric. I wanted to get her cleared for a stroke...the md never even came to the room. Waited and hour. Cat wouldn't take her stat cause it wasn't ordered stat. Well I gave report went home. Next day was told she ended up having a bleed. Now md won't even make eye contact with me. So I'm asked to translate all the time and now I'm told by triage and the charge and the clinical sups that I get certain PTs cause they only speak Spanish. My one year review is coming and I'm thinking of asking for a nice raise because speaking Spanish and translating are not in the job description...I checked. If they don't give it to me is it discrimination? Should I keep my minority mouth shut and just be happy I'm getting a paycheck? I was born in the USA. Technically I'm not a minority...right?

I'm not a lawyer, but I think your patient might have a case for "missed opportunity" to have avoided that bleed. Or medical negligence or malpractice. Very quietly, if the opportunity presents itself and you can say something to the family without anyone else knowing you are the one saying it, suggest they consult a couple of lawyers - who are bilingual. They need to know you are really going out on a limb by suggesting it. I think they have a year to act, but they should not wait too long.

And I think your doctor has some real animosity toward the Hispanic community. Too emotional? Get off the plane? Do they come there on a plane? Are you in a border state/town? Next time he makes a remark that originates just above his anal sphincter, ask him nicely, innocently, privately (don't embarrass him in front of others) what his definition of "too emotional" is. Should people never cry or moan or whatever? You might set him to thinking. You could try having a heart to heart talk with him if you think he won't be angry and make trouble for you.

As it is, he is creating a hostile work environment for you. I don't know if you'd be in trouble and maybe lose your job if you reported him to his boss. If he didn't change, you could go to HR Director/Manager. Again, lawyer consultation is advisable.

As for translating without a Bilingual Bonus - translating is time-consuming. Is anyone covering your patients while you are translating for their patients? Point this out when you ask for a raise. I received $100 per month for being bilingual about 30 years ago. Google to possibly find rates.

You apparently are a minority. There is no other Hispanic personnel, right? You are a member of a minority group in your workplace, maybe in your community.

There is an Hispanic Nurses' Association, possibly near you. best wishes

Aunt Slappy · Sep 29, 2018

I don't know if Trump has deleted this, but the ACA act mandated that hospitals....

Do you even understand the legislative process? Trump cannot unilaterally "delete" anything out of a law validly passed by Congress and signed by any President. Amendment would have to take place through that same legislative process.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

Translating is a duty covered in the job requirements as "other duties as required." As a charge nurse of many years, it would be most effective, and provide the best patient care, to assign nurses to patients that speak the same language.
You have a giant chip on your shoulder, good luck with that.

I don't think they can require one nurse to do a job that other nurses don't have to do, even if the reason is that the others don't have the skills. OP should be compensated for having more skill, just as a BSN get more pay than an ADN.

He is rightfully shoulder-chipped, BTDT.

broughden · Sep 29, 2018

Hello haven't posted in a while. quick background before the meat. So I work at a fairly large health system, they currently own 95% market share so options here are not many. If you look at the pictures of the board of directors, they are all white. All my charge rn, the dept director, and her four clinical supervisors are all white. I happen to not be white, and I am bilingual. I have heard comments from physicians like: "they get off the plane and want us to fix all their problems". "That pt doesn't pass the smell test, hispanics are too emotional." The second comment was about my pt who came in with acute head pain worst of her life. History of Htn among other things and geriatric. I wanted to get her cleared for a stroke...the md never even came to the room. Waited and hour. Cat wouldn't take her stat cause it wasn't ordered stat. Well I gave report went home. Next day was told she ended up having a bleed. Now md won't even make eye contact with me. So I'm asked to translate all the time and now I'm told by triage and the charge and the clinical sups that I get certain PTs cause they only speak Spanish. My one year review is coming and I'm thinking of asking for a nice raise because speaking Spanish and translating are not in the job description...I checked. If they don't give it to me is it discrimination? Should I keep my minority mouth shut and just be happy I'm getting a paycheck? I was born in the USA. Technically I'm not a minority...right?

1. File an incident report regarding the racist actions of the MD who refused to access the Hispanic female pt and could have put the hospital in a liability situation.

2. Your status as a minority has no bearing on where you were born. Its dependent on factors such as your ethnicity, sexuality or gender.

3. As for your raise. Does your employer pay extra for staff being bilingual? Then yes you should get the raise. If they dont, then no they dont have to give it to you.

labordude, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

1. File an incident report regarding the racist actions of the MD who refused to access the Hispanic female pt and could have put the hospital in a liability situation.
2. Your status as a minority has no bearing on where you were born. Its dependent on factors such as your ethnicity, sexuality or gender.
3. As for your raise. Does your employer pay extra for staff being bilingual? Then yes you should get the raise. If they dont, then no they dont have to give it to you.

Woohoo! For once, as a straight, white, nurse who is male I'm a minority!

:-) [ATTACH=CONFIG]27539[/ATTACH]

Aunt Slappy · Sep 29, 2018

Woohoo! For once, as a straight, white, nurse who is male I'm a minority!

Recently I told my son he should apply at the Sally Beauty Supply near our house when they had a hiring sign out, because as a straight white male it's the only place he could qualify as the diversity candidate! :laugh: He could also get an employee discount on all the hair coloring stuff he and his sisters constantly play around with.

I'm not usually a person to cry racism easily, but I agree that the treatment of the patient who had a brain bleed probably was motivated by racism. If there is a process for following up on that, I strongly encourage you to use it, OP.

broughden · Sep 29, 2018

Woohoo! For once, as a straight, white, nurse who is male I'm a minority!

? No you arent.

hawaiicarl, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2018

1. I am pretty sure translators get paid less than RNs.

2. Pretty sure "other duties as needed" is on the job description. Just like as a 6' male I get assigned the "patients of size", or some nurses are better at starting IVs, Spanish is your niche (pronounce this as neesh to be particularly irritating). I honestly think this is an opportunity for you to make sure Spanish speaking patients get more of the care they need having a caregiver who speaks their language. As an example, I had a patient the other day who had VERY limited English, he kept moaning and groaning, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what he wanted. Our phlebotomist spoke his language, so I asked her to come up and see what the patient wanted. Turns out he wanted a hot water bottle for stomach cramps. I would never have figured that out, but I wasn't afraid to ask someone who could help my patient.

3. Pretty sure you work with a bunch of racist A-holes.

Cheers

Kallie3006, ADN · Sep 29, 2018

What is the difference between a healthcare interpreter and a bilingual individual?

A bilingual individual is a person who has some degree of proficiency in two languages. A high level of bilingualism is the most basic of the qualifications of a competent interpreter, but by itself does not insure the ability to interpret. A bilingual employee may provide direct services in both languages but, without additional training, is not qualified to serve as an interpreter.

A qualified interpreter is a person who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.

By law any translator used in a health care facility is supposed to be a trained. Legally if there was something to happen during the course of their treatment would you want that to fall on you? The facility should provide a language line or some other means to communicate with patients that ESL. I would not be translating for anyone especially when it comes to consents ect. That is just setting yourself up, IMO.