Giving report in a language other than English

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

In the US, is it common and/or acceptable for two nurses who are gifted to speak two or more languages (English and one or two others) to give report in a shared language other than English?

[laynaER]

I've never seen that done, and I don't think it would be a wise thing to do. Speaking another language around people who don't speak that language is often considered disrespectful. If I'm working in a group of people, I wouldn't appreciate it if two people started their own conversation in their own language. It's just rude. Not to mention, if the patient overhears this, the patient could take it the wrong way by thinking 'oh they must be talking about me in a derogatory way and using a foreign language to talke smack about me right to my face.'

If you're giving report or working in a professional environment, everyone should be speaking the same language.

[sethmctenn]

There are two nurses from India who give report to each other in their native tongue. I don't have any problem with it at all. Report is about communication between two people. If it is more clear in another language, I don't see any reason why they can't give it that way. It may also decrease risk of inadvertent sharing of patient information with others who can overhear. I do agree that if giving report in front of the patient, it would be rude to do so in another language.

[brownbook]

I'm not sure where these two nurses are at the time they are giving report? Some type of one on one nursing? One nurse giving report to another nurse at the patients bedside? If the family is there the report should be in English, if the patient is comatose I don't know why it should matter? If the nurses are reporting off where other staff members are also getting report the report needs to be in English in case co-workers need to assist with that patients care or if patient assignments change and someone else has to care for that patient.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I've never seen that done, and I don't think it would be a wise thing to do. Speaking another language around people who don't speak that language is often considered disrespectful. If I'm working in a group of people, I wouldn't appreciate it if two people started their own conversation in their own language. It's just rude. Not to mention, if the patient overhears this, the patient could take it the wrong way by thinking 'oh they must be talking about me in a derogatory way and using a foreign language to talke smack about me right to my face.'

If you're giving report or working in a professional environment, everyone should be speaking the same language.

I wish I knew why it is that people automatically assume the worst. "Oh, they must be talking about me and it must be rude or poking fun or otherwise somehow bad" is a very common reaction to the situation OP describes. I, too, have felt tense and wondered what was being said and thought it was rude of them to be doing that when I was the one left out. however, being trilingual, I love to take any chance I can have to speak the 2 languages that I don't often get to use and I have never used these chances to say anything bad about anyone. I know I'm clean! But I also know it makes ill-at-ease and even angry others who are not able to speak the

language.

It should not be done in the presence of anyone else, at least, not at work.

[caliotter3]

I've seen it done. Not always appropriate, as when there are others who must get the info, but they do not understand the language being used. One of my facilities started the practice of CNAs listening to the nurses report; in this case, there were CNAs who were handicapped by only understanding English. This made the requirement for them to listen to report meaningless for them.

[JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN]

I think it's a great way to preserve patient privacy. If most of the surrounding people don't speak that language, that's even better. We always struggle with giving report in an open area where privacy may be violated. I think it's great. It's not exactly the same as just having conversation in their own language and excluding people.

[Meraki]

I think it is rude if you are in front of any one who doesn't understand - patients, families or staff. It really does come across as not wanting others to hear what you say. Similar to how whispering is rude in front of others. If the two are in a private room on their own giving report then give it in whatever language you want.

Also never underestimate that the people around you don't actual speak your the other language you are using. I am not Filipina but I speak and understand Tagalog. Many of the CNA's in my grandmothers nursing home are Filipino and often speak Tagalog amongst themselves. I am sure they would be a great deal more careful about what they said if they knew I could understand their conversations.

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

Sorry, this is the USA. Our language is English. We have nurses from all over the world on All Nurses. I bet report, in their workplace, is given in the native language of the country. I feel it is rude and unprofessional for bilingual people to converse with each other at work in a foreign language, period. You know tractor trailer drivers must be able to speak and understand English to drive a truck in the USA, my ex works for the New York State Department of Transportation. He inspected trucks for many years. Canadian truckers who speak French in Canada, must be able to speak and understand English, or they must turn their truck around and go back.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I'm not sure where these two nurses are at the time they are giving report? Some type of one on one nursing? One nurse giving report to another nurse at the patients bedside? If the family is there the report should be in English, if the patient is comatose I don't know why it should matter? If the nurses are reporting off where other staff members are also getting report the report needs to be in English in case co-workers need to assist with that patients care or if patient assignments change and someone else has to care for that patient.

I'm a student, and I was listening in on report in a private conference room where all the nurses do the report. (It can get quite loud in there!) Ninety percent of day nurses speak another language natively, but this is the only time I've ever seen report given in the common, native language of two of the nurses.

It started out in English, then blended with English and the other language, then ended in the native language only. When it got blended, I thought I just wasn't hearing well due to how loud it can get with 6-10 nurses talking all at once. Once I realized that I wasn't hearing English, I just quietly left the room and picked another patient to work with that day. As a student, I didn't think it was my place to say anything. My instructor was very understanding of the situation.

I would love to speak another language. My husband speaks three (English and another natively--both without accents--and a third with an accent). I wish he had passed it on to my kids! However, I'm of the mind that the COMMON language is often the best to speak in mixed company if all involved have the ability. This goes for personal and professional gatherings.

There are a lot of opinions in this thread--including mine--but how often have you ever seen it in your workplace? How did you handle it? How did others respond to it? During orientation to this particular healthcare system, I remember a module on foreign languages in the workplace. If I remember correctly, the only exceptions to NOT using English were during personal conversations out of earshot of patients/families and outside medical areas and with patients/families who choose to speak another language.

[nyteshade, BSN]

In Miami, it's inevitable...

[Zookeeper3]

if the two nurses handing out report speak the same language fluently, then there is no issue. There is an understanding with giving charge report or signing off to others, that the same spoken language needs to be used for patient safety.

I have no issue if two nurse that speak a native language give report in it ... just don't expect me.. no matter how strong my language skills are to do that in turn.

If the two are fluent, and it expidites report, why not? who else is listening anyway....?