heres one...speaking other languages in front of patients

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Theres been a few threads about conduct and whats right to do while at work. What about speaking another language in front of patients?

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I often do.

I have to speak English in front of my Spanish speaking patients. How else does one communicate?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If the patient does not speak English, not much you can do about that. However, it still seems rude to me. Why not do your report outside in that case?

If the patient speaks English and you choose to stand in front of them speaking another language that is totally unacceptable in my book. When I was in school we had nurses regularly give report in Tagali (sp?) specifically to exclude the student nurses and the patients. Fortunately, I have not seen that type of behavior since.

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Specializes in Home Care.

When two people communicate in a language not understood by someone else the person who doesn't understand often assumes that they are talking about them.

I've had it happen to me several times where I'll be with a group of friends and me being the only one who doesn't speak the other language. A couple of friends would start talking in their own language excluding me from the conversation. Its just rude.

But lets say that one person didn't understand an explanation in english so the explanation was given again in their native tongue then I can accept that.

It all depends on the situation.

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When speaking to a patient i believe that one should strive to accommodate their communication pattern and capacity.... it is rude to speak a different language in front of a patient because the patient might feel excluded, insecure and uncomfortable..

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
If the patient does not speak English, not much you can do about that. However, it still seems rude to me. Why not do your report outside in that case?

If the patient speaks English and you choose to stand in front of them speaking another language that is totally unacceptable in my book. When I was in school we had nurses regularly give report in Tagali (sp?) specifically to exclude the student nurses and the patients. Fortunately, I have not seen that type of behavior since.

It's "Tagalog". And I do believe it was to keep certain details away from the patients. Don't know about the students though. I work in PACU where there is NO place to report, but in front of patients, especially when we transfer care. I do a lot of hand signals.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

If you are not speaking directly to the patient then you have no business having any conversation in any language in front of them in their room.

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I cannot speak any other languages except English and French (not many French people where I live in California). However, it bothers me when CNAs, RNs and managers converse in Spanish in front of me or my (non-Spanish-speaking) patients. Simply because we cannot understand...

A short anecdote - I was eating my lunch in the canteen with several CNAs who were conversing in Spanish. Feeling left out and somewhat paranoid, I asked them what they were talking about... they were discussing whether God exists... I was immediately humbled, having assumed they were complaining about me! Sometimes egos get in the way!!!!

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
If you are not speaking directly to the patient then you have no business having any conversation in any language in front of them in their room.

Au contraire! Many hospitals require BEDSIDE report. I am not big on this unless my patient is intubated and sedated with no family in the room. The most I will do is introduce the patient to the oncoming nurse and show them any unusual drains or wounds.

Real report happens out of earshot. I am not about to give hx of bipolar, depression, and other psych hx in front of pt or family.

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I cannot speak any other languages except English and French (not many French people where I live in California). However, it bothers me when CNAs, RNs and managers converse in Spanish in front of me or my (non-Spanish-speaking) patients. Simply because we cannot understand...

A short anecdote - I was eating my lunch in the canteen with several CNAs who were conversing in Spanish. Feeling left out and somewhat paranoid, I asked them what they were talking about... they were discussing whether God exists... I was immediately humbled, having assumed they were complaining about me! Sometimes egos get in the way!!!!

At least that is what they TOLD you was the topic of their conversation. . .;)

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I cannot speak any other languages except English and French (not many French people where I live in California). However, it bothers me when CNAs, RNs and managers converse in Spanish in front of me or my (non-Spanish-speaking) patients. Simply because we cannot understand...

A short anecdote - I was eating my lunch in the canteen with several CNAs who were conversing in Spanish. Feeling left out and somewhat paranoid, I asked them what they were talking about... they were discussing whether God exists... I was immediately humbled, having assumed they were complaining about me! Sometimes egos get in the way!!!!

learn spanish and dont tell them, then you can surprise them. years ago, i knew a doc who spoke more than passable spanish....his name was peter greene.....he "gotcha'd" more than a few.....lol

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I have a poor comprehension of the Spanish language. I can understand (hear) more than I can speak. We had a Spanish speaking patient who spoke NO English. (BTW, student nurse here). Anyway, no one could speak Spanish. When I greeted her in her native language and asked her how she was feeling, this lathargic patient became animated! She and I had a great day and we both would laugh when I said something incorrectly. She was patient with my lack of knowledge and even taught me and the Nurse I was assigned to some medical terms in spanish. :D She cried when they had to move her to a tele unit.

I definitely committed myself to getting the Rosetta Stone program and relearning Spanish. Given the fact that I live in FL, I do believe I will run into this often!

(I would also love to be like that Doc and do the gotcha's on gossipy folks! LOL :D )

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