How do you get on with foreign nurses?

[letina]

Hi :)

As a foreign-educated nurse, soon to be relocating to the US, I was wondering what US nurses' perceptions/expectations are of their foreign co-workers. Are there any particular work-related difficulties? I'm thinking in terms of differences in the way things are done in the clinical area.....and how do you feel if a new foreign nurse keeps asking questions, since you are all so busy, do you feel you have the time to help us? I just worry sometimes that I might make a nuisance of myself I'm a very experienced nurse here in my home country, but very aware that it'll be like starting over when I move to the US, and will be relying on my new co-workers to set me straight on a thing or two. So....just interested to know what you think about working with transcultural nurses

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Letina did ypu ever relocate to the US? I have worked here for 2 years and I trained over 20 years ago in the UK. I found the folks here VERY helpful and my accent and the way I speak a real door-opener. Haven't found ANY discrimination.I work on a med-surg unit and find working here soooooo different from the UK but great working conditions. The vacation is the only gripe I have. I got 6 weeks in the UK and lucky to get 2 weeks here!!! UGHHH

Yes she is here in her first year, I am sure you remember the first year is the hardest. :wink2:

[Grace Oz]

haa! roy, what you've written brought back memories of our trip "up/over" in may/june!

we noticed those things, and more, which are so different to here in oz.

one of the funniest and most curious for us was... the toilets!!!!!! :chuckle

the water level is so high! soooo low set, swirl differently. hahahaha!

also, here in oz ..........

american: ---- aussie:

gurney ------ barouche

tennis shoes ---joggers

another thing which ? "amused"? us was: "i need to go potty!" whaaaat?!

here in oz, to go potty means you've "lost it!" gone nuts/crazy.

we do use the term 'potty' when describing 'potty training' for a child, but it usually ends there. lol it's not used beyond this time to describe going to the toilet.

aren't the differences between us humans interesting? :-)

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Grace, I can't tell you the number of times I had my papers corrected and returned to me and they had spelling corrections on them - like the crossed off "u" for 'colour' etc.

Drove me nuts! :chuckle

[froghair]

i have no problem working with nurses from elsewhere...... if they are female and scottish i hope there into talking lots as i could listen to them talk all day long.

other terms for those "things" you dont want to say out aloud......

drop the kids off at the pool........= no 2

shed a tear..........= no1

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Grace, I can't tell you the number of times I had my papers corrected and returned to me and they had spelling corrections on them - like the crossed off "u" for 'colour' etc.

Drove me nuts! :chuckle

I had to deal with the same problems. Though, I was a native Floridian, some of my earlier education was in Cornwall. To this day, if I have been chatting recently w/friends from "across the pond", I find myself reinserting the "u"s in words.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

How about mither, my very very favorite word, which even southerns of the Uk dont know

I have even though I'm a southerner. Jack Duckworth used to ask Vera to stop "mithering" him on Coronation St. :wink2:

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I have even though I'm a southerner. Jack Duckworth used to ask Vera to stop "mithering" him on Coronation St. :wink2:

:rotfl: It's such a great word but when I lived in Portsmouth nobody ever knew what it mean't. The funny thing is my counsin who is born and bred American uses the word because of our Grandma, who would say it to her as a young child

[lvs2nrs3535]

When you come to the U.S. you will notice the opposite everywhere. You will get the feeling "These guys are crazy" .....almost everything you try to do will fail even if it is a small thing like switching ON the lamp !!!!"

This is just to make you get a hang of it. The cars are driven on the right hand side instead of left hand side of the road. So you should look left first while crossing roads :) You may have to insert the key upside down and rotate it in the opposite direction to unlock. You will also notice that switches work in opposite direction i.e. UP is ON and DOWN is OFF :). The date is written with the month first, then day, followed by the year.

Here's an informal "dictionary" that I can think off ::

Word = American format

School = High school

College = School

University = School

High school = School/Junior High

Take a class = Teach a class

Be a student = Take a class

2nd standard = 2nd grade

High marks = Good grades

Invigilator = Proctor

Canteen = Cafeteria

Windcheater = Windbreaker

Vest = Undershirt

Waistcoat = Vest

Half-pant = Shorts

Purse = Wallet

Swim trunks = Swim suit

Swim costume = Swim suit

Traffic signal = Traffic light

Boot/dikky = Trunk of a car

Bonnet/Hood = of a car

Petrol pump = Gas station

Petrol = Gas

Pavement = Sidewalk

Footpath = Sidewalk

Zebra Crossing = Crosswalk

Take a lift = Get a ride

Motorcycle = Motorbike

Cycle = Bike

Lorry = Truck

Football = Soccer

American football = Football

Solid = Substantial

Ltd. = Inc.

Transistor = Radio

Two-in-One = Boom box

Goggles = Sunglasses

Cooling glass = Sunglasses

Toilet = Restroom

Guest house = Motel

Current = Electricity

$20 Note = $20 Bill

Cell = Battery

Torch = Flashlight

Rubber = Eraser

Condom = Rubber

Snap = Picture

Photograph = Picture

Mixee = Mixer

Dustbin = Trash can

Beggar = Panhandler

IBM-Compatible = IBM-Clone

Inflammable = Flammable

Mess Dorm = Cafeteria

Hotel = Restaurant

Restaurant bill = Restaurant check

Cheque = Check

Picture = Movie

Talkies = Movies

Lift = Elevator

To fix = To install

To repair = To fix

Pram = Stroller

Gurney = Cart

To post (a letter) = To mail (a letter)

To submit = To turn in

To be out of station = To be out of town

A place to park = Driveway

A place to drive = Parkway

Straight-away = Right away

Anticlockwise = Counterclockwise

Bunk school = Skip class

Passed out = Graduated

Fainted = Passed out

Ring up (someone) = Call up (someone)

The line is engaged = It's busy / I got a busy tone

Push the accelerator = Step on the gas

Give the car some race = Speed up the car

Get down (from a bus) = Get off (of a bus) (But be careful about telling some one to "get off" )

Let's push off = Let's go

Let's make a move = Let's go

Convince someone = Talk someone into

Black money Tax free = undeclared income

Standing from a Constituency = Running for an election

Issue a book = Checkout a book

(from the library) (from the library)

I just wanted to say, you missed 'Cooker'.

I had a very good friend from England who I met in Walmart, and she said she was looking for a 'cooker'. I didnt know what the heck she was talking about. It was a 'stove' or 'oven', as we call it here.

Doesnt matter. The wonderful accent makes it all sound good.

As for this thread, I hope you all find persons in America who are ready to learn all the different cultural aspects that you have to offer. I am a born and bred Northern American, I married a Filipino man, I have good friends from Somalia, and I have learned wonderful things from every different person I have met from every different culture. You may meet the jerks, (American for stupid, intolerant, obnoxious, ect. ect.), but there are good people for every jerk. Welcome!

[Liliana98]

Love foreign nurses! The ones I've worked with are kind and smart and I never mind when they ask questions...they pick up things fast and are great workers. If you are a foreign nurse just don't get discouraged if people say something less positive or comment on your accent...most of them are afraid of anything that is different than what they know or what they have been used to. There is also the fear that foreign nurses will take over american jobs...which I think it's an unfounded fear -- the most qualified individual will get the job, regardless if foreign or native!

[AuntieRN]

My preceptor is from the Phillipines. She is awesome!!!!! She is smart, kind and supportive. I would not have chosen any other nurse to be my preceptor. She has been here for a little over 2 years now. I know my nurse manager thinks very highly of her as well as all the other nurses on our floor.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

To be truthful I dont remember anymore that I dont have the same accent as everybody else-it is only when somebody has burst out laughing at some strange comment I have made that I realise.

I was in the bank last week and I said to the manager "I will just sit over here and wait to be picked up" I saw her choke a little and then realised what I had said.

What I should have said I am waiting for my ride

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i had the same doubt...

i was just willing how would it be the 1st month?

i'm experienced in my country. we use american books at university as well(such as brunner & sudarth), but i'm afraid of starting to work and see so many different dressings, equipments, words...

could you give me some tips if there's a way i could use to prepare myself?

thanks a lot.

when i moved to the east coast from the midwest, i had to learn new equipment, new dressings, and new vocabulary. policies were different, procedures were different and the culture was different. besides that, i didn't understand their accent! and i just moved to one state from another -- same country.

it's inevitable that you're going to enter a zone of discomfort, and you'll have a lot to learn. just keep an open mind, ask questions and be willing to learn. and i'd second that suggestion about speaking english in the work place. it's really disconcerting when every fillipino nurse in the unit is staring at me and giggling while chattering in tagalog!