I feel isolated and left out

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I just started a new job, in my specialty that I LOVE, but the problem is I feel like an orphan because all my co-workers speak spanish to each other,and my spanish is not that great. I have worked in the miami area for years and this hasn't been a problem until this particular hospital. I do pretty good with my spanish patients but when I'm in a procedure where EVERYONE is speaking spanish (including the doctor/pt/techs etc.) I feel very left out and kinda sad. Is it because I'm new? I mean, I'm 55 years old, should I care that much about "fitting in?"

Of course, sometimes I wonder If I'm missing something important in regard to the patient, but I just can't stand there and say, "could you translate that into english" when they speak it constantly to each other.

My supervisor, on hiring me, knew I spoke only "medical" spanish. and he emphasized the importance of TEAM WORK but how can I be part of a team if I can't communicate fully?

Should I find another job that won't reject this gringa?

Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I understand where you are coming from. I speak poquito espanol, and moved from a hospital where everyone except most of our Hispanic patients spoke English, to a hospital in the middle of a NYC latin neighborhood. EVERYONE speaks fluent Spanish, including caucasians, blacks, some asians, etc.... I also work with around 100 Filipino nurses who constantly jabber in tagalog to each other, regardless of who's in the room. It can be very frustrating and at times rude.

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I completely understand how you feel. Unfortunately, I think this is typical for Miami. I've experienced a similar situation at a public university in Mia. I was in a master's program, where the instructor allowed class discussions to be conducted in spanish. Eventually, I decided to leave the program.:o

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Part of this job is communication and when you are not a part of it, it is a problem. For me it would bring up safety concerns in regards to the work environment and of the patients. If I don't know what is going on or have an idea of what is going on, I try to find out. You need to maybe start asking questions. Like " What is the story with this patient"? Or " Why is this thing here?" Then maybe they will start to offer you information about what is going on. If this doesn't work - I think you should go to your supervisor about your feelings. Tell her that you want to be a part of the team but feel isolated because you don't understand Spanish. I would also go to human resources also (if available). - And in the mean time I would also be looking for another job.

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The last time I checked Miami was in the United States of America. This situation is very disturbing to me.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

We have the same problem with eastern European workers coming here.In our N/H they have to speak English but I have heard of several N/H's where there are so many that they speak their own language when attending to residents.for a confused old person this must be very frightening and distressing.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I thought this person worked in Miami which is in the USA where we speak ENGLISH. I understand using Spanish while communicating with a Spanish speaking pt. I agree if the pt speaks no English we should communicate in their native language. But I draw the line when there is no reason to speak another language. Like communication between co workers regarding a pt. She is supposed to be part of a team and the only one who speaks limited medical Spanish. I think it is uncalled for and quite rude for them to communicate everything in Spanish when one person on the team is limited in that language. We have some Filipino nurses who once in a while start talking in Tagalog and that makes me crazy because if you don't want anyone to know what you are saying please go somewhere private. I have no idea what you are or could possibly be saying. And yes this was a constant when some nurses worked together. This wasn't during patient care but when they were at the desk talking.

I deffinately would be uncomfortable. I would go to the manager and let them know what was happening and if after some time there is no improvement then I would deffinately look for another job.

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The last time I checked Miami was in the United States of America. This situation is very disturbing to me.

I completely agree, this is the USA and English is the primary language . . . I so do not understand this.

My intention is to not offend anyone, I am from the mid-west so this is not common around here but come on, to me this is ridiculous. A person who lives in the USA and works in the USA should not have to "ask" for translation to English to fit in. Unless the patient speaks only Spanish, English should be spoken.

The comment about a lecture primarily in Spanish blows me away.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I would gently ask for a redirect - "I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about" and say it as many times as you have to. If you are worried about your license being in jeopardy then yes, I would look for another job.

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I would gently ask for a redirect - "I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about" and say it as many times as you have to. If you are worried about your license being in jeopardy then yes, I would look for another job.

I'm going to try this, I particularly like the gently asking part, as I would like to avoid antagonizing them. What I don't 100% understand is how they themselves don't see this as a rude behaviour? I would like to hear from someone who speaks spanish around english speaking coworkers, to hear their point of view.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

One of the areas that I have worked in was in a hospital in a mainly Welsh speaking community. I do speak some Welsh but am ashamed to admit that is is not what it should be and I don't use my language often enough so have gotten quite rusty.

As most of the conversations were held in Welsh between staff and patients alike when I started there I did feel as if I was being excluded, but I asked for the conversations I didn't understand to be repeated in English and did engage in some Welsh where I was able and the fact I attempted was appreciated. In the end I managed to improve my Welsh enough and my fellow nurses respected when I needed the conversations to take place in English.

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Specializes in Burnout & Resiliency Coaching for Nurses.

whatever you do or decide follow your heart and good luck.

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Sorry about your situation. I know exactly how you feel? I was working in the computer field with a lot of asian people speaking chinese. I felt so left out everyday. I didnt care that most of them were Chinese, I just wanted to belong and feel like a team. We sat in cubicles next to each other, all I heard most of the day was Chinese. I sat alone in my cubicle everyday for lunch while they would go out as a big group. It was so uncomfortable. I tried to ignore how I felt and just remind myself that I was there to work. I finally quit because I just couldnt do it anymore. I never told my supervisor the real reason I quit. I could tell the chinese employees were happy with their environment so I thought it best that I leave and find some place I felt I belonged.

My advice to you, either quit or talk to your supervisor about the problem. You need to go to work feeling like a part of the team and not an outsider.

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