Is it professional??????????

NurseguyFL · Mar 1, 2007

Their own language in their own home if thats what they prefer, however they are in someone elses home (your patients) and they need to be speaking whatever it is your patients are speaking. It goes beyond rude, its disrespectful to their patients considering the age and history of the people they are supposed to be caring for.

I agree. If you go to live and work in other countries they require that you learn their language and live according to their rules. The US is probably the only country where people can come to, for the most part, do whatever they please, and call it 'culture'. Does anyone remember the case in Florida where one lady sued the DMV because they refused to photograph her for a driver's license with her head completely wrapped in a turban, exposing only her eyes? I don't believe in disrespecting other people's culture, but come on now...

I wouldn't call this unprofessional, though. Maybe these individuals at the OP's job don't even consider the behavior to be rude because they don't see anything wrong with it and no one has said anything to them about it to make them think otherwise.

jjjoy, LPN · Mar 1, 2007

If you go to live and work in other countries they require that you learn their language and live according to their rules.

In a number of non-English-speaking countries, they've got forms in English and they've got a number of local people who speak English fluently who can help you out as you apply for work visas, file your tax forms, open a bank account, etc.

caliotter3 · Mar 1, 2007

When I was working as a CNA in a LTC facility, I was at the nurses stn doing some charting once. A group of my co-workers (nurses and CNAs) was having a lively conversation in English (unusual) about the administration having stated that day that communicating with residents about their care would be done in English. The discussion was rude, disrespectful, and loud enough to be heard by the lady in the closest room. She was the individual being discussed; she had been the one who complained. I kept quiet. The discussion became so disgusting, that I started to get sick to my stomach. It takes a lot of ego to brag about your past misdeeds as well as future misdeeds concerning pt care. The talk consisted of near pt abuse as well as pt abuse. I had not been aware that personnel went further than neglect when taking care of this particular lady. When I next went into the lady's room, she was visibly distraught and had the look of fear in her eyes. She was crying. Hostile workplace? How about the residents who had to live there 24/7? In this case, it was better that the residents did not know what was being said to their faces as well as all around them.

Bridget O'Malley · Mar 1, 2007

And there are different accents within England and Ireland, respectively.

I would definitely revert back to an American accent. I think the key is to remember who you are communicating with. Two nurses speaking to each in a foreign language can communicate better by speaking their native tongue. However, if an English-speaking nurse needs to be included in this communication, than speaking English is necessary.

Balder, that's great advice.

Giving report in another language when others need to hear it is a different matter and absolutely unprofessional.

Bridget O'Malley · Mar 1, 2007

starbin,

After rereading your post, I would like to add that if your co-workers know it bothers you and continue to do this every time and they are fluent in English, then of course it is rude and unprofessional.

But if they are able to work more effectively by communicating in their native language and speak English when they address you, then I don't consider it so.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 3, 2007

I think talking in a language understood only by the speakers is kind of like whispering in front of someone. It sends the message that they are not worthy of being included in the conversation, or that they don't want you to know what they are talking about. (Not comfortable for the person who is on the outside!)

I agree.

vamedic4, EMT-P · Mar 3, 2007

starbin, I'm so sorry for your dilemma. You are correct, and this is the bottom line...if you are around others in a professional setting (in front of patients, during the care of patients, discussing patients with others) then EVERYONE needs to be on the same page. We do that AT THE BASIC LEVEL by speaking the same language. Period. If that language is english, then english is what should be spoken.

If the patient speaks another language...say, spanish, then you must accomodate them and either 1. find another provider who can interpret for you, 2. use AT&Ts wonderful language line, or get someone from your facility (ours provides translators) to help. We owe it to our patients to be able to communicate with them. Our coworkers, however, are another story.

If you work in the US, you have to speak English to your coworkers who only speak english.

Now if you walked up on a group of non english speaking nurses engaged in a conversation in their native language in the breakroom...leave them alone. They're just doing what they know. But out on the floor in front of patients?? It's absolutely rude and unprofessional, and that's the bottom line. :nono:

vamedic4

laundry's waiting.

I work in a LTC where 90% of the nurses (including the ADON) are foreign graduates (and from the same country, actually not only nurses....the PT/OTs, dieticians and kitchen aids, laundry aids and also some CNAs are from the same country). I love diversity in workplace but the problem here is these people speak in their own language (99% of the time) while talking to other employees from their country. They don't care even if someone else, who doesn't undrestand their language, is around. I tried to tell them a couple of times but they are too many of them that it is impossible to tell each and every person to talk in english. Looks like in two years I am going to master that language.........I myself being a foreigner having different native language...I don't favor talking in native languages at workplace unless it is required to facilitate communication between the patient and the care provider..............What do you guys think? Is it professional????????????

ann945n, RN · Mar 3, 2007

Rude, no questions asked no excuses for those doing it. This is a professional setting and they need to speak english. I dont by the excuse that it is easier for them, I lived in germany for a good period of time and struggled with the language every day but i did it! I spoke english at home only. I would complain and if no changes were made i would find a new place to work. Its not only rude to the other people and residents there but rude to our country that they fell they can get away with not respecting our native language and make an effort to learn it and speak it, i never did that! I didnt have the nerve! There is a time and a place for your native language and its not in the work place while on the clock or not on break, who knows how much valuable information about pt care you are missing!

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2007

I absolutely believe it is rude! In one job I had, there were two predominate groups of non-english-first employees, speaking 2 different non-english languages. All of them knew how to speak english. There were several times when I was the only english-only speaker on the floor. During the downtime (yeah we sometimes had that) at night, everyone would be in the nurses' station just kind of chatting, all in their native language, while I kind of sat there looking stupid, not able to participate. I finally took to saying "hey guys, give the poor American a break! I wannt chat too! and they'd then revert to english mostly, and we'd all have a nice chat. This worked with both non-english groups.

In my current job, the official language of the institution is English, and every single coworker I have speaks english, with varying degrees of accent, but I can understand them all. They rarely tune out into their native tongue, at least not where english-only speakers are concerned. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

One of our clerks has been in this country for about 8 years, from Germany. She came without a word of english. She speaks pretty much without an accent at all now - her english is great! Why can't everyone manage this when they immigrate to America??

All that aside, I do NOT "speak" another language, but I have managed to learn significant spanish phrases and carry a little translator card for medical professionals that can often fill in the gaps. The spanish-only patients seem to appreciate the effort,and, should I need more detailed spanish, there's usually someone around willing to help out!

I feel for the OP - it can be very disconcerting not to be part of the group (which IS part of maintaining morale in the workplace).

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2007

I once worked in an environment in which I was the only one not born in Russia. I started picking up Russian.

People always spoke to me in English, and never tried to exclude me by speaking Russian, but I never presumed to tell others that they should communicate less effectively in a language in which they were not as proficient as their native tongue. They all spoke decent English but when things were crucial they reverted, which is only natural and should, I think, be accepted.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 3, 2007

In LA County facilities, it is actually illegal to speak in another language if there are more than two involved. Not speaking of when the patient speaks the other langauge.

And the break room? That is their time from work. But in the nursing unit, it should be English 100%.

And it is unprofessional to do otherwise.

Atl_John · Mar 4, 2007

English, that is what they should speak while in the hospital. Outside of the hospital it is their business. While on their lunch break, they may speak in whatever language they wish, but when back to work, back to english. Being someone who didn't speak English as their Primary Language I feel ratherly strongly about this. If I'm in a group of English speaking friends and German speaking friends we all speak in English only if my english friends are not around then I speak in German. Its only polite.