One thing i dont understand(at the nurses' station)

Nurses Relations

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There is one thing I can never understand being at the nurses' station(sorry if I offend anyone but here goes):

I know that the nursing realm is full of people from different walks of life and culture and that is normal bc it is like that with other professions as well. And I do know that with the nursing profession, there are a lot of American-Filipinos. But the thing that I notice, in all of my work places... is that the Filipino nurses speak their language all the time with each other in front of non-Filipino coworkers and non-Filipino patients. Isn't this rude? I believe in the employee handbook of most facilities mention about speaking the universal language in front of everyone, instead of a particular language, this is only polite, especially if your coworkers next to you doesn't understand the language you speak or your patients. I see this happening a lot and the nurses always leave me "hanging" and "wondering" what they are talking about. Wouldn't you agree that this is just rude and disrespectful.

There's nothing wrong with having Chinese nurses, Filipino nurses, Russian nurses... but I think it'll be respectful and polite to speak the universal language that everyone can understand. Unfortunately, this will always happen at the nurses' station... and I just don't understand it. It's RUDE. Gotta open up those employee handbooks and read.

I am not a troll.. I just wanted to share this perspective of mine on here. Sorry if it's offensive... but if you turn the table around, you would know how it feels.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I knew ill be getting something like this.

Universal language in the nurses' stations means the English language, if you don't already know what that means...

No, I am not concern about what any nurses talk about in their own language to each other.. but if they speak loudly for everyone at the station to hear... it'd be nice to speak in English.

That's called common courtesy.

I understand the frustration there. Having lived in an area where Tagalog is just one of many languages I hear my coworkers speaking, I believe most of the time they don't intend to be rude, and...

Nobody should be having loud conversations at the nurse's station.

When the talk is patient-related (ie report, rounding) it should all be in the same language.

Rude people exist, and native-English speakers don't have a monopoly on creating a toxic workplace. If you are really miserable there, focus it on that, rather than the language itself. Having said that I'm hoping it gets better for you. I'm not going to make light of your feelings,either.

Specializes in PCCN.

This situation doesnt bother me- Im not friends with my coworkers- they are just my coworkers.

I most certainly appreciate their diversity though- we get so manty patients who speak spanish , or ukrainian etc. that I appreciate that I can ask my coworkers to communicate with these pts( sometimes the translater phones only confuse the elderly even further)

My family is from Germany, but I never learned the language. It would be funny that at family gatherings that everyone would start out speaking english, but then would transfer right over to german. I think it just was easier for the. That, or they didn't want us young ones to know what they were talking about;)

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

You seriously think they're wasting their time talking about you? Probably discussing recipes or their kids or something. I work with Filipino and Nigerian nurses, and personally I find their non-English language to be the ideal white noise to get charting done to. Plus my favorite Filipino nurse bakes goodies for the heck of it, not gonna mess with that! :yeah:

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

The nurses that speak other languages in the place I work rarely speak that other language at work. When they do, it seems like a social conversation among friends. I have not personally been bothered by it.

This is actually not a great example, because, like others, it is YOUR discomfort that is at stake. Let us say you worked in a hospital in Germany or France and had enough basic terminology to conduct patient care. But you're not fluent.

No one should be working at a hospital in Germany or France if they are not fluent in the language. "Basic terminology" is just not good enough.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I only speak English but have worked in US military installations in multple countries and multiple US states. At every facility I have worked at, English was the language to be spoken while in patient care areas unless providing translation services.

This was in Spain, Korea, Japan, Nevada, Indiana and Illinois - and all of these places had it in writing when you started your employment.

So, at least in some facilities it is a written policy.

Have you spoken the staff who are conversing in the other language? Have you told them that you feel left out? I can't think of a single person I know from the Philippines who has not been friendly and gracious. I doubt they are trying to shut you out. As a previous poster said, it's is probably easy and familiar for them to speak their first language.

Hving experienced this many times, I feel it is rude and it does make you feel left out, especially if you encounter this on more or less a daily basis.

Speaking in other than English when working with predominantly English speakers on your job in the US is divisive, however unintentional. It needs to be done only privately and on your own time, like on your unpaid break.

Probably most Filipino nurses grew up bilingual - just guessing. The ones I have known speak it too well for it to be otherwise.

I have to wonder if this policy is partially based on location. I have worked in healthcare facilities in both Philadelphia and Denver metro (a lot of ethnic diversity in both areas), and have never heard of such a policy. This did come up in the news about 10-15 years ago because a highschool in Arizona wanted to ban Spanish language (e.g. native speakers talking to,each other in the hallways) in school. It was a hotly debated topic, and I'm not sure there was ever a satisfactory conclusion to the issue.

I think it is one thing to speak in a separate language in front of a patient, and another in front of a colleague. A patient should always be included in the conversation, at least while in the room and within earshot. From a workers perspective, and in extreme cases it could lead to gossip and bullying, but that is probably not the case here. If you feel strongly about the policy, talk directly to your co-workers. Unless a patient is directly involved, this does not seem appropriate to bring to management.

When you look at the history of America, you know that Europeans brutally conquered America and subjugated the native peoples. Part of this subjugation included forcing children of the native peoples to attend schools taught by Europeans.

These schools required that native tongues and dress and religious practices and probably a lot more be abandoned, banned.

Some of these peoples have been able to throw off some of the bonds inflicted upon their ancestors and have found their roots - their native language, customs, and so on. I would be reluctant to once again ban any native language.

However, there has to be mutual respect; respect on both sides. This is the problem with racial awakening. There is a lot of anger and it comes out against people who have never been rude to or repressive of anyone. This is wrong. It causes much hurt, hate, and pain on both sides. it turns someone who would befriend us into an enemy. It does to some, who have never hated anyone or felt superior to anyone, that which others who want revenge for what was done to their forefathers.

There needs to be a balance. It's easier said than done. We have to try, though.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Forgot to add, my bilingual coworkers NEVER speak their other languages in front of patients, always at the nurses' station amongst themselves. They have the common sense and respect to speak English with patients.

Sure, labs being done, docs orders being carried out, and patients being taken care of... but to speak the language other than the mutual language that other nurses don't understand is still not professional. That's actually impolite. Imagine if we all work in a hospital and the majority of nurses are Chinese-Americans or German-Americans and most of them speak Chinese or German.. and you have no idea what they are talking about... and yes half of the time, it pertains to your patients. Wouldn't that drive you nuts. I am sorry if this is a sensitive issue or this offends anyone, and I'm not talking about the language or the people personally. Any language out there other than the mutual language... it really does make everyone else uncomfortable. Nursing is a professional field... if we can pass the NCLEX(in English), why can't we speak the language when people/coworkers/patients are around, it's only reasonable.

I don't think it's unprofessional, but it is rude.

" I believe in the employee handbook of most facilities mention about speaking the universal language in front of everyone, instead of a particular language,"

The United States is a very Diverse Place my dear. I grew up in Houston where more people speak Spanish than English. In my nurse's station at any time you will hear Spanish, Tagala, Urdu, Arabic, and English.

As per your "Universal Language" theory, you are very much mistaken. The United States is among the very few countries in the world without a National Language. We are a nation of immigrants; while most governments enforce a specific language for all contracts, schooling, legal matters, employment, or other official business The United States does not. If you were to be discharged from the hospital in France you would not receive an English translation of your AVS. I am currently applying to The University of Manchester for my MSc, I am a natural born American and I have to submit an English Speaking Proficiency Exam Score to prove I speak English before I can be admitted for this very reason.

Off the soapbox the lion's share of Filipinos I have worked with have been extremely accommodating and polite. They probably don't know they are offending you. I once went to a new years party at someone's home and was the only person there who did not speak Tegala. EVERYONE spoke English if I was in the room the whole night. Just politely, in a non-threatening manner, explain to them it makes you uncomfortable. They would probably stop.

Specializes in geriatrics.

We have policies in place regarding English in the workplace, because staff are expected to be patient centred.

Meaning that unless the language is spoken to enhance patient care (as in that patient's native tongue), English is to be spoken. Patients, staff and families have complained to management that they feel excluded.

As a result, this policy is enforced through progressive discipline. During orientation, oncoming staff are made aware of the policy.

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