Why do I feel like an outsider?

[GGirll22]

I just got a job which is majority Filipino. I am no way discriminating on them since my boyfriend is Filipino/black but they are cliquesh and I'm trying to learn some new skills and I hear them give report in their language and I really don't know what is going on until someone speaks to me in English. Is this what I've slaved for in Nursing school. I'm trying to be friendly and pretend like all this extra language isn't bothering me but it does effect my work. I've made two mistakes with charting, because if I sit with them I can't focus, if I sit away from them, oh you don't want to be around us? So asking how do you manage to fit in where there is majority of one race and be happy with new job. Also the manager is Filipino and there is a large sign that says "Everyone is encouraged to speak English" LOL !

[gambron]

It sounds like you are the outsider! How frustrating!! They should NOT be giving report in a language everyone doesn't understand. How are you supposed to know what's going on with the patients on your unit? Are you still on orientation? This is not an environment that fosters teamwork or learning. Have you talked to the manager? Although, I suspect you wouldn't get much accomplished because she's of the same ethnic background as the nurses you're mentioning. You could complain to the BON...it's a patient safety issue. If it were me, I would be looking for a different job! Good luck!

[blackvans1234]

I can't understand why they would give report in Tagolog, but then again I'm thinking dictaphone report, not face to face report.

Bring a Tagolog-English dictionary to work and leave it on the counter, then pretend it's not yours.

YOU CAN'T TALK BEHIND MY BACK ANYMORE!

[CodeteamB]

That's hard. The night staff at my last job was probably 75% Filipino. While report and patient care was always in English, casual conversation / socialization was primarily in Tagalog. This can really make you feel left out, although In my case I'm sure that was not the intent.

I approached the situation with humour. When everyone was talking away I would be all over-dramatic and say something like "guys, stop talking about me!!!!" It would get a laugh and they would switch to English for my benefit. After awhile if someone said something in Tagalog they would usually repeat it in English "so B doesn't feel left out"

I hope things get better for you, it sucks to feel left out, and I would insist on getting report in English, that is a patient safety issue.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

What is the workplace policy?

[pinkdustmagic28]

OMG I'm glad to learn that i am not the only one with this problem, but I'm sure you don't have it as bad as I do girl only advice look for another job, not sure if it will help since you are going to come across this a lot since there is a lot of them out there, it sounds like your company is just like mine, my company doesn't write them up for speaking tagalog in front of patients or while at the nursing station, they are aware that they don't suppose to speak in their language but they still do it, and is so annoying and disrespectull, I don't think is an issue or "fitting in", I think that issue here is that you are in the USA, you are fluent in English, and most important YOU ARE PROVIDING PATIENT CARE and speaking in tagalog like somebody else mention here is a patient safety issue wish you the best but is only going to get worst specially if your facility doesn't do anything about and if they are the majority they pretty much own the place that's how it is at my job and I can't wait to just leave and pray that I won't be dealing with this issue for the rest of my nursing career wish you the best of luck you are going to need it.

[monkeybug]

Difficult situation, to say the least. I would speak to the manager. Regardless of her ethnicity, I'm assuming she hired you and has to assume you don't speak Tagalog.

I worked in a unit with many (wonderful) Filipina nurses. They would use Tagalog in social conversations. One of the Caucasian nurses was married to a family member of one of the Filipina nurses. When the white nurse heard them speak anything other than English, she would immediately start to yell at them "You better not be talking about any of us!" "You know you're supposed to speak English!". Honestly, her yelling made me more uncomfortable than their Tagalog conversations did.

[SuzieVN]

If you are in CA, I've heard talk of the 'Filipino Mafia', that rules several nursing markets in LA and SF areas- and that if you are not Filipino, you will forever be an outcast.

[GGirll22]

what is BON

[GGirll22]

The women that gave me Orientation speaks the language in front of me while asking about my training.

[GGirll22]

Thanks all for who posted. A career I love that I dread going to work for. Not the patients just the environment is toxic and not sure of what is going on around me.

[blackvans1234]

In my opinion it is detrimental to patient care if there are people that do not speak the language.

For example

If the nurse is giving face to face report to another nurse and a nurse nearby hears a snippet about ''mr jones' DVT" , and this same nurse answers his bell later and notices he's got tachycardia and tachypnea and SOB, this nurse may make that connection, instead of just plopping some 02 on him and calling it a day.

I think it's poor practice, and unprofessional. Unless you're in an area that is dominated by that language.

(haters gonna gate on my opinion)