Nurses not speaking english at work

[Guest296136]

I work nights and the majority of the night nurses are foreign, they are all very good nurses but sometimes I feel out of place because they are always speaking their language to each other. They all take their breaks together and have a feast every night, many times leaving me on the floor by myself. I am out numbered and am afraid to say anything, it took awhile to get accepted and I don't want to make waves.

[Tyler77]

Nurses will speak in their native tongue whan they want to badmouth a patient/co-worker/student. In the real world, this shouldn't happen, right? Everyone and their brother on this board stress professionalism and personal responsibility, right?

And instead of beating this subject to death on these boards, simply see your nurse in charge/or HR and tell them "Hey, there's these nurses that are constantly speaking Tagalog and it makes me feel uncomfortable." If you're a student, and all that you heard was the nurses speaking in their native tongue, and therefore couldn't report back about your patient's progress--well--you sure are naive if you think you can get away with that. No instructor worth their salt will say "Oh dear, that's common. maybe next week I'll see if the English speaking nurses will be working and I'll put you with them."

.

[violet_violet]

Taking breaks together as a group is the problem. I've seen perfectly well spoken English RNs who take breaks together simply because they are friends.

[2011LPNJ29]

Can we all get along and learn to move further.This is the reason why we have along way to go.I just pity the new generation.

[juliannaUT]

I've had this same experience at work. Half of the nurses that I work with are Philippino. I love them all dearly. They are awesome nurses. But, when they all get together, they speak Tagalog. I know what you mean about feeling out of place. I've just handled it by joking with them about it and asking them to please speak English...which they do. And, the other half of the nurses I work with, and CNA's, speak Spanish. I feel like the minority. Just plain old white girl speakin English. If I were you I would just tell them how you feel, as nicely and tactfully as you can. Chances are they don't realize that they are making you feel uncomfortable.

[kty1]

I've reached the stage now where I don't care what language people speak during their breaks as long as they CAN speak any English at all. I agree that deliberately excluding people in this way is rude and is a form of bullying. But right now we have bigger problems that need to be dealt with. We have a HUGE problem within my hospital of nurses who see being hired with poor English language skills. I've recently had nurses come and work with me and not been able to communicate appropriately. This is unacceptable anywhere in a hospital in an English speaking country. I've had to refuse to work with them one on one because I've had too many incidents in the OR where communication deficits put the patient at risk.

It's clear to me that the criteria for allowing some English as a second or third language is not being met. The boardneeds toget tougher on this because it puts patients and risk as well as causing stress to other nurses.

You are so right! Enough is enough and a stand needs to be taken; especially when communication is lacking between patient to nurse, nurse to nurse. Shame on the facility who send out these memos who say "start speaking english" yet NEVER follow up on the reality of it all. If I were practicing in another country, darn straight I would learn that countries language. I believe it is the responsibility of the facility NOT to hire nurses who cannot make clear what their intentions are while practicing medicine. I would NEVER speak my second language while working and find it very rude when others do not adhere to the same professionalism.

Speak English!!!

[kty1]

I've had this same experience at work. Half of the nurses that I work with are Philippino. I love them all dearly. They are awesome nurses. But, when they all get together, they speak Tagalog. I know what you mean about feeling out of place. I've just handled it by joking with them about it and asking them to please speak English...which they do. And, the other half of the nurses I work with, and CNA's, speak Spanish. I feel like the minority. Just plain old white girl speakin English. If I were you I would just tell them how you feel, as nicely and tactfully as you can. Chances are they don't realize that they are making you feel uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, I believe these nurses know all to well what they are doing. It is more comfortable for them to speak the language of their homeland. Well, this is America where English needs to be spoken especially in critical areas such as medicine. I find is very rude and offensive when grown women/men do not follow the rules in the workplace when asked to speak English. I speak another language, but would never do this on the floor while working, not even on break as I know this makes others feel insecure and left out. I might also "love all my fellow Phillippino/hispanics etc, but the speaking of other languages do not happen on my shift as it is rude and HAS become a problem when dealing with peoples lives (lack of correct communication)! It's not fun to have to redirect a person 2-3x because they can't understand what you are requesting for a patient or perform poorly all because they lack understanding of the English language.

[caliotter3]

I have never worked at a facility where this was occurring that the persons involved did not express their awareness of their behavior. They know exactly what they are doing and will go out of their way to make it obvious, glaring, and disrespectful to all others, especially the patients.

[fuyuojo]

So most of the posters here are saying is when you're in an English speaking zone, whether or break or not, you have to speak the language. I am a Filipino so I know how it feels when you talk with a fellow Filipino. It's a connection, that you are not alone. We love socializing. However, I know it is wrong, I read your woes and it's hard to be left behind especially when you don't know what others are talking about. And especially if it compromises the patient's safety.

I feel offended with those who asked why should the US give the jobs to us Filipino nurses and for non-American citizens as well, when some of you are hungry. Before those workers got to the position they are in now, they worked really hard for it. We have to get our license, the US license, (and the exam ain't cheap for us), pay for those agencies, get a US Visa, the works. They passed through a needle-hole to get in there. What they have gone through isn't a walk in the park. A little respect for us, please. If you worked hard just to get your license and your job, well, we did thrice to get a US license and work in your country.

And why are we leaving our country? Simple. We are not paid us much. We are over worked but under paid. We want a better future for our families. Is that too much to ask?

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

No, it's not too much to ask. Nor is it too much to ask for you to abide by policy regarding use of your native language in the clinical area.

[fuyuojo]

No, it's not too much to ask. Nor is it too much to ask for you to abide by policy regarding use of your native language in the clinical area.

Not all I think. Some live by the policies that the institution had presented. Not all of us break rules you know. People tend to generalize and stereotype, so please refrain from doing so.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

so most of the posters here are saying is when you're in an english speaking zone, whether or break or not, you have to speak the language. i am a filipino so i know how it feels when you talk with a fellow filipino. it's a connection, that you are not alone. we love socializing. however, i know it is wrong, i read your woes and it's hard to be left behind especially when you don't know what others are talking about. and especially if it compromises the patient's safety.

i feel offended with those who asked why should the us give the jobs to us filipino nurses and for non-american citizens as well, when some of you are hungry. before those workers got to the position they are in now, they worked really hard for it. we have to get our license, the us license, (and the exam ain't cheap for us), pay for those agencies, get a us visa, the works. they passed through a needle-hole to get in there. what they have gone through isn't a walk in the park. a little respect for us, please. if you worked hard just to get your license and your job, well, we did thrice to get a us license and work in your country.

and why are we leaving our country? simple. we are not paid us much. we are over worked but under paid. we want a better future for our families. is that too much to ask?

a little respect please? i have a lot of respect for filipino nurses who are doing everything i'm doing and doing it in a different culture and a different language besides. most of the filipinos i work with are americans -- are u.s. citizens. and almost without exception they're hard workers, neat, polite, astute and well educated. i'd much rather work with the filipinos i know than with some of the plain old americans. most of the filipinos i work with are working in the icu because they want to work in the icu, not because they're getting the minimum icu experience they can get away with before anesthesia school!

most of the filipinos i work with, too, speak english at work without being asked. perhaps it's because they're from many different regions of the philipines and speak many different dialects. or maybe it's because they're just nice people who don't want to leave anyone out. thank you for that, guys. it's pretty demoralizing to walk into the break room and find everyone speaking tagalog (or spanish, french, mandarin, or whatever) and not being able to understand what they're saying. it was even worse the one time i had an orientee try to give report to the next shift in tagalog. i had no idea if she was just saying "hello, nice to meet you" or if she was starting report or complaining about her mean preceptor. the night nurse interrupted her even before i could and said "we're in the u.s. we speak english at work." turns out she was just trying to be friendly to a fellow filipino.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Not all I think. Some live by the policies that the institution had presented. Not all of us break rules you know. People tend to generalize and stereotype, so please refrain from doing so.

Indeed, and nowhere did anyone imply that every Filipina in the history of Asia do this, but the ones we're discussing DO violate these policies. If you'd like to discuss all the other Filipino nursing traits that exist in the world, I am sure several people will join you in that thread.