Nurses not speaking english at work

Published

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.

Hmmmm everyone is dancing around my questions.

I will assume this is because the answers are not known and I can respect that as I also do not know the answers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.
Hmmmm everyone is dancing around my questions.

I will assume this is because the answers are not known and I can respect that as I also do not know the answers.

They probably agree to work for less.

Just my thoughts about your question

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

The last hospital I worked in had a stated policy that English is the official language of the hospital, and is to be spoken while on duty.

As for those who suggest learning another language - We are not in Mexico, the Philippines or anywhere else. This is an English-speaking country. If I worked in Paris, I would learn French.

This is a pet peeve of mine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds, Ortho, LTC and MORE.
Sorry, but when you work in the US, you need to speak English at work!

No ifs, ands, or buts!

This is a pt safety issue - the rest of the staff shouldn't be allowed to take their breaks/lunch together - need to stagger the times.

I worked with a nurse who said ( and I quote) "Welcome to America, we speak English here".

I tend to agree with that statement. Doesn't matter that I am fluent in several languages.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I learned 2 languages in high school and became quite proficient in both of them- to the point where I was dreaming in those languages, had no problem saying or understanding anything, etc. I went on a school trip to another country and we were not supposed to speak English, but it was sometimes difficult around my classmates, especially the ones that had a hard time in class. It's only natural to revert to your native tongue. Being "on" for 12 hours at a time must be pretty exhausting. I have also travelled to other countries where I don't speak the language (like France), and that's a whole other kind of challenging experience.

Is it rude to speak another language, especially at work? Yes. But it seems like these coworkers are pretty rude anyway- taking breaks all at once, etc. I don't know why some responders are focusing on the language difference to the exclusion of the other issues. There seems to be a lot of bitterness about it, not just on this site, but everywhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone taking breaks together isn't the best, but I (we) have done it. This is while I was the night shift supervisor in an acute care hospital!

Carefully think over and evaluate if you really think patients are being ignored or endangered before bringing this situation up with your manager. If the break room is far away you do have a legitimate complaint. But even then talk to your co-workers about your concerns before talking to your manager.

The patients safety depends on your unit, patient acuity, how the call lights are set up, how close the break room is to the patients. If it is a quiet night, if your break room is close to the patients, if your call lights can easily be heard, (carefully read over all my "ifs") I don't think you have to stand out alone on the floor while everyone else is on a break. Go in the break room for a short time, ask your co-workers to teach you their language, bring your favorite snack to share on breaks, ask them to teach you how to make some of their dishes.

The OT simply stated the nurses speak their native language on their break. NO mention of them not speaking perfectly good English to patients and co-workers.

Why are foreign born nurses working and native nurses searching for jobs? Excellent question but I'm afraid very difficult to answer. I assume these nurses have been working for several years, no mention that they are new grads, perhaps they were hired when jobs were plentiful? I'm sure there are plenty of foreign born new grads frantically looking for work!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
We have a large population of RNs born in the Phillipines who speak Tagalog. Few people know this, but the Phillipines have been under US military control since the Spanish-American war (similar to the relationship the US has with Puerto Rico and Guam). Filipinos are not allowed to participate in US elections, but are often given immigration preference to work as RNs during periods of nursing shortage.

The US has had free reign to "use" the Phillipines for its military purposes since the late 1800s. Once could argue that if citizens of a country are subjected to military colonization, they should have the same rights as citizens of that country.

I, personally, am happy to see to Phillipine-born RNs enjoying the benefits of our economy.

You need to catch up on your history.

Puerto Rico is a self-governed democratic US commonwealth. Guam is a self-governing territory.

While Philippines WAS US commonwealth, they became a fully independence republic in 1946.

All remaining US presence was due to friendly relations between their government and ours during the Cold War. Post Cold War, the US has closed most of its military bases their by the request of the government. Meanwhile, the US has rendered military assistance to Philippine government in their struggle against Abu Sayef and other Islamic insurgents in the southern islands.

Also, learn how to spell Philippines. You misspelled it six times!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This sounds a lot like where I work, although the numbers of people speaking each separate language isn't that high. We have about 4-5 African nurses w/ techs who love to get together and speak their language. Lately, though, they've been doing it in the nursing station and it drives me nuts. I really don't care about it on breaks, but to add another language to the hectic chaos of the nursing station just makes it seem crazier, and it automatically excludes others who don't speak that language. A lot of times I wonder if that isn't their intent.

A few of them are a little clicky, also -- so it doesn't help. A couple speak it, but they are NOT clicky and are good friends of mine.

I feel their clickiness bothers me more even than speaking some other language . . . We seem to have one african nurse who really seems to have a distain for white people. I'm sorry, but that is her own reverse racism showing ... she is one of the folks I really don't enjoy working with as I get tired of her attitude and her bullying. But she's definitely the exception.

I'm not sure if these nurses are getting hired to work cheaper on our floor. I believe most of them are American citizens except a few of our filapino nurses. All of them usually do not speak tagalog, though -- many speak perfect English and I really enjoy working w/ all of them.

I've been a foreign person living in a foreign country, and I know how comforting it is sometimes to just "be with your own" and speak your native tongue. Still, these folks needs to know they're in a professional setting and English is the standard. As long as they confine it to breaks, that's enough.

Leaving you on your own is TERRIBLE, though -- that should stop.

As for why so many foreign nurses work while Americans are out of work?? Well, I believe there is a lot going on throughout this country in this regard, not only in healthcare. It's a problem. Look to the political climate and to our politicians and others who seem to want to represent foreign workers and illegals more than they want to represent American citizens. It's getting worse and worse -- that's why a lot of people are very mad and just waiting until November to vote out a lot of incumbents in Congress and in local races.

I am shocked, personally, by the numbers of foreign nurses. We see these nursing schools being so "selective" and yet so many of our nursing class were foreign students -- whatever happened to admitting an American to the class -- there was undoubtedly no shortage of applicants. Yet, I do not know the number of American students who applied.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
I am a little stupid so bear with me.

Many US CITIZENS who are RN's are out of work yet we have foreign nurses speaking a foreign language at work in a US hospital while the unemployed US nurses are having their homes foreclosed on?

Can someone please educate me on how this is possible?

They probably agree to work for less.

Just my thoughts about your question

I have no proof to make this claim....but this is exactly what I would have said. Hospitals can get away with paying them less...

and no, its not fair....for either side (foreign or domestic nurses)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unionization would seem to be the answer here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First I must say it is rude for them to take lunch or breaks at the same time if it is unsafe for the pts. When I am at work and I see my countryman or woman we speak in our language because we greet each other in a different way than Americans do. However, when someone else is standing there we will speak English.

At our hospital we have a lot of foreign visitors and at times I may have to translate and to play devils advocate why is it ok then to speak my language but not at other times? At times I feel used by the other nurses because a translator is not always available right away so they will call me. At other times however, the same nurses are upset when we speak to the docs or other nurses in native tongue. I will be flamed but must say, we are not at work to make friends but to care for pts and their families.

I tried when I first came to the US to be like the "Romans" but others did not want to include me. My solution was to find others that could identify with me (not a US bashing). I speak four languages and when I went to France 3 years ago and I saw other Americans there who spoke only English it was difficult for them. I translated for a few looking for direction but many French people I saw did not want to help them and one couple said "Learn the language this is not the USA".

I feel that wherever you decide to live learn and speak the language . However, when I see my friends and want to kiss them or say a line in my language to greet them I should not be "punished" for it. I will respect you enough to speak in English when you are around but cannot promise I will do it always and this is not because I do not like you, or we are talking about you. At work we have cultural day and whenever we offer food many of the Americans will not even try the foods but we participate in American food tasting. Before anyone start off by saying why I am working here, I went to an American school and I am a US citizen and I took the test in English.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please people, you are scaring me. In some of the posts if you substitute the word Jew for foreign nurses, these workers, or illegals, it sounds like Hitler's Germany! Can't we all get along?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion