Nurses not speaking english at work

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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.

Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to ask you all to refrain from personal attacks, off topic posts and ironically posting only in English as per terms of service. I have edited and deleted posts that do not comply with these terms

We like healthy debate, and realise you won't all agree with each other but you can disagree without being rude or attacking other members.

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I do not condone being left alone on a shift by a group of nurses taking the same break. I do believe it is rude and inconsiderate to do so. I just wonder how they can all take the same break without no one noticing this unsafe practice. Do your part by reaching out. If you still don't feel welcome, then it's their loss. I would also talk with my NM about being left behind to tend to all those patients, hopefully s/he is not part of that group.

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But I take great offense on labeling Filipinos as the main culprits in this thread. Sure.... you don't talk about every Filipina in the history of Asia..... right.... My english is probably so bad that I misunderstood posts that kept mentioning Filipinos this and that. Why don't we all start threads about each races traits and let's see how long the moderators will keep that open.

It even goes further by repeatedly questioning the education and competence of a United States Registered Nurse who happened to be Filipino right? Not only are they rude, they are also educationally inferior? If one's performance is a problem, wherever they came from, they should not practice. If one's credentials are a problem to you by all means file a complaint in your facility, or what the heck, go to your BON and tell them an inferior race is practicing in your country.

Oh and I love that we should all beware of the foreign speaking nurse who loves volunteering for overtime but doesn't do community service. I thought that the general consensus here in All Nurses was that most hated overtime and that most do not answer calls from work after work to make sure they don't get called in. I thought most nurses are so overworked that you don't have time for a quick lunch break, but you declare no community service makes one less of a contributing member of the American society.

The mention of specific races here shouldn't have been allowed in the first place. The original OP just mentioned an incident until people, including the OP, started mentioning specific languages. This breeds animosity and racial profiling.

And it's F-I-L-I-pino, not Phillipino.

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doza, your concerns are duly noted.

i know it's easier said than done, but please do not take offense.

just as filipinos are not all alike, neither are all americans.

and so, not all of us agree (not even most of us) with those you take offense at.

folks on this board, are talking about their personal experiences...

with some of their personal experiences being with filipino nurses.

we all know (and have vented) about american nurses who shouldn't be in nursing either.

what i'm saying is it is more a reflection on the nurse's individual qualities and has nothing to do with their nationality.

when all else fails, mutter to yourself, "bite me blowhard" and move on.:lol2:

sometimes/often, that is all it takes.

take it from someone who has been there.:)

leslie

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Here's my :twocents: I am a foreign born nurse, although from an English speaking nation, so the language thing doesn't apply. However, I came here when America was in a so-called nursing shortage and I paid my dues working for less than everyone else. Now I've been here 7 years and I earn more than the average nursing wage due to my experience and specialty but we are in a recession. I am settled here, own a house here and have a life here. Am I supposed to pack up and leave so Americans can take my job? I was welcome here once when you needed to use me for my skills. Just remember that.

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Specializes in LDRP.

You know, if I was workign in a non English speaking country, I'd be darn glad to find someone else who spoke English. Heck, I'd probably take my breaks with them (if possible) and speak English to them on that break!! (not while out on the floor, though, that could be un safe)

Learning a second language is hard! Think about it-how many Americans are fluent in a second language? It's hard to be fluent in another language, and I'm sure its a bit of a relief to take a break and speak the language you're most comfortable in.

Depending on how long they have been here, they may be very insecure being in a foreign country. They may fear being isolated, being discriminated against, etc. So finding someone you can relate to and are comfortable with is a Godsend, when you're in a new place.

I do not propose that nurses for whom English is not their first language speak in their primary language in a patients room, or to the patients, etc. Might make the patient uncomfortable.

On the other hand, I believe in providing all non english speaking patients with interpretation services-whether that is a language line, bilingual nurse, etc.

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Specializes in LDRP.

oh yeah, and to add to the conversation about why "foreign" nurses are working while American nurses are out of work....

how do you know that they aren't Americans as well? English as a second language doesn't automatically mean that they aren't American. They could be here working on a VISA, or the they could have become citizens of the USA.

No assumptions!

I personally know of a Filipino nurse who was a nurse in the PHillipines, but when she came here, she had to take the NCLEX here before practicing. The NCLEX is in pretty techincal English, so one would assume that if the nurse can pass the NCLEX, she's fluent in English.

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Specializes in Ward Nurse and everything in between.
But I take great offense on labeling Filipinos as the main culprits in this thread. Sure.... you don't talk about every Filipina in the history of Asia..... right.... My english is probably so bad that I misunderstood posts that kept mentioning Filipinos this and that. Why don't we all start threads about each races traits and let's see how long the moderators will keep that open.

The mention of specific races here shouldn't have been allowed in the first place. The original OP just mentioned an incident until people, including the OP, started mentioning specific languages. This breeds animosity and racial profiling.

And it's F-I-L-I-pino, not Phillipino.

Agree. Sorry, but the topic is MOSTLY zoning to our nationality. I know some do not represent the entire citizen but by certain individuals. So I couldn't help but react.

And yes, it is F I L I P I N O.

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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?

Most of us are happy that you came here LEGALLY and want a better life - I am proud to say I'm a citizen, and my ancestors came here LEGALLY and worked very hard to live here. I also respect the fact that you admit how disrespectful it is to sit around and speak in a language that is NOT English while at work here in America (especially in a nursing position where good communication is a MUST for all involved). Thank you for realizing this and we all would appreciate it, if another peer begins to speak (whether on a break or not) to kindly answer them by stating that you wish to carry on your non-english conversation off the floor or outside the facility as it is rude to continue when other medical staff/families etc can over hear. I am blessed to speak two other languages and would never talk with anyone (unless I am requested to by a patient) outside the English language. You be surprised how hurting it is to have someone speak another language while you are sitting there. This conveys a blunt disrespect to the nurse/cna etc, who is sitting/standing near; just put yourself in their position (it does not matter if speaking the same language makes a connection - professionalism FIRST)!

Thanks again for expressing how you also do not think it respectful (for any reason outside to help a pt) to speak a foreign language during your work day (and this includes breaks while on the floor). It's good to see other's who feel the same way when it comes to speaking another language in front of their peers.

Good job and please pass it on to your other peers who refuse to speak English when with their own peers as it is disrespectful and just plain rude!:confused:

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I agree 100% with you Reigen

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oh yeah, and to add to the conversation about why "foreign" nurses are working while american nurses are out of work....

how do you know that they aren't americans as well? english as a second language doesn't automatically mean that they aren't american. they could be here working on a visa, or the they could have become citizens of the usa.

no assumptions!

i personally know of a filipino nurse who was a nurse in the phillipines, but when she came here, she had to take the nclex here before practicing. the nclex is in pretty techincal english, so one would assume that if the nurse can pass the nclex, she's fluent in english.

not necessarily true. we have many foreign speaking people who can pass the nclex, but once on the unit cannot be understood or follow the simplest of commands because of their lack of wanting to practice english. there is a difference in knowing how to reading english then to speaking or understanding it.

the issue is understanding when your peer, supervisor or even your patient is talking with you and asks a simple question that the nurse thinks she understood when in fact, she does not. i used to see many non fluent nurses who could not follow a simple instruction, thus another nurse must do this nurses' work also, thus frustration begins on the unit. it's a cycle that can only be stopped at the beginning at human resources.

:confused:

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doza, your concerns are duly noted.

i know it's easier said than done, but please do not take offense.

just as filipinos are not all alike, neither are all americans.

and so, not all of us agree (not even most of us) with those you take offense at.

folks on this board, are talking about their personal experiences...

with some of their personal experiences being with filipino nurses.

we all know (and have vented) about american nurses who shouldn't be in nursing either.

what i'm saying is it is more a reflection on the nurse's individual qualities and has nothing to do with their nationality.

when all else fails, mutter to yourself, "bite me blowhard" and move on.:lol2:

sometimes/often, that is all it takes.

take it from someone who has been there.:)

i do not believe anyone is blaming one nationality as filipino was in question for the original post. as far as you saying that "most nurses do not take offense", i definitely believe most do; especially when you must work with a nurse who needs you to repeat the order 2 xs then correct her mistake etc. this is not a new nurse situation that one would expect to correct, repeat etc, we are talking about any foreign speaking nurse who cannot be understood or continues to speak her language with others in front of peers. i was in a patients room where two foreign speaking nurses are talking in front of a patient (over the pt's bed no less) in their native tongue. now tell me this was not rude or unprofessional? we must stop making excuses for non fluent speaking nurses. we must demand respect and professionalism - at least inside our facility where we need to respect each other!

it's time that management enforce those memos that are circulating all the time about "speak only english at work, break patients' room etc.) and more important, the nurses themselves must take a stand and not stand for it anylonger. nurses must be able to understand each other and be able to feel as one. for those nurses that continue to ignore their supervisors and speak their own languages on the floor during working hours (including breaks on the floor) must be consequenced. shame on anyone who speaks another language while working at any facility as this has and will continue to present problems with patient care.:confused:

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