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 CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
this is quite off topic but i agree.:)

bottom line: if you feel like you're being left out by two co-workers talking with each other on their languages, tell them off immediately.

i'm not sure i'd tell them off, but i sure would tell them about it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
I can understand the situation because I have also had to work in a enviorment like that, but I was very happy and felt fine. For my own sake I made every effort to learn the language of the nurses and co-workers I spent time with because I enjoyed it. They were the nicest staff I had ever worked with, despite the fact that I was not able to understand them when they talked to eachother in the native language that prevailed among them. I would try to be very open to learning and not feel like you are an outsider..I really do not think it is done on purpose but rather out of just habit perhaps that this occurs. By the time I left I was able to speak and understand alot of the language and really am glad I did take an interest in it. Now if they are rude to you in many ways such as ignoring you even when you make an effort to befriend them and learn, then I can see how it could be a problem. In that case I would say something to let them know that you feel uncomfortable.

I agree people speak their own language out of habit and of course they feel more comfortable. But you should not be doing this over an English speaking patient and in and English speaking environment. Work is work home is home - they are completely different environments. Even my Spanish gf's parents spoke Spanish at home, they would all be laughing at something and my gf would then translate for me - but that was in their home.

And it makes me mad having to ask people who don't speak proper English to repeat things over and over - they shouldn't even be allowed in the medical environment ordering med's etc if they can't speak good English either.

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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.

Absolutely correct!!!! Speak the English language when working on the floors or on break on the floor; and there would be no thread like this one to write about. No one feels sorry for anyone who is rude and continues to carry on in their "own" language when you know better. So speak English and that's the end of this discussion!!! Tomorrow go to work and start speaking English to all and anyone at the hospital PERIOD! Once you leave the hospital/LTC facility then feel free to speak whatever you wish just like the rest of us who speak other languages.:yeah::yeah:

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I agree people speak their own language out of habit and of course they feel more comfortable. But you should not be doing this over an English speaking patient and in and English speaking environment. Work is work home is home - they are completely different environments. Even my Spanish gf's parents spoke Spanish at home, they would all be laughing at something and my gf would then translate for me - but that was in their home.

And it makes me mad having to ask people who don't speak proper English to repeat things over and over - they shouldn't even be allowed in the medical environment ordering med's etc if they can't speak good English either.

Is irish 6363 for real? Sorry girl, that is not reality! I speak several languages and would NEVER be so rude to speak to others in anything else but English. When I go to Spain, I will speak spanish, When i go to Germany, I will speak German. I'm certainly NOT going to laugh when I hear others speaking in another language especially over a pt, or in front of family or peers. Again, rude is rude no matter the color!!!! :confused:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Again, this makes my point in a previous quote. Having non fluent English speaking nurses causes delays to patient care, mistakes and doctors frustrated because they cannot send there orders over the phone. This also causes people like yourself to do another nureses job.

This problem falls to Human Resources for even allowing these nurses/cna's to be interviewed. How dare they even send these nurses onto the next step to be interviewed by senior supervisors? Tell these med staff nurses/cna etc. to get some english training then come back. This is NOT discrimination as we deal with life and death everyday. Can you imagine me going to a hospital where only Hebrew is spoken and getting a job where only a couple of people understood my English????? Someone is dropping the ball and we stand for it. All dr's, rns,med staff need to continue to complain about this problem - and don't allow anyone tell you there is a shortage of nurses because we educated people know there is none.

Good post caliotter3!!! :yeah:

I have complained in different jobs here in Australia re foreign speaking nurses and doctors to HR, Nurse Managers you name it, but nothing seems to get done. I think because management are lazy or overworked, and when they hire these people they just need staff so take them anyway. When we do complain they don't want to go through the process of training them in English cos they'd have to take them off the floor (nurses, doctors, whoever) and then they have less staff. It all costs too much and is too much hassle - that is the impression I get anyway. And I have seen foreign nurses come in when I KNOW there are Ozzie nurses who desperately need jobs, ANY jobs, casual, permanent etc - the agencies can hire them from overseas and it p****s me off no end. Our current prime minister at the moment is trying to put some sort of halt to this - make Australia more sustainable with regards to population. In my opinion, no foreign nurses should be allowed in under any circumstances when Ozzie RNs/nurses need work - we are the same culture, born and bred in the same country and can put people at ease a bit more, with local issues, talking re footy etc. This issue has nothing to do with racism. Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) nurses are only now just getting the chance to train in tailor-made roles to try and get them into the general population and to work in Aboriginal communities out bush. More training needs to be available for local nurses in a country if they can't get work - the governments are also to blame in not providing this extra training or jobs for local nurses.

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please do not tell us you are an rn.............. because, with such anger you need counseling. whatever problems you have, you must learn to express them in a constructive way because we do not need nurses who don't now how to disagree with a statement in the matter in which you did. it's called education - learn how to use the proper tools when you want to argue about a subject. you would be surprised to see the positive comments you will receive back; instead of mouthing off like a school girl. people will respect you in the long run when you speak with professionalism that comes with having a good education.

there are night classes that can help you to learn better ways to handle your anger, no matter the subject. later you can come back and better discuss what you are trying to convey. good luck and hope you take my constructive criticism and get some assistance.:confused:

:redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya: :redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya:

i am not as angry as may i sound to you. maybe i should put peace signs or hearts or smiley faces so you won't exaggerate my emotions and overlook the details i am pointing out. but i am serious when i say we should stop labeling groups of people or questioning one's credentials accepted by your laws, grossly out of topic.

you should also read the posts others have written here, including yours, that might sound angry to others and not to you. emotional responses to language is unique to every person. and i, as an educated registered nurse, give my apologies to those that found my post too strong. it was my intention to point out what i found seriously inappropriate and malicious.

i will not resort to personal attacks towards you, despite the unkind insinuations masked under your perception of constructive criticism. i will however tell you that personal attacks here are unnecessary and unwelcome in this forum.

:redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya: :redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya: :redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya: :redbeathe:redpinkhe:loveya:

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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

I see the world in 10-20-50 years from now to be colorless and borderless. And I don't mean thru a security standpoint. Worldwide immigration and increasing acceptance of multi-cultural-ity (pardon my english) will change the face of nations.

Never thought to generalize my perception of Americans, otherwise I would have to eat my words:)

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Again, this makes my point in a previous quote. Having non fluent English speaking nurses causes delays to patient care, mistakes and doctors frustrated because they cannot send there orders over the phone. This also causes people like yourself to do another nureses job.

This problem falls to Human Resources for even allowing these nurses/cna's to be interviewed. How dare they even send these nurses onto the next step to be interviewed by senior supervisors? Tell these med staff nurses/cna etc. to get some english training then come back. This is NOT discrimination as we deal with life and death everyday. Can you imagine me going to a hospital where only Hebrew is spoken and getting a job where only a couple of people understood my English????? Someone is dropping the ball and we stand for it. All dr's, rns,med staff need to continue to complain about this problem - and don't allow anyone tell you there is a shortage of nurses because we educated people know there is none.

Good post caliotter3!!! :yeah:

I have complained in different jobs here in Australia re foreign speaking nurses and doctors to HR, Nurse Managers you name it, but nothing seems to get done. I think because management are lazy or overworked, and when they hire these people they just need staff so take them anyway. When we do complain they don't want to go through the process of training them in English cos they'd have to take them off the floor (nurses, doctors, whoever) and then they have less staff. It all costs too much and is too much hassle - that is the impression I get anyway. And I have seen foreign nurses come in when I KNOW there are Ozzie nurses who desperately need jobs, ANY jobs, casual, permanent etc - the agencies can hire them from overseas and it p****s me off no end. Our current prime minister at the moment is trying to put some sort of halt to this - make Australia more sustainable with regards to population. In my opinion, no foreign nurses should be allowed in under any circumstances when Ozzie RNs/nurses need work - we are the same culture, born and bred in the same country and can put people at ease a bit more, with local issues, talking re footy etc. This issue has nothing to do with racism. Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) nurses are only now just getting the chance to train in tailor-made roles to try and get them into the general population and to work in Aboriginal communities out bush. More training needs to be available for local nurses in a country if they can't get work - the governments are also to blame in not providing this extra training or jobs for local nurses.

AMEN!!!:up:

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I see the world in 10-20-50 years from now to be colorless and borderless. And I don't mean thru a security standpoint. Worldwide immigration and increasing acceptance of multi-cultural-ity (pardon my english) will change the face of nations.

Never thought to generalize my perception of Americans, otherwise I would have to eat my words:)

I'm with you, as long as everyone entering is legal! :yeah:

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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.

Not "labeling" as you seem to view it as. There are many so-called "imported" Filipino nurses in this nation, and the Filipino nurses happen to make up a large foreign-born nurse population, thus, yes, the issue of foreign nurses speaking in their native tongue in clinical setting does apply to Filipinos. Just a fact.

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.

Socioeconomically, the Filipinos may be "inferior" or so many of them would not be coming to USA to practice. Would they?

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.

Race happens to be part of the group of nurses in question. It is a form of description used to identify a group of people, not necessarily "racial profiling."

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

Please excuse some of us for our poor English skills. Why would the Philipino nurses so proficient in English language be so insensitive to those that do not understand Philipino language spoken in the clinical setting?

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

I work nights and I am the only native American RN who is on staff. We do have one native secretary and one native PCA. So out of 30 or so night staff we are a minority. It's difficult when everyone is speaking in their own native tounge.

But, our manager and director are also non-natives and don't understand the issue of needing english to be the main language spoken when working on stage. Break time and other times don't matter.

But do I really have an argument when only 10% or so of our staff are native to this country?

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Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.

Until every US -born nurse that wants a job has a nursing job, we should not recruit any foreigners. Those who repeatedly speak Tagolog in front of Americans have gotten way too comfortable here in the USA and are now very bold indeed to keep ******* their co-workers off. This is the States, not little Phillipines. Trouble is, all foreigners try to duplicate their homeland here in America, and unfortunately this looks silly and backwards to Americans. I say don't duplicate --just head back to your own country and be a nurse or a doctor there. It is not America's fault that your government is hideous and that you are unable to make good money in your country. And don't get me started on foreign doctors who come from lands that have no respect for women, treat me like garbage, and make 3 times more money than i do!

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