Speaking foreign languages

[wanderlust99]

What do you think about hospitals where there is a strong majority of filipino nurses and they primarily speak that language to one another in the hospital environment. Around the nurses station, on the phone, in the break room, etc.. Indifferent? Wrong? Am I being racist? Thoughts? The patient population is mixed.

[UpTheLadder12]

Just curious, are you in the SGV?

This goes on at every place we've done clinicals and other places of business outside of healthcare, in several languages. On one hand I can understand that if I was in a different country, it would be comforting to speak to other people in my native language, BUT it can come off as rude and make others feel uncomfortable. Ultimately, I think it would be most appropriate to use your native language when speaking to patients who prefer to or only speak that language, and otherwise use English. Speak to the co-workers on break or over coffee, not at the nurse's station where it can give the impression that what you are saying is not for all ears. I think for most people its just habit, and not because they are gossiping or intending to be exclusive, but still ought to break the habit.

[Zen123]

Yep; i'd go ahead and speak up- hear me say" good grief people! where the hell do you think you people are at?!"

[SDALPN]

I may be wrong in saying this. But its how I view it. The primary language in the US is English. English should be used unless the patient needs a translator in the language the worker speaks. Otherwise, patients could get the impression that the employees are talking about them. I understand that its not always the case. But when people don't know, they usually assume the worst. It also can create anxiety if the patient isn't aware of what is going on around them.

I think it also divides the nursing staff in to 2 groups, the English speakers and the other language group. Because they go off in their group in their own language and the English speakers can't join because they can't speak the language. I think its great that there are other people that speak other languages. It has its purpose in business. I'm fluent in Spanish. But I choose to use the dominant language in my environment.

[GleeGum, BSN, RN]

growing up some overseas attending english speaking schools with multinationals, we always learned when you don't speak english, people will get the feeling you are talking about them (and they usually were). it's bad manners.

[Mom2boysRN]

I work with many Philipino nurses and they do it all the time... Rude? Maybe, but it really doesn't bother me.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

My hospital has a policy dictating English-only on the clinical floor unless the patient needs another language. The Indians and Filipinos promptly ignore that policy and do as they please. Parents of our NICU babies complain about it all the time (99% of our parents are Spanish only or Spanish/English) but nothing is done to enforce the policy.

And yeah, from past discussions I've read on here...someone's gonna label you a racist for mentioning this.

[Munch]

I work with a lot of Haitian nurses that like to speak French to each other. Funny thing is I speak French(I wasn't born there but a few of my family members were) and French was spoken to me all the time since I was born, so learned the language at a very young age and I am fluent in it. Not many of my co-workers know this(only a very few that I am close with and they promised not to tell anyone). So I know what they are saying..and some of the time they are shooting the breeze and other times they are talking about the other nurses(myself included) and management. I don't let it bother me because this isn't high school anymore. I never speak French at work(I find it funny that some of these nurses are talking about me and think I don't have a clue what I am saying)..and if they need a translator one of the many nurses that speak French are always around to translate.

[BOOYARN]

it doesnt bother me, im in south florida , and most of the nurses are foreign, most speak spanish filipino and haitian. as long as the job gets done i dont mind what language its in.

[LR59]

When my Mother was in a LTC where nearly all staff nurses were filipino it was very difficult to communicate my Mothers needs to them. They smile said yes and did whatever. My Mother disliked it because she felt they were speaking badly of her.

[Art_Vandelay]

It used to not bother me.

That being said, I was precepting with a Filipino nurse and we were getting report from another Filipino nurse. Despite the fact that I was precepting, I was going to be primary nurse for a patient and this was clarified at the beginning of the report. Well, the reporting Filipino nurse kept going back and forth between English and then switching to Filipino, thus only giving report to my preceptor. It irritated me so much, I said, "I don't understand you, and I am taking over for this patient." She apologized and stop speaking Filipino, at least for the rest of that report. I just found it incredibly rude that we were getting report and she would do that. I almost posted about it at that time.

[Savonian]

I don't mind that our minority nurses (Russian and Estonian) speak their own language amongst themselves. It bothers me, that they don't speak/understand proper Finnish. Of course I'd expect them to speak Finnish while giving a report, while taking care of the patient, but other than that, it is their own matter. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish/Swedish), so it is also quite common that Swedish speaking nurses talk Swedish to one another, even they know that most Finnish speaking nurses don't understand them, and that is fine.

Speaking the original language might just be a way to prevent homesickness, and keep up the proffesional language.