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.

[agldragonRN]

most of the cnas i work with are haitians. they always speak creole when they're talking amongst themselves even in front of me. it does not bother me. i have better things to do than to ponder whether they are talking about me. my mind is busy enough!

and it is spelled filipino not philipino. just f.y.i.

[Art_Vandelay]

most of the cnas i work with are haitians. they always speak creole when they're talking amongst themselves even in front of me. it does not bother me. i have better things to do than to ponder whether they are talking about me. my mind is busy enough!

and it is spelled filipino not philipino. just f.y.i.

noted and corrected.

[agldragonRN]

noted and corrected.

in retrospect, that filipino nurse was very rude giving report like that. that's good that you said something and she corrected herself.

[RN_PICU]

I moved to US in 2000. My previous life led me over two continents and 3 languages, exposed me to different cultures and I can tell you one thing, no one likes to feel like a foreigner in his own country!!! I remember how it felt when I did not speak the language of a certain country and all I wanted is to learn it and become one that belongs... When ever I am in company of someone who's speaking one of the other languages I know, we would never converse in it in presence of others who do not, no exemptions. Many, so called minorities tend to forget how isolating it felt when they could not be a part of conversation.

That being said, d/t PC Police and other nuisances at any work place, just bringing this issue up would label you as a bigot and force upon you all kinds of "sensitivity training." As you can see, I've learned my lesson and would never ever even blink twice when such an instance happens in the future

[wanderlustRN24]

This was brought up in one of our recent floor meetings (in August) because some of the staff and patients complained about the workers conversing in other languages (we have many filipino and haitian workers). Signs were posted in the break room and an email sent out to all staff on our floor regarding this issue, however it didn't stop people from conversing in different languages, it happens constantly and it seems like no one paid attention to the email/signs and management hasn't addressed it again.

I felt bad for the workers when I saw the sign/email because it must be very difficult trying to make your way in a new country, and if I hear them talking I just continue about my business. I knew one nurse who would point at the sign when she heard them talking (she doesn't work with us anymore). However, despite how hard it must be to be a foreigner, I agree with the general consensus here that it is unprofessional and if they want to talk to each other in their natural language, it should be done on break time only or when they are off work.

[merlee]

Many years ago, I worked on a unit that had a few people from another country. They frequently spoke their own language in my presence, even when I was in charge. I interrupted their conversations to ask if there was something they needed to 'share' with me.

Then, on a social occassion outside of the unit, my husband was with me and he broke into a conversation with a few well-placed comments in their language!!! Mostly English from that point on as they weren't sure how much I really knew!

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

While I'm US born, my Dad's side of the family came over from the old country around 1910. My dad was military, and we lived all over. So I can actually speak reasonable Spanish to a patient (I may have to look up something I don't usually say, like "vein stripping"), and I can chat a little in about 4 other languages.

And if I'm on the floor, and I"m muttering in German, Spanish, Russian or French, I'm saying something I don't want you to understand.

[gummi bear]

It only bothers me when the patient can't understand what the heck is going on

[LovedRN, BSN, RN]

Yep. One time my friend got to listen to the report in Tagalog and she isn't Filipino!!!! She told both nurses that she will be taking care of this pt and didn't know what they were saying, but still they cont. the report in Tagalog. My instructor told her to ignore it since we were "guest" there.

I say it's rude to speak any language other than English if other people don't understand what are you saying (even though you aren't talking about them.)

English isn't my first language. I know it feels weird to speak English to a friend who speaks the same language as I do. But when I think of people who speak other language (that I don't understand) in front me, it makes me want to use English even more.

[systoly]

Yes it's rude and shows disregard for the country that allows foreigners to immigrate, but that's nothing new and immigrants don't have the monopoly on that either. My problem with it is that it hinders continuity of care, creates divides between staff and probably fear and anxiety for some patients.

Bottom line is, if you dislike English so much, choose another country.

[caliotter3]

This is not the first time that this has been the subject of a thread on AN. A couple of decades ago, when I got hired for my first healthcare job, I was told by the person who hired me, that I would be subjected to Filipinos who would ignore me and speak Tagalog in front of me and the patients. To this day, I clearly remember that warning of what was to happen. No truer words were ever spoken.

[rn4ever?]

Freedom of speech didn’t say you should only speak in the English language! If you think people are talking about you all the time and you have paranoid thoughts, go see a shrink and take your medications, please! It depends where these nurses use their knowledge of a foreign language. If it is in the break room or staff lounge and you’re on break, I don’t see any issues with that. If your co-worker gets upset because she couldn’t butt in your conversation or she has paranoia, that’s not your problem. It might be rude but she’s too nosy too…..so serves her right! If you are talking to a patient or giving report, then it should be in the English language. If you are on the phone and talking to your family while on break, I don’t see why you can not speak in Filipino. When you’re on the phone and talking to a patient’s family, then obviously use the English language. If it’s about patient care and you are sharing the vital information to the team, then use the English language. Otherwise, you can use whatever language you like!