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.

[vald96]

filipino nurses should be speaking in english because they went and learn english in school so they have to apply this knowledge in english environment like work,this is a country of people speaking english...and yes they can speak their language but it has to be at home.Just a reminder you are in a country of people that their language is english

[DarkBluePhoenix]

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.

Well said!

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

Speaking in a foreign language in front of others, when you know they can't understand you is rude. I don't care where you are from. This is the USA, and they were hired to work at a job where the primary language is English. I think if it is against policy to speak around patients or families, and you ignore it, you should be written up, just like any other infraction of the rules/policy. Wonder how it would be if someone got fired for doing it? Bet they'd stop it right away. No exceptions!

[leslie :-D]

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!

often, there's a lot of conversing betw 2 aides, aide and nurse, etc., in a pt's room while doing care.

and often, these conversations are not in english.

on break and off the floor, speaking in one's own language is fine...but you know darned well that is usually not the case.

generally speaking (which means no one specific!), it is the epitome of arrogance and disrespect, to come to america for an opportunity, and totally disregard our values.

i wouldn't dare do that in another country...it'd be priority to learn their language and culture.

it seriously galls me, to hear the rampant NON-english on the floors and in pt rooms.

it makes most pts uncomfortable, and is rude to those around you.

no, it is not ok and it should never be ok, but in many facilities, they look the other way.

maybe i should talk to my shrink about this, since my meds are clearly not working.

leslie

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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!

when you're at work, it's rude to speak a language other than the prevailing language unless you're translating for a patient. even in the break room or staff lounge -- unless everyone present understands and speaks the foreign language being spoken. it's rude to deliberately exclude your co-workers from your conversation. unless your break room is so large that there are multiple conversation areas or tables, everyone present should be included in the conversation. that's just good manners.

while you are correct in saying that you are not prohibited by law from being rude to your colleagues, you will no doubt experience some backlash. be rude to a colleague often enough (or even once, depending upon the colleague and the circumstances), you will find it affecting your working relationship. if the colleague you're being rude to is in control of patient assignments or staff evaluations, be prepared for that. if you're consistently rude to a colleague and she marks you down on your evaluation for that, it is not "unfair" or "uncalled for." being marked down for "poor communication skills" is a legitimate consequence of refusing to communicate with your colleague. if you're consistently rude to a colleague and she doesn't like you or mistrusts you because of that, it isn't "eating your young" or "being racist." it's a perfectly legitimate consequence of your behavior. and if she consistently gives you the busier but more stable patients because she cannot count on you because of your behavior, that's your fault, too.

working relationships are difficult enough. i don't know why anyone would make it more difficult by insisting upon being rude to colleagues.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

talk to the CNO about patient and employee satisfaction. HCAHPS is a big deal now as it affects money received for patient care. Ask that a policy be created to speak English in patient care environments as the PATIENT feels excluded, etc. Might even suggest a survey of patients.

[leslie :-D]

even in the break room or staff lounge -- unless everyone present understands and speaks the foreign language being spoken. it's rude to deliberately exclude your co-workers from your conversation. unless your break room is so large that there are multiple conversation areas or tables, everyone present should be included in the conversation. that's just good manners.

while i do find it rude to converse in another language than those around you, i'm still going to acknowledge that this is their right to do so.

afterall, it is their personal time, and we should allow them that...w/o judgment.

leslie

[Forceps]

I`m surprised of what I read here. People (some) get really sensible with the lenguage used by others in their private speaking. Usually I understand it as putting your nose where it does not belong in other people private chat. Another thing is that in a conversation not all the participants speak the same lenguage. Then is "common sense" to use a universal code of communication (A.K.A. english if you are in US). If not is unpolite, at least, to speak in a foreigen idiom.

I´m born and educated abroad, in diferent countries and generaly the rule of thumb you use is: own lenguage if you are alone with somebody of your own culture/language, if somebody is around (and very specially if clients are near) or a member of the conversation or has interest on it, you speaking a general/common language ( in our case here, english). Just to don´t hurt the sensible feelings of anybody or push them back of the conversation. No big deal, you have to create a nice speaking/working ambient, so each one tries to adaptate to the situation with respect and tolerance.

[Xsited2baNurse]

Ehhhh, when you're an MD, RN, LPN, or Resp Tech taking care of patients, you really shouldn't habitually talk in a foreign language, if you're within earshot of your clients. It'll just cause anxiety in the patient and probably a bit of friction in your patient-provider relationship--sad, but true. If you're just around other healthcare providers, then meh, what the hell? I say have at it, and let the non-speaker learn a few new things here and there about your culture. I always love it when someone who speaks a language I don't speak teaches me about their language and their history. Engaging in activities like those is how people become more cultured--and the best nurse is an experienced, worldly one, is she not? :)

[Munch]

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!

I need to get my meds adjusted too like another poster does or my hearing checked. If I am the only one in the break room and there is a group of my colleagues speaking in their native language it is rude for them to not even make an attempt to invite me over so sit with them to chat or if I am in there first come sit with me and chat. Were all in the same place to do pretty much the same thing...care for patients. If a nurse is speaking to a family member on the phone in their native language on a break then that's fine do whatever. But don't stand around the nursing station in groups speaking another language especially when you have patients and family members walking by. Now I don't care about the nurses that speak their native language that I too speak(French) and they don't know it(because they think they are getting away with talking about me and my friends behind our backs and they aren't, they just look like fools and it's hilarious, especially at the nursing station or med room). But it makes people uncomfortable(not judgmental)..break room or not and feel bad to be excluded especially when a nurse that you are friendly with goes off and sits else wear. I guess I better get my benzos increased next time I see my shrink.

[David13, 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.

Policies are only as good as their enforcement. Where is management when this is happening?

[maelstrom143]

I think it is rude to speak in a different language if you are on the floor, as family members and patients are able to overhear conversations and some of them may feel as if they are being spoken about (have had a couple patients mention it). However, if you are in the breakroom, I do not see a problem w/different languages. It is your break...enjoy it. I personally do not care whether I am part of the conversation or not. Usually, I will be eating as fast as I can chew to get back to my patients, anyway, so not interested in talking.

English is my mother tongue; Spanish and French I can understand and speak a little.