Staff speak their own langauge at Work

[timmac98]

I find this is a concern since the staff at my workplace speak in their own languages even during work hours, from nursing managers, to reg staff, to PSWs. I dont care if they chat in a different language during their breaks but this is happening during work hours.

[Fiona59]

AHS has signs on the units stating that "English is the language of the workplace".

It's not enforced. It's a joke. I've had patients complain to me about previous shifts and I refer them to patient relations. I had one patient refuse to go to patient relations because they were afraid of being branded "racist". I try and explain that unless patients voice their concerns nothing will be done.

[JacquelineJax]

Not to sound harsh, but why is this a concern for you?

Diversity in the workplace is important and everyone brings their own strengths to the table (especially when we are such a multi-cultural population). Respecting your co-workers goes a long way to being a team player.

Furthermore, it is great we live in a country that a has the freedom for people to speak whichever language they feel most comfortable with.

Just my two cents

[Fiona59]

Not to sound harsh, but why is this a concern for you?

Diversity in the workplace is important and everyone brings their own strengths to the table (especially when we are such a multi-cultural population). Respecting your co-workers goes a long way to being a team player.

Furthermore, it is great we live in a country that a has the freedom for people to speak whichever language they feel most comfortable with.

Just my two cents

Respecting your coworkers is a two way street. When report is being given in a language that is not English you have a problem. Yes, bedside report. Patient can't understand it, the NA can't understand it but the two nurses involved can? How is this safe?

English and French are the two official languages. Not Polish, not Tagalog, not Spanish, nor Arabic.

The team is broken if verbal communication is not understood by the entire team.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Deleted my response. I have no idea about the goings-on in Canada.

[toronto_nurse]

Not to sound harsh, but why is this a concern for you?

Diversity in the workplace is important and everyone brings their own strengths to the table (especially when we are such a multi-cultural population). Respecting your co-workers goes a long way to being a team player.

Furthermore, it is great we live in a country that a has the freedom for people to speak whichever language they feel most comfortable with.

Just my two cents

In a working environment we have to promote a professional environment. Speaking in languages/dialects that are not understood by others can be interpreted as bullying and harassment.

[YeXinZhi, BSN, RN]

Can you elaborate on how and when nursing staff at your workplace use their own languages?

I work in an environment where half the doctoes and nurses have a non-English speaking background, including myself.

Personally, I do not like speaking my own language if I am in front of patients, however I freely speak it on my breaks, at the nurses station, or even at a verbal handover (not at the bedside and not within earshot of my patients).

I also don't find it offensive if others around me speak a language other than English but I do find it rather unprofessional if they do it in front of patients.

[caliotter3]

In a working environment we have to promote a professional environment. Speaking in languages/dialects that are not understood by others can be interpreted as bullying and harassment.

This explains quite clearly how I felt when subjected to this type of behavior when I started out in the medical field.

[CecileSF]

It really depends on the situation, nursing practice areas vs. break room. However, I do admit that I have many co workers who speak their own language in public hospital areas. Some people just don't care and do what they want despite management asking them not to. One time I asked a nurse to report something for me and she said "I just did, you just didn't understand because I spoke in my own language to the receiving nurse". I had to pick my battles because the nurse has been helpful to me, so I let it go. There have been many situations like this where I wanted to make a comment but didn't because you will make enemies very quickly.

[Gotti_girl]

if people don't speak the language, and missed communication is a very dangerous thing. If i cant understand you and you're trying to take off my clothing or covers is not going to cause issues? It posses a huge safety,health,mental, and emotional effects to clients who speak english!!

[oceangirl1234]

I think that when speaking to, or in a patient's range of hearing, English should be spoken. When speaking to other co-workers about nursing things (ie. report) then obviously English should be spoken as well.

If it's in the break room whatever. As long as things are kept professional who cares.