I work in a school that trains CNAs. We have an equal-opportunity policy. Whether you have a PhD or whether you didn't finish middle school, everyone takes a simple math and reading comprehension test. It's my job to give the test and explain it.
One day, a Chinese lady who spoke very little English and her helicopter daughter came in. I gave the lady the test and explained it slowly and carefully. I kept asking her if she understood, and at the end I told her that she could tell me if she had any problems. She nodded yes every time, and I made sure that she understood it. She didn't pass the test. IN fact, despite my explaining of the written instructions, she answered the questions in the wrong way. She took it again, and once again didn't pass. I had to break the news that she had not passed, and started to suggest buying a TOEFL guide or something to help her with her English.
The helicopter daughter told me that I was rude to her mother. She said that I should have helped her out with the test, and that a future nurse like me should be compassionate. I started to tell her that communication is key in the healthcare field, that a small delay could mean life or death, and that my compassion lies with the patients who will be cared for by the healthcare staff who we train. The daughter told me that I was racist, and that we should give her mother a chance because, "Well, she's going to try a lot harder because she doesn't speak as much English, so she's going to make a lot more effort." Why the hell does that remind me of schoolchildrens' parents whining, "Little Johnny is really a genius, you just have to go at his pace. He gets bored in class, and it's your responsibility to make it fun for him to learn." She was also mad that I didn't explain the test in Chinese (I speak a bit of Mandarin) even though the test and class are taught in English. I am all for helping, but it would be called cheating if I helped her out with the test problem by problem.
Her daughter went to another person and complained about me. Her mother took the test again, this time someone sat beside her and basically took the test for her! Not only was she allowed to enroll, but her daughter was allowed to enroll alongside her to translate. WHAT!? When she gets a job, is she going to have a translator alongside her to help her with her job? I hope that this woman does not pass the state boards, although she probably will because I know that she'll pull the, "I deserve special treatment," card.
Note: I AM NOT RACIST OR CULTURALLY INTOLERANT. If you are a qualified person who can effectively be a good member of the healthcare team, then I don't care if you're from Mars. However, if you don' have the qualification, can't communicate with others, and passed on being babied along rather than actual work, then forget it. Please don't accuse me of being racist. In fact, I've been in this woman's shoes. A few years ago, I studied abroad in China for a semester, and actually considered staying there. In order to enter the university, I had to pass the international student entrance exam. My Mandarin was nowhere nearly good enough so I did not pass. I could have whined that they should have helped me out, that the test was unfair, that I could do really well if given a chance, etc. However, I sucked it up and took personal responsibility because it was my own durn fault that I wasn't qualified. In the healthcare field, an unqualified person could mean life or death. Ever read The Godfather? While Micheal Corleone was in Italy, he was hosted by a doctor. The doc admitted that he didn't understand his medical textbooks, but the mob made sure that he became a doctor anyway. That's basically what this woman will be.
I later spoke to the school administrator about this and she said, "I don't like it either, but I'm trying to run a business. If rumors get spread that I'm culturally intolerant or un-PC, I'm going to lose a ton of potential students." I understand that. Half the office staff is foreign, and a lot of them were mad as well, because they came over here and had to work their butts off.
I have such a newfound appreciation for the fact that they weed out a good percentage of nursing students.
