Page 10 | To think the nurses shouldn't have spoken in a different language in front of me?

ColouringTheBrain · 2017-01-04T18:56:17+00:00

If I start by saying I think our NHS staff do a great job [smile] I'm not looking to be flamed, I genuinely want to know if I'm BU. I had to go to the hospital today, the nurse that initially dealt with me was kind and gentle, also in the room was a colleague of hers ( another nurse). The nurse took my bloods, then went to get another machine, it was then that the two nurses started talking to each other in a different language ( I'm not trying to be vague, I just haven't got a clue what language it was). It made me feel really uncomfortable as it was directly in front of me, whether they were talking about me, or what's on TV, or other members of staff I feel is irrelevant, I felt like they shouldn't be doing it in front of a patient. Obviously I didn't say anything, I wasn't feeling the best anyway, but I also felt slightly intimidated I suppose. AIBU, or should I just accept it as part of the care?

Valentine2 · 04/01/2017 23:29

I haven't read the whole thread. After reading your OP, I think yabu.i can understand you were unwell and wanted to know exactly what's happening but their discussion to each other was helping them to help you so long as we know. No need to for any doctor and nurse to talk in English always so long as they are competent enough to be there. After all, if they actually talk to you in the language they were taught in (scientific terminologies etc), you won't understand nearly any of it (unless you were trained too).
And what would you feel if you were to seek medical help in some other country where they really don't speak English?

DaviesMum · 04/01/2017 23:30

Oversees medical professionals don't always have a great a command over English (mostly Europeans in my experience but occasionally from other places too) - sometimes it's faster and safer to explain in their language.

Then they are not safe to be working in a clinical setting. It's great we live in a multicultural country, but manners transcend borders as does safe clinical care. It's one thing to do this in academia, but if a doctor or nurse involved in my care has a limited grasp of English, then I'll be as fucking unreasonable as I like. I speak two languages and speak the language of the country I am in when dealing with clients, even if a fellow English speaker comes in.

gunnsgirl · 04/01/2017 23:31

When in Rome.... And who is to know they were speaking of medical procedures. Could have been about next week's shopping or what's on TV.

Rude, bad manners and totally unprofessional.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:32

"missyB1

I'm relieved (and not surprised) to see that the healthcare professionals on here understand why it was rude and agree it wasn't acceptable."

Yes it is good to know they are of that opinion. They are not posturing as some appear to be.

Sheld0n · 04/01/2017 23:32

I think YABU.
However I remember speaking English to a friend (this didn't happen in the UK) and some locals commenting to each other how unusual it was and they bet we couldn't understand them, etc. Pretty pointless stuff. I did enjoy the looks on their faces when I told them I lived there (at the time) and understood perfectly should they wish to elaborate.
It sometimes happens when we go there on holiday now, DH hates it, I do find that quite rude.

Sheld0n · 04/01/2017 23:35

That's another reason I don't always speak English in the UK, although I do 99.9% of the time - I begin to forget my other language and it takes longer to get into the swing of it otherwise. I tend to only speak it from time to time with my mum, or if DH wants to learn some phrases.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:35

"Tallulahoola

namechange I'm not flashing any credentials. As I said, I think if they were chatting to each other when they should be treating the patient then it's rude and unprofessional. The OP is not BU to object on those grounds. But feeling intimidated is a very odd reaction. It implies there is something frightening or unnerving about people speaking in another language."

The OP was in an intimidating SITUATION. She was not intimidated by them speaking in another language and excluding her.

You are deliberately trying to misinterpret matters.

Boogers · 04/01/2017 23:36

watching do you have a different figure?

RebelRogue · 04/01/2017 23:36

Some people just enjoy being contrary,Princesspink999. Perhaps it's the most excitement they ever get...

Nope I just honestly don't get it,because like I said it would be a total non issue for me.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:37

To clarify:

When I say intimidating situation I mean she was in a hospital perhaps having tests and so on. That is anxious and intimidating for anyone.

WasntThinking · 04/01/2017 23:37

Haven't read the whole thread as in my way to bed, but wanted to say yanbu because when I nursed in an NHS hospital, it was hospital holiday that nurses never spoke in any language other than the patient's. So they would usually be english.

If HR got wind of nurses speaking in heir own language they were pulled up immediately. It just isn't on. I was nursing with 3 or us and the other two would talk over an unconscious patient, leaving me out, so I made a point of saying it wasn't ok for me or the unconscious patient (they often 'hear' subconsciously and wake up terrier they're in a different country!)

Graceymac · 04/01/2017 23:37

As a nurse manager I can say there is every need for health care professionals to speak in English in the clinical setting, especially when providing care for an English speaking patient. Not only is it rude and disrespectful when in front of a patient, it can lead to misinterpretation by the patient potentially increase anxiety.

WasntThinking · 04/01/2017 23:38

*hospital policy.

Valentine2 · 04/01/2017 23:38

I should have said one more thing: what if they weren't talking about you at all? Colleagues just casually reminding each other of lunch time? Or of any other thing in life basically but NOT you? I think if you face this next time, it would be best to politely inquire if the discussion was about your situation or not. If not, then it's not your business. If it was, you ask them to discuss with you (although I am sure if someone in that place is talking about you in another language, they might have some reason to do it unfortunately.

watchingthedetectives · 04/01/2017 23:41

boogers
Yup more like 23 million not 20 billion - just a thousand fold out!

gunnsgirl · 04/01/2017 23:42

Valentine - you're not grasping this are you. It's not your business stuff. The OP was not eavesdropping. If it was about lunch time, why not speak English and avoid all this? It is not okay for staff to chat casually amongst themselves in any language in front of a patient and to say it isn't the patient's business really is turning it on its head. Where have manners and respect gone?

DancingDragon · 04/01/2017 23:44

If it made you feel uncomfortable and intimidated in your medical appointment then of course its rude.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:46

"Tallulahoola

namechange I'm not flashing any credentials. As I said, I think if they were chatting to each other when they should be treating the patient then it's rude and unprofessional. The OP is not BU to object on those grounds. But feeling intimidated is a very odd reaction. It implies there is something frightening or unnerving about people speaking in another language."

Oh fgs. The onus is not on the patient to ascertain what the rude nurses are talking about. As numerous medics have said, it is unprofessional to be talking in another language in front of a patient AND it is unacceptable to be engaged in idle chitchat in another language in front of a patient.

End of.

BMW6 · 04/01/2017 23:47

YANBU OP - they were rude and unprofessional, as has been agreed by HCP's and most of those who are multi-lingual.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:48

CORRECTED VERSION:

"Valentine2

I should have said one more thing: what if they weren't talking about you at all? Colleagues just casually reminding each other of lunch time? Or of any other thing in life basically but NOT you? I think if you face this next time, it would be best to politely inquire if the discussion was about your situation or not. If not, then it's not your business. If it was, you ask them to discuss with you (although I am sure if someone in that place is talking about you in another language, they might have some reason to do it unfortunately."

Oh fgs. The onus is not on the patient to ascertain what the rude nurses are talking about. As numerous medics have said, it is unprofessional to be talking in another language in front of a patient AND it is unacceptable to be engaged in idle chitchat in another language in front of a patient.

End of.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:49

The "it's not your business" part of that is unbelievable.

Wdigin2this · 04/01/2017 23:51

Well, they're entitled to use their own language of course, but if what they were talking about, wasn't appropriate for you to hear...then common courtesy says, they should have waited till they were out of the room!

limitedperiodonly · 04/01/2017 23:56

But feeling intimidated is a very odd reaction.

It's not at all odd. She was in hospital where most of us feel vulnerable and the strongest of us are easily intimidated.

Bunnyfuller · 04/01/2017 23:57

Ive heard nurses, doctors, paramedics etc etc chatting about random non-clinical things in English. Is that ok? What if they were discussing a shift swap? Or a job application? Or anything else that wasn't relevant to the op? As long as they demonstrated care to her when dealing with her, surely that's the important bit. If it was the 'chatting' itself the possibly yanbu, as I suppose it could be seen as unprofessional (but again, spend any time in hospital and they chat, how very dare they). If it was the foreign language the yabvu, it's irrelevant.

CaraAspen · 04/01/2017 23:58

Sigh