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

[ColouringTheBrain]

If I start by saying I think our NHS staff do a great job 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?

I speak more than one language. I think it's rude - so whoever was implying that only little englanders who don't speak another language would think it's rude, can do one.

If three people are in a room (and have a connection) and have a shared language, it's unutterably rude to speak in a language that excludes one person. That's before you even take on board the vulnerability of a patient.

I hope things aren't serious & you're feeling better soon 💐

I used to get lifts home from school with a family who would chatter away in Dutch. They spoke perfect English, but chose not to let me join in conversations. I remember thinking even aged 7 or 8, and living in a highly multilingual environment, how bloody rude they were being

Whereas I'm stunned by YOUR rudeness. Hey, give me lifts home from school, but also, don't dare speak your own language while you do so, because I don't like it!
Pretty arrogant, especially aged 7 or 8!

You don't get to choose to be uncomfortable, how idiotic. It's perfectly possible for people to make you feel uncomfortable through no fault of your own, and doing it in a clinical setting isn't good patient care.

It's perfectly possible for people to make you feel uncomfortable through no fault of your own

It's also perfectly possible for you to feel uncomfortable all by your self, through no fault of anyone else.
Again, just because you feel uncomfortable, doesn't mean anyone else is in the wrong.

I think it's very telling that all the real HCPs think the OP is NBU. OP, please make a complaint if you want to, it's perfectly justified. Ignore all the ignorant goady fuckers.

Hear hear, venus.

I think it's very telling that all the real HCPs think the OP is NBU

And you can tell the actual jobs of all the posters, even the ones who dont mention what they do?
That is fucking impressive, I must say.

This isn't a ridiculous complaint Draylon, as many HCPs have said

has anyone considered they may not even have realised they were doing it? My children and I will regularly start a conversation in English and it'll change to Welsh at some point without any of us realising it.
Isn't the sensible thing to do to say 'excuse me? I'm not sure if you were saying soemthing i should know?' or similar?

I think this was rude and unprofessional. It obviously made you feel uncomfortable. I'd report them. If they had something to say they didn't want the OP to hear then they should have carried on their conversation in private.

I totally agree with you, ElornaElephant and Eliza22, I am a nurse too and it is not acceptable practice in nursing. I would certainly ask these nurses to have more respect for the patients and not do this.

Wtf user?! Firstly it was a lift share, i had no choice in the matter (i was, er, 8). Did you miss the bit where i said that as a speaker of four languages I was brought up to believe that using language to exclude others is fucking rude?! Because it IS. The many multilingual families I grew up with all believed the same, with the notable exception of my lift share family. You try sitting in a car for 30 mins a day not being able to join in the conversation, when you know every person in the car speaks totally fluent English but is choosing not to use it.

God, you get all sorts on MN, but really...

Are you familiar with this fine cartoon Draylon?

Did you miss the bit where i said that as a speaker of four languages I was brought up to believe that using language to exclude others is fucking rude?! Because it IS

Did you miss that you are not the only person in the world, and that just because your ma told you something was rude it doesn't mean everyone else has to agree with you?

What is wrong with people? So, so self absorbed and arrogant!

That's me, that is. Fluffy I mean, you're the one in the specs

Okay, I am a (bilingual) HCP and have to say that non-english conversations ARE frowned upon in the workplace, however I have actually never understood the mentality. Surely if you are not involved in the conversation, it really doesn't matter what it was about. And how are people making assumptions that they were talking about personal shit? It was probably work stuff, for ease. I have witnessed several times an EU nurse switch to their native language to explain something to a colleague who was struggling with understanding the english explanation... for ease... to support them, whatever. It ISN'T really supportive, of course, if they are trying to learn english, but it happens.

Just imagine that you are trying to do a job in a country where you struggle with the language because you have had no choice but to leave your family and friends because there are no jobs in your country. You are stressed and scared and homesick and a colleague makes it a bit easier for you, rightly or wrongly.

It's a bit of support, a bit of comfort, to use their own language sometimes. I'm sorry that you felt intimidated, but by the sounds of it, that nurse was lovely and wouldn't have meant it. A kind word about professionalism wouldn't go amiss, but tbh, I do think you were a bit U.