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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

485 replies

ColouringTheBrain · 04/01/2017 18:56

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?

OP posts:
AteRiri · 04/01/2017 20:47

I think it's rude and unprofessional to have a private conversation in front of a patient, regardless of the language spoken.

Agree with this.

And also, there's a reason why IELTS, TOEFL, etc exist. To make sure that the person applying for the job can communicate in English, so not having a good handle of the English language should not be a reason.

In a California hospital (I did an observership), staff are discouraged to speak in any other language but English in front of patients, staff (other nationalities), etc.

missyB1 · 04/01/2017 20:49

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.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 04/01/2017 20:50

I'm pretty sure there aren't any many NHS Welsh nurses who can't get by in English.

At Bangor Hospital you'd be likely to find nurses more confident in Welsh than English.

If one nurse is passing on instructions to another, I'd rather they be communicated in the language they're most comfortable speaking in.

AtomHeart · 04/01/2017 20:51

YANBU - they were displaying bad manners.

ExitPursuedBySantaSpartacus · 04/01/2017 20:52

When in Rome ......

Namechangeemergency · 04/01/2017 20:54

Backing you may be right but its the ones who are flashing their credentials about who seem to think the poor OP is a pleb who just wants to earwig on foreigners.

They are not on the next table in a cafe. They are supposed to be providing care. Part of that care is being respectful and I can't understand why so many people think the op is being unreasonable.

stayontrack · 04/01/2017 20:58

The regulatory body has announced that from January, EEA nurses and midwives will be asked to prove that they have sufficient evidence of English language skills, for example having worked or trained in an English-speaking country. If a nurse or a midwife is unable to demonstrate these requirements, he or she will be asked to complete an English language assessment.
Nurses and midwives who have already completed one of the NMC's pre-registration courses will automatically meet the new requirements.
New legislation will also give the NMC powers to investigate a nurse or midwife whose fitness to practice has been called into question over their ability to communicate effectively in English.
Nursing and midwifery council 2016 standards of conduct to adhere to. So YANBU

BorrowedHearts · 04/01/2017 20:58

I used to always see the nurses chatting amongst themselves it made for a relaxing environment (childrens hospital) they would also chat with us about personal stuff, much more refreshing than hearing your daughter is throwing up more and has had her tube replaced twice already that morning. Not sure what the issue is with casual chit chat as long as they are doing their jobs properly what's the problem?

londonrach · 04/01/2017 20:59

I think its rude the same as if a patient who came to see me spoke their own language between each other in my clinic room. Unless its to ask a family member to translate its rude. The language of the country you are in should be spoken.

Lunar1 · 04/01/2017 21:02

It's unprofessional, they were working in a hospital where they speak English well enough to carry out a complex professional role, so there language skills are up to talking to each other in the same language. My husband is a hospital consultant and unless it's to translate for a patient he will never speak in any language but English. Despite speaking 5 languages.

I have never met anyone in the NHS who would do this, despite the many nationalities working together. You don't make vulnerable patients feel mor vulnerable than they already are.

MollyHuaCha · 04/01/2017 21:04

URNBU. I speak 4 languages and have lived in four countries, two of them where English was not the language. If I was having a conversation with someone in one language and somebody new came to join, we automatically switched to a language (usually English) that everyone knew. In a hospital in the UK, I wd expect everyone to speak English, including the staff when they ideal to each other.

Atenco · 04/01/2017 21:04

What if they were speaking Welsh or Gailic? Is English the only language permitted in the British Isles?

Cherrysoup · 04/01/2017 21:04

It's a matter of respect. It's not a social occasion. The nurses aren't chit-chatting whilst stacking shelves at Tesco.....these are PEOPLE. Humans. Often in a heightened state of anxiety. No one goes to hospital for a "day out

I'm sure I've heard somewhere that English must be spoken on the shop floor?

As a speaker of multiple languages, I think the OP is NBU. If there is someone in the room that doesn't speak the language I want to use, I will revert to a common language.

It is very excluding to deliberately use a different language from the client/service user. I'm betting that, as the HPs on here have said, the relevant Trust probably encourages the use of English exclusively when dealing with patients.

In a hospital setting (and by God, some of you are so unsympathetic!) I would not be happy to have people talking in a language I couldn't understand.

Strongmummy · 04/01/2017 21:06

Really wouldn't bother me. My family are multi lingual and I have been brought up listening to different languages and not understanding 100%. Sorry, but it smacks of being a bit "little englander". Obviously if they were sniggering and whispering that's entirely different, but if they were having a conversation and the treatment you received was respectful YABU

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 04/01/2017 21:08

As multi-lingual Brit, who slips easily into several languages, and who has no hesitation using her mother tongue in front of non-speakers, IMO YANBU.

In your circumstances, had I been one of the nurses, I would either have stuck to English or explained briefly to you what I had said and why I had spoken in a different language.

zad716 · 04/01/2017 21:09

BorrowedHearts Have you actually read what the OP said? She has no idea if it was casual chit chat or something else as she could not understand what they were saying.

If they were speaking in English the OP would not have posted assuming of course they hadn't been rude about her which maybe they had been .

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 04/01/2017 21:10

Yanbu

BorrowedHearts · 04/01/2017 21:12

Zad716 my comment was in response to those saying nurses shouldn't chat about their life etc while at work.

britainteascones · 04/01/2017 21:13

If you all hate someone speaking a different language to you, maybe you should try and learn a foreign language and stop being so ignorant in your belief that everyone must speak english, especially if they're not even talking to you.

Namechangeemergency · 04/01/2017 21:16

What a ridiculous post brit
Are you suggesting that everyone learns every single language so people who can speak English but chose not to whilst at work don't have to?

This has got fuck all to do hating people speaking a different language. Its about professionals behaving appropriately.

MeetTheMartian · 04/01/2017 21:16

As someone who is speaking a few different languages, I would say that there is a place to speak another language and a place to speak the language everyone can understand.

Nothing to do with wanting everyone to speak English. Everything to do with respect for the people around me.

Tallulahoola · 04/01/2017 21:17

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.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 04/01/2017 21:19

YANBU.

Charlieiscool · 04/01/2017 21:21

Are you suggesting we should all learn Esperanto so there is an international language we can all communicate in brittainteascones ? If they are working here as nurses are you saying they needn't speak English? Well that would be stupid and unsafe so if they can speak it then while in their professional caring role they should.

raindripsonruses · 04/01/2017 21:22

YANBU.

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