Foreign language nursing

This happened awhile back. I was caring for a patient, had to use the translator phone because of the language barrier. After telling the patient all of the meds she would receive, asking about pain, and if she needed anything I could see that my patient was upset. I asked what was wrong and the translator replied, the patient said "what is wrong with you why don't you know Spanish?" I was upset, I felt dumb, I was like you *****.........needless to say I'm becoming best friends with my Rosetta stone CD's. I ain't getting cursed out in Spanish again, I'm gonna curse her out back and in her native tongue, mama ain't raise no fool.


Real story but just kidding about my response Last edit by Girlygirl69 on Sep 12, '11
Hmmm cursing out your patients....nice.

That patient was out of line. You wouldn't curse a nurse in a spanish speaking country for not knowing english.

I think I'm so used to hearing comments like this that it doesn't affect me anymore. My coworkers and I joked about how I was such an incompetent nurse because I don't speak polish, German, and Swahili.

Some people are so rude! but I guess it comes with the job...I always think: Never be rude to your nurse, waiter, parents, or even enemies.