Working Together

Working Together 

Short Dialogue on Cultural diversity

By Paul McCann

Introduction  : A brief talk between two nurses who have heard about an incident between some staff members who had not been getting along due to some cultural differences .

Setting:  It is lunch time in the staff room of Diversity Nursing Home and two nurses are sharing a coffee and some gossip about some of their colleagues who are in trouble after they were reported for arguing in front of the residents at breakfast.

Dialogue Begins 

Charlie  –  “Well how’s your shift ?”

Cathy  – “ Oh, we’re so busy as Flora’s been at a meeting all morning .“

Charlie  -“ What happened to Flora ?”

Cathy – “Well, she had a go at Rangetta and it became racist.“

Charlie  – “Oh no, those two can never get along . What was said ?“

Cathy –“ Rangetta couldn’t explain why Bruce hadn’t been shaved and Flora told her to speak proper English .”

Charlie  -”Really that’s calling the kettle black . Flora can’t talk , she’s just as bad  So then what happened ?”

Cathy -“ They started screaming at each other in front of all the residents . Rangetta told Flora to go back to where she came from .  ”

Charlie – “Oh no , I can’t believe that Rangetta would say that . She of all people should know what its like to be an emigrant here ”

Cathy - “Then Flora began to use some colourful language just as the RN came into do the meds and she heard everything , so immediately the DON was told and  both of them were taken to the office for a meeting and both have been suspended for a week .” 

Charlie  -  “ That is bad as we are so short staffed at the moment .  “

Cathy  – “ I have also heard there is going to be a staff meeting tomorrow to talk about cultural differences . It seems some staff have been talking in their native language that has upset some resident and their family members .”

Charlie  – “That sounds serious.  Aren’t they allowed to talk their own lingo ?”

Cathy  – “No, apparently it’s in the handbook that staff must not speak in a foreign language in front of the resident and other staff ..”

Charlie  – “Well, that seems a bit unfair . They should be allowed to talk their own language to those from the same country .”

Cathy – ‘No its policy . Last year some of the residents got very upset with two of out colleagues who were talking in a foreign language . This triggered some behaviours with other residents and those have not worked together since .“ 

Charlie - “I actually heard Rangetta myself talking about Flora one day in the staff room and someone that understands her language told me what she called her was one of the worst things you could call a woman .”

Cathy – “Yes well its just as well Flora never understood that . “

Charlie – “The thing is we all need to be on the same page now about language and culture . We need to work together as one in this place .”

Cathy – “ That’s true Charlie . We need to work as  a team and feel welcome there .”

Charlie  – “Our duties now will be doubled until those two get back to work .”

Cathy - “I’m told that when they return to work they have to begin some education on cultural diversity in the workplace and if they don’t do it they will have to find another job . So I hope they can put away their differences . “

Charlie  – “ What about the residents . Has there been any problem since the argument this morning ?“

Cathy – A few have gone very quiet and some others have gone into their rooms which is not good as they have isolated themselves .”

Charlie – “I tend to think that someone should come and speak to those residents about that and maybe give them a chance to speak about how they feel as some of them are from different cultures and maybe they have some issues with the thuinbgs that were said ”

Cathy – “That’s a good idea Charlie . You should mention that to the RN .”

Charlie – “Culture is all about family and we are all trying to be one big happy family here at Diversity Care .”

Cathy – “You’re right that’s for sure , better get back to work now . Talk later  “.  

The End