NZNO concerned nurses told to only speak English to patients

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation says Waikato hospital's English language mandate for nurses in clinical settings reeks of systemic racism. In a statement Director of Operations for Waikato, Michelle Sutherland said speaking English in a clinical environment is standard practice and a requirement from the Nursing Council of New Zealand. This memo was sent out to nursing staff to help reduce confusion and ensure clarity and consistency within patient care, particularly during shift changes. NCNZ recognises English, Te Reo Maori and New Zealand Sign Language as official languages, and these are acceptable in many other contexts, especially when communicating with patients who use these languages. Health NZ strongly encourages bilingualism to support culturally responsive care. We have recruited a significant number of internationally qualified nurses, and we are extremely grateful for the contribution they make to our workforce.