No Chinese

I made the mistake of telling a patient that I didn't understand in Chinese during strolls today. On the first stroll, I was trying to find some Chinese magazines but they were all gone. I ask the patient if English was ok ("yin wen ma?"). He shock his head. The only thing I could find was a Chinese book, so I asked if a book was ok ("ni kan shu ma?"). He stretched out his hand to take it. I noticed some Chinese newspapers in the recycling bin, so I grabbed one when we were heading back up to the unit. The next guy was a little bit more interactive than the first resident. Once I took him out of the unit he tried to make conversation with me. I had no clue what he was saying because it was Cantonese. He then asked in Mandarin. I told him I didn't understand and that I was Vietnamese ("Dui bu ke. Wo bu dong le. Wo shi yue nan ren.") He exclaimed "OH! Yue nan ren!" and continued to to ask me something in Chinese. I continued to tell him that I was sorry and that I didn't understand. He kept repeating what he was saying. I didn't know how to say that I didn't know Chinese or that I only knew limited Chinese. It wouldn't have made sense if I told him I didn't know Chinese in Chinese. When we got to the library I handed him a Chinese newspaper. He read the headline outloud for me and asked me something. I shook my head. He asked, "Bu dong le?" (don't understand?). When it was time to take him back I tried to tell him but I was stuck mid-sentence. All I could blurt out was "We're-" and then I pointed towards the door. He asked me to repeat and I decided to reply in English. He waved his hand no. I tried to gesture that he could bring back the newspaper but he didn't seem to understand. I handed it to him and strolled him back up. I felt so horrible that I couldn't talk to him. I would ask to switch units but I'd feel bad. Once summer school starts I'll probably switch to another area. I think the only way I'm helping out on G4 is teaching one of the patients English. He's really improving so I guess I'll stay for him.

In other new, HAPPY NATIONAL NURSE WEEK! Hospitals, home-care facilities, and anywhere else nurse are employed wouldn't be able to run smoothly with out all of you! Thank you for everything you do!!!!