Does anyone happen to speak fluent Spanish or another language?

Specialties NICU

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Specializes in NICU.

Do any of you speak fluent Spanish or another language that you hear frequently from parents on your unit (i.e., Vietnamese, Korean, French, etc.)? I'd like to talk to you if you do!

Or! Do any of you have guidebooks or pre-printed sheets on the unit to help you communicate with non-English-speaking parents when they visit and an interpreter is not available (i.e, night shift)?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yo hablo espanol, pero solamente un poco; pues, puedo escribirlo y comprenderlo. Si, mi hospital tiene unos libros y papeles educaciones para los pacientes. Aqui en Oregon, tenemos muchos pacientes hispanicos. Se mueven de California y otros lugares al sur.

Espero que te he ayudado.

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Hi!

I speak Icelandic and English and a little bit of Danish and German!!!!

We have a little word lists to communicate with parents from Polland and Greenland if they dont speak anything that we speak!

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I speak French and we have printouts in Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, German and a whole host of other languages.

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Specializes in NICU.

What do your printouts say? I've seen some before that have breastfeeding, etc. topics on them for non-Eng. speaking parents, but I was wondering if any exist that have basic Maternal/Child phrases on them? As in, Yes, your baby is doing well, or no, he's very sick, or He's getting medicine for this or that....you know what I mean?

I do NOT really speak Spanish- I can pick out some words and phrases (probably about 50-100) but really am trying to learn along with my husband (he's taking Spanish this semester). However, I am determined to be able to communicate more effectively with my Spanish-speaking patients!

I have been trying to translate some things (just testing it out, really) on the Altavista translator- doing English to Spanish and back to English to see if they convert properly. For the most part, they do. I'm just worried about translating something and not realizing that I've changed it into something offensive or something that doesn't make sense!

For example: What mjlrn said, when translated, read this:

"I speak espanol, but only a little; then, I can write it and include/understand it. If, my hospital has books and papers educations for the patients. Aqui in Oregon, we have many hispanicos patients. Other places to the south move of California and. I hope that I have helped you."

I tried this message in the translator:

Your baby is very ill, but the doctors will do everything they can to help him.

I translated to Spanish. Then I re-translated to English. This is the result:

"Help him they will make of paragraphs of the tin of they absolutely of the patient of is of the baby of His of but of the doctors very of. "

Paragraphs of the tin? OMG! LOL!

See what I'm saying? Anyone willing to help? :D I've bought a Spanish language tape, which I listen to in my car, but it has no healthcare-related information. I've also bought TWO DIFFERENT "Spanish for Healthcare Providers" type of books, and THEY have nothing in it that relates to the NICU! They have maternity phrases, but nothing about the babies. Grr.

*sniffle* Anyone have any ideas?

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I usually just say he's good or not good whhen trying to communicate the simple things. With facial expressions they generally get it. Most of our printouts are on specific topics like NEC or breastfeeding.

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HI NICU_Nurse:

it goes--Su bebe esta muy enfermo, pero los doctores van a hacer todo que los pueden hacer para ayudarlo.

Soy de Nuevo Mexico y hay muchas veces que yo necesita a hablar con los padres.

I unfortunately am not as fluent as I should be for being from New Mexico. My generation was not taught how to speak Spanish by our parents because it was not the in thing to have your children speak their native language. Everyone had to speak English so as not to get hit across the knuckles by the sisters. (we went to Catholic school). So... Spanish is my second language but all my aunts, uncles, grandparents and many of my older cousins speak Spanish.

If I see anything in my endeavors to improve my Spanish, that might suit your needs I will definitely let you know.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

OVer the years, I have GRADUALLY gotten better in Spanish--I have certain things re: NICU babies memorized, but if I get a torent of words back from Mom, I'm in deep yogurt. And, even though I live

NANN has a list I just saw @ work, check their site.

I am trying to learn a little Tagalog because so many of the nurses @ this hospital are Phillipino, and I just got a travel book of Egyptian Arabic. One of the docs is from Egypt, so at least I can say hello, how are you to him.

I figure at my age, I'd better keep learning something!

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A community college in Dallas offers a Spanish for Medical Personnel class. You might check to see if anything similar is offered near you.

The text they use is "Spanish for Medical Personnel" by Ana Jarvis & Raquel Lebredo.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I've been reading a book lately, "How to Learn Any Language" by Barry Farber--lots of very practical suggestions.

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