Chinese/Japanese language skills nursing jobs

[sakamano]

Hello. I'm currently a translator fluent in Chinese and Japanese and am considering going back to school for a BSN. I would like to utilize my language skills and was just curious if anyone had heard of job opportunities in nursing involving these languages or in international settings.

Any info would be appreciated.

[amoLucia]

What a wonderful skill! I'm so envious! I just wish I had a second language skill-set (fluency would be wishfully asking too much). I've always found that communication issues have been the MOST frustrating problems for me, be they foreign language or hearing/speech impairments and I'm always the first one to care-plan for it.

As for employment possibilities, I don't have much to suggest except maybe becoming involved with publishing translations. Or working in hospitals in areas that have a large international population, like in New York, San Francisco or Hawaii. (I'm assuming that these areas have language needs.) Civilian military service abroad? As a long shot, maybe working with a law office as an interpreter for their foreign language speaking clientele who present with medical cases?

[nickioness]

I am curious about the same information! I have a BA in German and I'm going back to get either a BSN or MSN, depending on which program I get into, and would love to use my language skills!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I'm envious also - the ability to speak multiple languages is such a wonderful asset!

These days, hospitals and other health care providers are required to use certified medical interpreters (rather than causal translators) for any multi-lingual discussion of important issues or documents. I'm sure you smarties already know this, but CMS and JC just figured out that medical lingo is different from casual conversation, so this is a new regulation. I would urge multi-lingual nurses to go ahead and pursue this certification. Certification is a 'seal of approval' and proof of competency that may give you a real advantage for any employer that serves a population with those needs.

Since you're not a nurse yet, you may want to look into certification - and work in medical interpretation - as a way to earn $ while you're in nursing school. There are large companies (Language Line Services Telephone Interpreter and Over the Phone Interpreting in Over 170 Languages, 24/7, Anywhere )that provide this service via phone, so this is actually a 'virtual' job.

[sakamano]

amoLucia, thanks for the reply. I'm actually working in medical translation now (with NO formal medical training/study: standard practice here in Japan) and am desperate to get out of the field, at least in a full time capacity. Ideal would be working in Japan or Taiwan and interpreting while practicing. Other than the military option you mention, it seems quite a long shot.

[sakamano]

Yes. I'm always disappointed (irrationally) that just knowing the language doesn't automatically mean someone offers you a job. Best of luck. I'm also considering developing an English conversation textbook for Japanese nurses. They love to travel and are quite cosmopolitan.

[sakamano]

HouTx, thanks for the information. Using only certified personnel seems much safer. That sounds easy for me. Getting the nursing degree, another matter...