Communication Barriers

[vmiller1981]

I am a senior nursing student (graduate Dec. 15 2007) and am doing a project on a labor a delivery unit. We get a lot of Polish and Spanish patients, and want to be able to communicate with them better. So I was going to come up with a list of important questions in English, and then translate them into specific languages. This way nurses can use these cards if information is needed quickly. I was going to put them on a notcard, laminate them, and attach them to the nurses charting station (in the room). Usually an Interpreter would be called, but sometimes things cannot wait. I wanted to get suggestions on what would be beneficial (specific to OB) on these note cards that nurses would use. Please help, I need ideas for the end of this week………..thanks.

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

The only thing that I can think of would be if they are in pain and wanted an epidural or something similiar. I think it is a good idea but the only problem I see is how are you going to know what they are saying back. It puts you back to square one. Plus different people have different meanings for words depending on what region they are from. Maybe you could do a picture type of chart that has specific yes or no questions that they can circle or point to with it sub titled in english. So if you had pain in Polish you could put yes or no in Polish with it in english beside/underneath then the numbers to say at what level and what it feels like.

[MQ Edna]

Whatever phrases you put on the cards, make sure you put some phonetic spellings on there as well! Especially for the polish. Knowing how to pronounce things correctly will really help.

[vmiller1981]

I thought about that. I will be using yes or no questions until a more extensive conversation can take place. Thanks for your response.