"You're gonna need to learn Spanish...."

[smkiya]

I'm a new RN, just started orientation last week. I met with my preceptor on the floor for the first time a few days ago and he made the comment, "Working here, you're gonna need to learn Spanish". I was only on the floor for a couple hours for a 'tour' but my preceptors pt needed assistance so I went in to help.

The patient only spoke Spanish and we had to provide care that was very messy, uncomfortable, and embarrassing for the pt. There ended up being 3 of us in the room to try and resolve the problem but it wasn't going well. The pt had tears in her eyes and I wanted so badly to provide comforting words and reassurance, but couldn't. All I could do was look softly into her eyes and stroke her hair, meanwhile feeling like a total failure because I couldn't communicate with her in her time of need.

There wasn't time to use the language line, my preceptor only spoke a couple words, and the other nurse didn't speak Spanish either. For 45 minutes we turned and cleaned only to have to turn and clean, it was terrible. I'm sure she had no idea what we were doing, she was exposed, and no one could tell her anything. All I kept thinking was why wasn't the need to learn Spanish emphasized before now. Sure I've had Spanish patients during clinicals, but I usually had a classmate who was fluent or I used the language line. I had every intention of learning Spanish in the future because I knew it would be beneficial... but now I'm going to do everything in my power to learn it as quickly as possible because I NEVER want to go through that experience EVER again! I had to do everything in my power to keep my tears at bay while silently comforting the pt. Even now as I write I try to avoid imagining myself or a family member in her situation.

Has anyone else had an experience where they felt so strongly about wanting to learn a language? Or, did you learn a language and have a situation where you were so happy that you did?

Thanks for listening....

[TazziRN, RN]

These are patients we are talking about; not just a person who you can't help at the grocery store. I am surprised at all the people who are posting with the kind of "they came here; they should learn our language" thing. Being nurses, we are supposed to respect cultural diversity and also do the best that we can for our patients regardless of what language they speak. To me that means if I need to learn some Spanish or whatever language it may be in order to accomodate that, then I will.

There is no other country in the world that accomodates people from other countries living there. I am bicultural and I am big on respecting other cultures. That does not, however, mean that it's okay to accomodate another language for people who choose to live here.

[PeachPie]

Sorry to be the controversial one. But wake up! These folks are in a country where English is the standard preferred language. And, it's not my responsibility to spend my free time learning a foreign toungue.

If you're in the hospital and you only speek Spanish, get a family member who speaks English to help translate for you!

Don't correct me on my use of your Spanish language! I'm trying the best that I know how to communicate with you!

Excuse me! You're the one who insists on using your language to communicate with me, when I know you've spent at least a little time here and have some brief understanding of English and can trouble yourself to speak in Englsih...this is not MEXICO!

Yep. As aforementioned, when I was traveling, I at least carried a bilingual dictionary at all times, and didn't expect people to go to inceomvenience themselves for my benefit.

I hate overtly ethnocentric people in general. Heck, I hate most anythign-centric, especially egocentric.

[anne74]

It does save time to know a little Spanish - I have a minor in it and I'm going to take an additional medical Spanish course. Many times the pts are happy and relieved to have someone speak in their language, and I've never had a pt chastise my broken Spanish.

BUT - I do agree that we shouldn't be enabling these people to not learn English. A driver's license test in Spanish? Seriously?

Whenever I've traveled outside of the country, I've studied the country's culture and tried to learn some key words. I consider myself a guest there, and I respect their culture. So I don't understand why some feel entitled.

I'm guessing they may be rude sometimes because they're scared and not familiar with our culture - but that's not fair to us. We really need to find a better way to control our borders - the situation is only getting worse.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

It takes several years to become fluent in another language. And there are more languages in the world than one could learn in a lifetime. I don't think anyone is advocating that we try to learn several different languages, merely, that we try to learn a few simple basics of a given language if we serve a large pt population that speaks that language. Makes perfect sense to me. What do you have to lose?

[TazziRN, RN]

I have had people come into the ER actually get angry with me because I don't speak Spanish. I've also had people who I know speak English refuse to and insist on a Spanish interpreter. If I live in another country I will learn the language. I think it's wonderful to be multilingual, but not to accomodate people who live in an English-speaking country.

[TazziRN, RN]

I work with an equipment tech from Africa and he speaks five different languages fluently!

Including English, right?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

All I've gotta say is that if I were to visit or move to a foreign country, I would not expect them to conform to my needs/language and I feel it should go the other way around to those who want to come to my country.

I agree with this.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I think American's are very close minded and ethnocentric when it comes to learning languages other than English. I work with an equipment tech from Africa and he speaks five different languages fluently! That is amazing to me. If you travel to other countries, Europe especially, you will find many people who speak two or more languages fluently. Trying to get some Americans to learn even a few simple words of another language is like pulling teeth.

Speak for someone else.

Has nothing to do with being closed-minded, i do know some Spanish now, my eventual goal is to be fluent in it (along with ASL). But i do get peeved when someone's been in the US for decades and does not know one WORD of English, does NOT make the effort to learn it, etc. It's apparently too much to ask to be met half way or part of the way on the language barrier. There is no way in heck that i could ever THINK of going to a non-English speaking or unpredominantly English speaking country, and expect the 'locals' to conform to me.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

On a side note, about the Spanish driver's test, my thought is if a person can't take an English drivers test in a predominantly English speaking country, how do i know that same person know what a Yield or Stop sign is??

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think the particular situation the OP found herself in was very hard - my heart goes out to the poor patient.

I commend anyone who wants to learn Spanish or any other language - there is no way that every patient you will ever have will speak English. There are times that we need to translate for a patient. It is unrealistic to think otherwise. Even though I too think people should make every attempt to learn English.

Plus it is always an asset to be able to speak a second language. Marketable.

I've read that it even staves off Alzheimers . . . .

steph

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I've also had people who I know speak English refuse to and insist on a Spanish interpreter.

Just because they speak English doesn't mean they're fluent in medical English, and doesn't mean that they are comfortable counting on their English skills in a stressful situation. When I'm scared and stressed, my English skills get limited, and it's my first language! If it was my second language, I'd hate to think that I might say something wrong inadvertently that could make a huge difference in my or my family member's care. I'd much rather they insist on a Spanish interpreter than give me information that's wrong because they used the wrong words.

I want to learn Spanish. I'm trying. I speak enough that I've had new coworkers think I'm fluent. (Amazing how overhearing "My name is wooh, I'll be your nurse for the day, everything ok? Questions? I speak a little Spanish, so you speak English?" with decent pronunciation will fool people!) I can do ok on rounds with settled patients, but when I ask if they have questions, I'll get the LL or interpreter. But for admits and discharges, I want to make absolutely sure everything is understood on both sides, so I always get the LL out on those, and preferably the interpreter (I really feel face to face is so much better.)

It would be great if they learned English before they came to the hospital. But I get lots of scared moms, and when your at home with the kids all day, you get limited practice. It's HARD to learn another language. Lack of practice is the big thing holding me back. I learn new phrases, but by the time it comes to use them, it's already floated out of my brain. These are folks that just want a better life for themselves and their kids. Yeah, there's a few rude ones, but by far, my Hispanic patients always tend to be so wonderful. They want to learn, they're grateful for the care. They're not the ones on the call light complaining that their waffles for breakfast weren't freshly prepared from scratch instead of frozen. Learning spanish is the least I can do for people that actually appreciate my care!

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

Speak for someone else.

Has nothing to do with being closed-minded, i do know some Spanish now, my eventual goal is to be fluent in it. But i do get peeved when someone's been in the US for decades and does not know one WORD of English, does NOT make the effort to learn it, etc. It's apparently too much to ask to be met half way or part of the way on the language barrier. There is no way in heck that i could ever THINK of going to a non-English speaking or unpredominently English speaking country, and expect the 'locals' to conform to me.

I don't know what about my post struck a nerve with you. If you are making an attempt to learn any spanish, then obviously you do not possess the attitude I was referring to. SOME Americans are VERY close minded to becoming bilingual. I never addressed my feelings on people who move to this country and refuse to learn in English.