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

Nurses General Nursing

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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....

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

To me learning a foreign language is not a political issue. It's an issue of adding to your skills and marketability. If you speak a language of a population group that's common in your area, you have a better shot at getting the job. Of course no one can learn every language under the sun and people should make an effort to learn English if they're living here, but while they're hospitalized and helpless is not the time to worry about whether they were remiss in learning English for the past 10 years.

Specializes in Neuro.
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!

I completely agree with this, and I think this is a good reason why interpreters ARE available for hospital patients. I have a BA in Spanish and most people consider me to be bilingual, but I am not very good with medical terms in Spanish, or even some simple words like body parts that I haven't had much use for in recent years. When I get nervous, I forget words in every language. If I were in the hospital and scared and alone, I doubt I would be able to converse fluently in ANY language. I would be more comfortable with someone communicating with me in my primary language rather than trying to follow along in my second language and risk missing important words or phrases that could drastically alter my understanding of the situation, or being too afraid or frazzled to ask for clarification for words I missed the first time.

Not to mention that it sounded like the pt the OP cared for had some long-standing medical problems that probably hindered her attempts (if she made any) to learn a foreign language. I think if I were in that position, getting ahold of my health would be higher on the priority list than becoming fluent in another language.

I don't honestly feel the case presented by the OP is a "they live here they should speak english" issue. In the grocery store, sure. At the DMV, sure. But being hospitalized is stressful for everyone involved and I do not feel it's out of line to provide language services for those patients.

Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Hey there,

I've haven't read this whole thread but I but I definitely believe healthcare professionals should speak another useful language. I would love it mandated in certain states but with a nursing shortage, I'd be laughed at.

Fortunately in my case I already was bilingual prior to nursing school. It has helped me vastly with many patients and family. I will pretty much interpret everything. Consents for procedures/surgeries I still have the medical interpreters do though.

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I don't speak much Spanish (things like "wiggle your toes" and "squeeze my fingers" for my neuro assessment) but in our ICU, we have a pretty large Spanish speaking only community. I usually try to find a family member to translate or one our bilingual nurses (we have about 3 of them...out of a staff of 140!). If I can't do that and the patient and/or family is able to read, I go to http://www.freetranslation.com and type out my little introduction phrase, plans for the noc, and any commands I need them to know for my assessment. Then I print out the translated version and give it to the patient.

We have a Hispanic nurse in our unit and she said that most of the translation sites out there don't translate correctly. They usually translate word for word and what comes out can be a bit jumbled and hard to understand. When I showed her this freetranslation.com site, she was pleasantly surprised by the fact it translates correctly and the sentence structure is right. It's been a big help with our patients and takes my level of stress way down.

I grew up in TX where we had a decent Hispanic population. I was so against learning Spanish and ended up taking French. After years of French, I was lucky enough to go to Europe for my high school graduation present. In France, I attempted my knowledge of French; it was received badly and I was insulted by those who didn't think I was doing their language justice. Overall, it was a bad experience. I think that is why I've been reluctant to learn another language but after working for 18 months in an ICU where a lot of patients are Spanish speaking only, I plan on learning at least enough to get me by.

We also have a lot of Philipino patients; my patient the other night only spoke Tagalog....luckily there was a nurse around who was fluent in it! I do agree that if you plan on living here, you really do need to learn the language. But I can't stand feeling the frustration that comes with not being able to communicate with my patient so I'm caving just a bit and learning to speak enough to pacify me.

Melanie = )

Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.
...but while they're hospitalized and helpless is not the time to worry about whether they were remiss in learning English for the past 10 years.

That's why I read the whole thread before posting! Because, my sentiments exactly. It fustrates the heck out of me to deal with patients who don't/won't speak English. I also live and work in NJ, and at any given time, we'll have about half of the unit speaking only Spanish. (As an aside, not so many from Mexico ... we get a majority of South American immigrants ... Guatemalans, Ecuadorians, etc).

However, that being said, I completely agree with ChayaN. When a child is critically ill and in the ICU, it's not the time for a parent to be forced to learn English. I wouldn't be able to lear a lick of anything if I were in the same situation. Every now and again, I'll talk to a family when their kid is getting better and encourage them to seek out classes in English (depending on how receptive I feel they're going to be to it). But mostly, I just figure they'regoing through a super-difficult time, and my job is to get their kid better, not teach them the English they've been remiss in learning for however long they've been in the country.

I agree that we shouldn't have to learn Spanish for our jobs but, the fact is, it's a real pain not to know it. I hate having to run down translators or computer programs ... I mean, who has time for that? Even if you've got somebody to translate on the floor something else inevitably comes up, they leave and then you can't find the translator.

My soon to be future employer actually pays extra for learning Spanish. You have to pass a test and I hear it's pretty tough but, if you do pass it, you get an extra $100 a month for the duration of your employment.

If they'll pay me ... I'll do it. I think all employers should pay for learning Spanish.

:typing

Remember-actions speak louder than words. Most hospitals have translators or use a English speaking family member to help. I think this is why they teach languages in school.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I think it is a reasonable enough request that someone planning on living here for an extended length of time learn English. Just a couple thoughts:

1) I speak fluent enough Spanish to talk c my husband, his family, my patients, and my Hispanic friends. I enjoy speaking Spanish and the perspective it gives me on the culture. However, if I were to go to Mexico (or wherever) to have my baby -- even though it were my choice -- I would be most grateful for the opportunity to talk with an English-speaking nurse. Even though I speak good Spanish.

2) Just because someone doesn't speak English (or good enough English to be comfortable in a given situation) doesn't mean they don't want to learn and/or aren't making the effort. It's hard to know unless you can ask or they can tell you.

3) If you* want people here to learn English -- which as previously stated, I think is a fair request -- then be proactive. Volunteer to tutor someone or teach an ESL class. You will not be turned down for lack of interest. Be part of the solution.

*"you" being universal, not directed at any one person.

Done here.

Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

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.

i couldn't agree more .while i know a little spanish .if someone lives in usa where our language is english then they should learn english.

Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

[banana]

... it's a real pain not to know it. I hate having to run down translators or computer programs ... I mean, who has time for that? Even if you've got somebody to translate on the floor something else inevitably comes up, they leave and then you can't find the translator.

:typing

[/banana]

I also think it is crazy to have Spanish speaking coworkers that must break away from their patient care to assist with another nurse's translation. So the time the Spanish speaking nurse spends translating could be spent doing things that would benefit his/her patient.

Question is, should those on the floor that are bilingual be compensated monetarily for their help with translations? I think they should!:idea:

[banana][/banana]

I also think it is crazy to have Spanish speaking coworkers that must break away from their patient care to assist with another nurse's translation. So the time the Spanish speaking nurse spends translating could be spent doing things that would benefit his/her patient.

Question is, should those on the floor that are bilingual be compensated monetarily for their help with translations? I think they should!:idea:

Exactly. That's why I think the $100 extra a month is a great idea. That's what the state of California pays their employees for learning Spanish. From what I hear the test is hard ... you pretty much have to be fluent ...

I guess they don't want people who speak just a few words and phrases getting the extra money when they really don't know the language.

$100 a month doesn't sound like much but, I hear they're going to raise it to $150. That's $3,600 if you work a couple of years and $36,000 if you work for 20 years. So it can really add up.

:typing

if you listen to an aussie or english person speak you are instantly aware of the difference in a single lang i am sure that there are differences in the different south amer countries add to that there are usually slang words for body parts that never make their way into language courses you are going to have to a genius to make it w/o insulting someone

by the way i think that calif is wrong to punish someone who is not bilingual by withholding money..going to cause some hurt feelings

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