Better pay if Bilingual?

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 30, 2008

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and won't be starting my nursing program until fall of '09. My husband and I are thinking about relocating after I finish my program and I want to work ICU. I was wondering if anyone has found that being bilingual makes you a more desirable job applicant or if it has an impact on your salary. I have been thinking about trying something like Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish, thinking that this might really help me get hired if we move to AZ (or anywhere, for that matter.) If anyone has any input, I would really appreciate it.

I live in a part of the country where we have a very very large Spanish speaking population. However, I have never seen a nursing position posting that says "Bilingual Preferred." I have actually only encountered 2 nurses that speak fluent Spanish throughout my entire nursing school education. The hospital I work at has translators in the building and we also use translator telephones.

However, I too am planning on becoming fluent in Spanish using Rosetta Stone. I know a fair amount of Spanish already but once I begin my first nursing position and actually have some time to sit down and learn it, I will go ahead and actually put some effort into it.

But I don't think knowing another language will necessarily give someone an advantage over someone else.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jun 30, 2008

i speak fluent spanish and italian and can also sign... although it is impressive on resumes, i've never gotten a penny more for it...

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 30, 2008

i speak fluent spanish and italian and can also sign... although it is impressive on resumes, i've never gotten a penny more for it...

Very impressive! Did your parents speak one of those languages in the home, or did you learn them as an adult?

JettaDP · Jun 30, 2008

Even if you don't make more for being bilingual, it will certainly make your job A LOT easier. Especially in areas of high immigration, such as AZ.

And I have 2 FYI's for:

1) I lived in Phoenix, AZ for 7 years. I have seen many ads throughout the years that have offered more pay for being bilingual. However, the pay differences have been minimal. As in, a non-bilingual RN makes $30 dollars an hour and a bilingual RN may make $30.50 an hour. Although I have heard of some people that there are bilingual RN's that make considerably more but they had to really fight for the pay raise. In my opinion, if all you are offered is a .50 cents raise, just take it. Knowing that your job is 1000x easier than everyone else who isn't bilingual is enough. IMO. And rest assured that if you move to AZ you will be glad you learned Spanish.

2) I have been using the Rosetta Stone software for about a month now. And let me tell you, it is the best software out there. Don't even consider anything else. It is seriously amazing. There is no memorization and there no translation. You learn as if you are two years old and it works a million times better than Spanish programs that promote memorization and translation. Translation just confuses things and memorization is too hard to do.

Hope some of my insight helps! Good luck!

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 30, 2008

I have been using the Rosetta Stone software for about a month now. And let me tell you, it is the best software out there. Don't even consider anything else. It is seriously amazing. There is no memorization and there no translation. You learn as if you are two years old and it works a million times better than Spanish programs that promote memorization and translation. Translation just confuses things and memorization is too hard to do.

There was a doctor on a Discovery Health show I had watched a few years back who was fluent in 10 languages (could have been more.. it has been a while) but he learned them all using Rosetta Stone.

Little Doe · Jun 30, 2008

I am happy to hear that so many people are finding success with Rosetta Stone. I was thinking that the program may provide basic language skills that would help me communicate with patients and families in a supportive way, however I'm not sure if there will be much medical terminology covered. I definitely agree that it can only help me in my work environment, even if it doesn't make me stand out as a applicant. I think it's worth a shot at least. I will have little pre-req to do in the beginning of '09, so I was thinking I could give it a shot while I'm waiting for NS to start. Thanks for all the great info!!!

Atheos · Jun 30, 2008

I get paid a bonus to translate. It's cheaper than using a service. Of course it is only feasible in a small facility. If I don't get paid, I don't translate.

JettaDP · Jun 30, 2008

There was a doctor on a Discovery Health show I had watched a few years back who was fluent in 10 languages (could have been more.. it has been a while) but he learned them all using Rosetta Stone.

I absolutely believe it. Once I am fluent in Spanish (and I WILL be darnit!) I am going to work on French and Italian. Since they are so similar to Spanish it should be much easier.

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 30, 2008

I absolutely believe it. Once I am fluent in Spanish (and I WILL be darnit!) I am going to work on French and Italian. Since they are so similar to Spanish it should be much easier.

Once I become fluent in Spanish, I want to try a non-latin based language. I have been studying Spanish for sooooo long that I am honestly kind of sick of the language.. lol... but I will become fluent in it.

I was thinking of trying to learn Tagolog because that is another language that is spoken fluently where I live.

JettaDP · Jun 30, 2008

Once I become fluent in Spanish, I want to try a non-latin based language. I have been studying Spanish for sooooo long that I am honestly kind of sick of the language.. lol... but I will become fluent in it.
I was thinking of trying to learn Tagolog because that is another language that is spoken fluently where I live.

I've never heard of Tagolog. Does Rosetta Stone have that language? I know they have a large selection of languages.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2008

Pretty much any nursing position you apply to here in the Phx area will say "Bilingual Preferred". Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen any that don't say that.

Where I work, if you pass the hospital's Spanish exam, they will pay you a little extra per hour.