Do you get extra work cause your bilingual?

LydiaNN · Oct 25, 2007

Just to clarify....I work in a beef processing plant...I am an OHN. 90% of the employee population that I care for is SPANISH SPEAKING only. I have to translate EVERYTHING because the other nurse that works with me (on my shift) doesnt speak spanish. Its frustrating because when she calls for a translator (which isnt a bonifide paid translater, just a supervisor that is biling. as well), they get upset because they were called from THEIR job and IM RIGHT THERE WITH HER. So, most of the time i have to stop my assessment, or charting, or break or whatever to translate. Most of the patients come directly to me because I speak spanish. I hate to tell them, ummm the other nurse can help you......but she'll just end up asking me to translate anyway!!! LOL. Its hard.

I know next to nothing about occupational health nursing, but it seems to me that the division of labor where you work is seriously misaligned. Have you spoken candidly with your supervisor? Is it possible to somehow divide the work so that you handle those tasks that are most dependent on direct communication with the workers and your colleague handles more of those tasks which can be done without that level of interaction?

I'm really surprised that your plant would hire someone who isn't bilingual, given the demographics of their workforce. I'd say that you are definitely getting short shrift.

fins · Oct 25, 2007

I can sympathize. My wife speaks fluent Spanish, and she's a social worker. When she took her last job, the salary was X. She tried to negotiate a slightly higher salary, based on her bilingual skills. They turned her down, stating that her language skills wouldn't be needed in the job, so they couldn't justify a higher salary.

Cut to a few months later. One of the other social workers who spoke no Spanish had a client who spoke no English. When she approached the supervisor about getting a translator, she was told "Mrs. fins speaks fluent Spanish, she can translate for you." My wife, in a much more pleasant way then I could have ever pulled off, told them in essence "you had a chance to purchase my Spanish skills, and you declined. Therefore, in this office, I don't speak any Spanish." In the course of the year, they spent more on translators than my wife had asked for in increased salary.

I guess my point is this. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses, and everybody pitches in. I'm a large man, so I get asked to help with lifts fairly often. That's fine, as long as the people doing the asking give me a hand every now and then. But if somebody tried to make me her own private lift team, I would have to draw the line.

So to the OP, if people are asking you for a quick phrase or two, on your unit, then sure - and maybe they'll start an IV, or put in a foley for you sometime. On the other hand, if you're being asked to do admission histories, or being pulled off your unit, then it's time to draw the line. Especially if you're being pulled off your unit, because that's not only putting you behind, it's a problem for the nurses who have to look after your patients while you're gone.

To the CNA who gets called into his hospital to translate - you're being played for a sucker. Try to find out what translators get paid - I guarantee that it's more than what you get paid. Hey if you're already at work, no big deal - it gets you out of answering call bells for a while. But to get called in off your shift, and then to get paid your regular wage - that's BS. You should either decline to answer your phone, or tell them that if you get called in off your shift you're a translator, not a CNA, and will charge accordingly. They'll decline of course. But just maybe you can get something extra - you should at least get on call pay. Otherwise - "sorry, I just didn't hear my phone ring."

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2007

I think that as nurses we have a responsability to help any patient that presents to us to the best of our abilities at any time. IF that means having to find someone or a phone to help interpret what my patient is saying and that puts me behind then so be it.
However I do have a problem with this statement:
"Do you know exactly how hard it is for people from Latin America to 'apply for legal citizenshp'? It is not an easy, short, nor cheap process, and it is much different than the one my ancestors who came here from Germany went through at Ellis Island. "
Who cares how hard it is? Laws are laws and anyone breaking them is in the wrong. So what that your husband "acts like a good citizen" he isn't one. Its a rule that I have to go through nursing school to be a nurse. What if I decided nursing school is to difficult, and expensive and drop out but I start working as a nurse illegally but am really good and help a lot of people does that matter? I think not. I do not have a problem caring for non-english speaking patients but I do have a problem with people who come in to the country illegally.

Excellent, excellent post.

BTW- I am a traveler and am constantly going to all different places, and caring for pts who speak all different languages. Many facilities where I've worked have no service in place for translations.

I regularly use http://www.freetranslation.com it is an great resource.

My last contract, I had two pts who spoke only mandarin chinese. Freetranslation.com was a lifesafer with these pts.

I recently worked with a CNA who came to the US from Poland three years ago. She moved to a polish community in Michigan. She told me she purposely decided to move away from the community, so that she could better learn english, American culture, etc. I laughed when she told me "I can't expect everyone in the US to speak polish just because I moved here."

EmmaG, RN · Oct 25, 2007

To the CNA who gets called into his hospital to translate - you're being played for a sucker. Try to find out what translators get paid - I guarantee that it's more than what you get paid.

I was told by a NM last year that their hospital pays translators $200 per hour (there was a big brouhaha about supplying an ASL translator 24/7 for a patient).

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2007

I was told by a NM last year that their hospital pays translators $200 per hour (there was a big brouhaha about supplying an ASL translator 24/7 for a patient).

$200. an hour? I am definitely in the wrong business.

EmmaG, RN · Oct 25, 2007

$200. an hour? I am definitely in the wrong business.

Ain't that the truth...

The NM was balking at providing this particular patient a translator for more than (what the manager considered to be) "serious issues". The patient knew her rights, and stated if she asked for one to be present 24/7, the hospital had to provide for them. I watched the NM turn completely white and later asked what the problem was--- that is when she told me the rate.

LydiaNN · Oct 25, 2007

Where I work, we often have to explain to parents that the law requires that only medical information has to be translated for them. They sometimes believe that all services have to be provided in Spanish. Over half of our staff is bilingual Spanish, and we provide all our services in Spanish, but people who speak only Vietnamese, Chinese or (increasingly here) Somali are sort of SOL.

CyndieRN2007 · Oct 25, 2007

I learned how to speak spanish in high school, my first language is English, by the way. If I can learn how to speak fluently, so can anybody. Where I work, I feel its a necessity to speak spanish, just like it is necessary to know medical/nursing jargon. That is just my honest opinion.

Where I work, we dont have too many foreign language speakers other than SPANISH. All signs and paperwork are availible in English and Spanish for the employees. We do alot of triage for work related illness/injuries and personal illness and a translator is needed often times ASAP. (and that person is usually me). Im not going to tell my coworker (who is a great friend of mine) to call a language line or a translator off the production floor when an emergency comes in. Im going to translate!

IMO, I feel that I am there for the patient's well being, and I shouldnt judge them for any reason. If it wasnt for those workers, I wouldnt have a job.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 25, 2007

I have empathy for the Spanish speaking patients as well as the bilingual nurses, however, I do not think it would be fair for me to be mandated to speak another language in order to work. I utilize the language line at least 3 times a day, and it is difficult sometimes, to have to place the interpeter on speaker, do a demonstration, request a return demonstration and then when I ask of the interpeter if the patient understands, I am not sure if the interpeter is saying that she-herself comprehends or the patient has truly verified understanding. Also, several times, after asking at least 3 times if the patient understands everything after I spent an hour with them BEFORE we terminate the conversation, AFTER I hang up, then, quite a few of the patients have a slew of questions. Then, I have to begin AGAIN, backing up our clinic.

I do feel that some of the responsibility has to be on the patient. If they are here, they should learn the language to some degree of comfort. It is determental to their health and safety. I try and be patient (although it is increasingly becoming harder on me). But I KNOW there are some nurses as well as other medical professionals that will not care.

bethin · Oct 25, 2007

I just have to wonder how the Native Americans thought when explorers and their English speaking counterparts first arrived?

They probably thought the same thing some of us are thinking.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2007

I have the right to express my frustrations, and I stand by my statements.

Surely you know me well enough that while expressing my opinion I don't mean to disrespect your right to express yours.

LydiaNN · Oct 25, 2007

I do not disagree with your post; you speak much more eloquently than I do! And it's wonderful to see you here.

Thanks, Don! It's good to see you, too!