Any advice, spanish only speaking pedi patient?

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I speak ZERO spanish my preteen pedi patient tomorrow speaks zero english. Any tips for creative ways to communicate? I want to make it as fun as possible, she is an amputee but otherwise in fine health. We are supposed to do a functional health pattern type assessment on all of our patients...another student is bringing one in spanish and having her pt write the answers then she will translate later....sounds way to boring to me and she could end up screwed if she gets home and realizes the patient didnt actually answer any of the questions appropriately.

I was thinking of trying some pictures, maybe drawing, things that use other senses. I dunno I am at a loss right now but I just feel like there are so many other ways I can communicate with her without calling in a translator for all of it. TIA for any helpful ideas.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

Get a Spanish medical dictionary and see if you can both communicate using the dictionary? If you don't speak Spanish, I wouldn't try to figure things out without a translator of some sort. You could miss something very important.

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I will use a translator for the important stuff but it is at shriners and they can't have a translator there with me for the whole 12 hr shift. I just meant ways to communicate that a 12 -13 year old would enjoy to make her day fun and special.

Get a Spanish medical dictionary and see if you can both communicate using the dictionary? If you don't speak Spanish, I wouldn't try to figure things out without a translator of some sort. You could miss something very important.
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Specializes in Adult Oncology.

Charades.

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Specializes in IMCU.

For the initial assessment you really need a translator. Afterwards you can use pictures and a phrase book. Does she read?

What about parents or a family member?

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He and mom came from the dominican for the surgery and do not speak any english. Very sweet child. As a student I have a great opportunity to give one on one attention so really I was trying to think of things we could do that don't require us to be able to speak each others language. I know that I will need a translator for assessments but I want to make the most of the rest of my time. I know if I was a kid and in a strange place with people that don't speak my language i would be a little scared, really bored, and probably would apreciate someone trying to have some fun. They have a huge play room, so I am sure we can play games, and charrades is a good idea, maye we can teach each other a few words or something. Hopefully it will go well!

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Specializes in IMCU.

One wonders why you would be given a patient with whom you cannot communicate. Is it really the best thing for the patient to have a student who doesn't speak Spanish? If you spoke Spanish maybe, but when a patient can't communicate properly with you surely someone who is experienced would be better for the patient?

I mean no disrespect to your abilities.

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I don't take offense to that at all. I feel the same way. There are 10 students in my rotation, 2 speak spanish fluently - neither of them were assigned a spanish speaking child. The professor went through the assignments and gave out patients in ABC order, no idea why she didn't put more thought into it (she knows this patient-she works at the facility)

The professor said in the real world this happens, I agree but we get 2 weeks of pediatrics in the entire program, I think I would certainly get more from this experience if I was able to communicate with the child and/or family as would they. I just want to try to make the most of it.

One wonders why you would be given a patient with whom you cannot communicate. Is it really the best thing for the patient to have a student who doesn't speak Spanish? If you spoke Spanish maybe, but when a patient can't communicate properly with you surely someone who is experienced would be better for the patient?

I mean no disrespect to your abilities.

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Specializes in IMCU.

I have an idea....

What a great time to show you really can advocate for a patient...ask you Prof. "if this child must have a student, wouldn't it be better blah blah blah".

Of course it depends on your Prof. and your relationship with him/her -- if they took it as a challenge that would be a bummer. As always, do it privately.

I would love to hear how this works out -- as I bet during our careers this will happen more than once.

Good luck

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I am really thinking alot about this. This prof is an adjunct and yesterday was my first day meeting her. I will let everyone know how it goes. I am on my way there as we speak!

I have an idea....

What a great time to show you really can advocate for a patient...ask you Prof. "if this child must have a student, wouldn't it be better blah blah blah".

Of course it depends on your Prof. and your relationship with him/her -- if they took it as a challenge that would be a bummer. As always, do it privately.

I would love to hear how this works out -- as I bet during our careers this will happen more than once.

Good luck

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Specializes in interested in NICU!!.

try to find some cards that have a picture and the english and spanish word on them and just google questions that are more likely to be asked at her.

tienes dolor? (feeling pain)

como estas?(how are you)

i don't know, just questions that are asked every time you go in the room. . .

buena suerte!

good luck!

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You're teacher probably gave you a spanish-speaker because in real life, in a work situation, you won't always have access to a coworkers who is bilingual and you'll have to figure it out yourself in the moment! It's better to be exposed to these situations while you're in school because once you're out, you could be on your own. I got a few only-Italian-speakers and only-Tagalog-speakers while I was in school in LTC (despite the people in my class who spoke both the languages) and it was a great learning experience in communication! Think of it as extra training ;)

I traveled in S America for 5 months with beginner spanish, but I found that charades are *always* fun and make people laugh a lot! Drawings seem like a good idea, you could doodle up some pictures of different symptoms or something.

"Tienes dolor?" is "Do you have pain?"

"Tengo dolor" means "I have pain."

"Donde" is "where," and hopefully she can point where it is :p It's always good to do things the fun way but some words like those are good to know!

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