Bilingual or not?

Nursing Students General Students

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I will be starting school this fall for LPN. I have all of my classes completed, so i only need to concentrate on the nursing classes themselves. I have been advised by several different people including a Doctor to seriously consider taking a Spanish course and becoming fluent while i am in school. Here in Eastern NC, there are alot of Spanish speaking americans. So I was wondering how many of you auctually are taking a language course or are currently fluent in some other language. I have been told that the additional pay is awesome.

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Can speak, read and write Spanish. Took it four years in high school.

Very useful on the job.

Specializes in tele, ICU.

hola...i am living in mexico right now for 2 months for that very reason. i have only been here a week and a half but can already understand a fair amount. i will begin in a medical clinic next monday, have some chats with the docs there and will hopefully pick up some medical terminology. i really believe its invaluable to know a second language.

I took 3 years of spanish in high school (a million years ago) and still know quite a bit, but I'm far from being fluent. Was thinking of taking a spanish course in the future to brush up and also a class for "medical spanish" or whatever they call it.

I love languages. Would really love to learn more Italian (I know a little), French and German (I took German 101 in college for fun when I got my BA in psych). I know some ancient greek (took 2 classes for fun back in my psychology days), but I don't think that would help me much. :D

Specializes in School, Camp, Hospice, Critical Care.

BA in French and in NH, too--where I work we actually see a fair number of quebecoise memes--last night I interpreted for one who came in with chest pain. I'm working on my Spanish, cause even here in "white bread" NH, demographics are changing and being able to communicate with the pt just plain makes you a better nurse. I'm hoping to do a program in South America (like bigmona) at about this time next year, before I start my first real nurse job!

It is hard to find the time to work on a language in addition to Nursing classes (and family and work and everything else), though--and there's no extra pay in it here. I'm hooked up with an online program, which makes it easier. Do it, though, if you have the time and the inclination--it's a great skill to add to your repertoire!

Best of luck!

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... It is hard to find the time to work on a language in addition to Nursing classes (and family and work and everything else)...

You got that 100% right! :)

Glad my language skills were developed a long time ago and that I've had the opportunity, through the years, to maintain them.

Ugh, I hate languages, I can speak British English and American English, a small amount of school French and I know how to ask 'Where's the toilet' and 'Can I have an IceCream' in Italian. What more do I need to know? :D Isn't that what hospital interpreters are for?

Paint :)

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