Hispanic male lvn who speaks little spanish

[allbutyorluv]

I'm a mexican male lvn and speaks very basic spanish. Should i explain?lol. My mother is actually irish/mexican american and my father is mexican but speaks mainly english. Mother speaks zero spanish and my dad never taught me while growing up. I feel obligated to know how to speak the language, because i look mexican. While in clinicals i would feel really bad when hispanic pts would look at me and speak spanish. I had very little spanish to communicate back with them. I just feel like when i let them know i speak little spanish they get the impression that i think i'm better then them. Which is so not the case.I want to apply at a hospital but feel like they will turn me down because i don't speak the language but look the language. I can speak very well in english though. I've just heard that they usually put lvn in ER which i would't mind. But the city i want to apply for has majoriy hispanic population. Does anybody have understand what i'm trying to say?LOL

[CoffeemateCNA]

Learning to speak Spanish can be a very useful skill to have! It may help to put Spanish-speaking patients at ease. From what I've seen, nurses are allowed to converse with patients in Spanish regarding only basic decisions. When it comes to the big medical decisions and breaking news to the patient and their family, a professional interpreter is usually called upon.

[K.P.A.]

Don't worry. If you want to learn Spanish, go for it. Then again, you might have more fun with Vietnamese. You've no obligation to live up to your looks or choose a culture based upon the perception/desire of others. You are what you make yourself and in the end, you're the one who has to live with it.

What about those poor Caucasians, Africans, and Pacific Islanders...You never know what language is going to come out of their mouths...

[allbutyorluv]

Well thanks for the reply. Your words are very encouraging:lol2:. I still have a really good heart, and good nursing skills. It is what we make of it. :)

[AZTECA]

From a Mexican perspective... You can not change culture over night. It's inevitable, you will be judged by some Spanish speakers, they may assume you are a "POCHO" .Which is basically someone who refused to learn his cultural language. However, a brief apology and effort will go a long way and the explanation you gave in your post totally redeems you in my eyes. Learning your or any other culture and language is a great thing and can help you in your personal and professional life for the rest of your life.

I speak Spanish as well as I do English and most people are surprized to hear me speak Spanish so eloquently. Culture is ever changing and more and more kids are refusing to learn and more and more parents are not teaching their kids. Your job is to excel in the field you have chosen and in your community. If it means you have to take some classes to make your life easier and to help people feel at ease, then that's what you should do. Regardless of the language you learn.

p.

[nyteshade, BSN]

You are not alone...my father is Puerto Rican, mother is German...I look 100% Puerto Rican. I don't speak Spanish either...for the same reasons you mention. To top it off, I live in South Florida!