How useful would a Spanish major be?

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I am a senior nursing student. I have been working toward a double major in nursing and spanish and only have one more class left for my spanish degree but it is in English and will take away from my time spent on nursing classes. Is a spanish major really worth it or is the knowledge of the language just as useful when looking for a job?

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Just one class left for a degree?!? I think I'd figure out some way to swing it:p

Bilingual nurses are in great demand in my state! Not sure about needing the degree vs knowing the language..sorry.

Btw...welcome to the board!! :p

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I agree that if it's just one more class, you should go for it! Being bilingual is going to help you whether you have the Spanish degree or not. But the big benefit from finishing, as I see it, would be that you proved you were a very diligent student who was able to complete the requirements for two different degree programs.

When you interview for jobs, there are going to be lots of new nursing grads, but you will probably stand out as the only nursing/Spanish graduate.

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:yeahthat: go for it! you are only one class away, with all the work you put into that major, you might as well do it! It will be great for interviews!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If you live in or plan to relocate to one of the states that is home to a large Latino population, majoring in Spanish would be highly useful.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

VERY! (from a nurse who speaks fluent Spanish and some French)

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Knowing the language is probably what is going to be useful to you as a nurse, and very useful. I've now been up and down the east coast traveling and I have yet to find a place that doesn't have a booming hispanic population.

As far as having the degree, well...I'd try to swing it, because you are only one class away and you might as well get a 2 for one price...

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Jeez! Nurses who are bilingual in Spanish/English are going to find work in California. The closer you work to the Mexican border, the more hireable you are--in any profession! Anyway, you can order at just about any fast food restaurant out here (Jack-in-the-Box or El Pollo Loco) and actually be understood!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

There are very few---if any---locations in the U.S. anymore where Spanish

wouldn't be an asset. Eighteen years ago, when my family and I moved to Oregon from the San Diego area, I was the only one in my workplace who spoke Spanish; by contrast, at my last job I was one of about 20 nurses (over 1/3 of our staff) who speak the language. We have had a huge influx of Hispanic immigrants over the past decade, and it's the same in a lot of places you'd never think of, like the southeastern U.S. and the Midwest.

By all means, go for it! Anything that increases your marketability is good, and command of a second language is pure gold in this day and age.:)

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Specializes in NICU.

Not only is Spanish very important in nursing - but a double major is a wonderful thing, too! Congratulations on your achievement!!!

Take that class. If you don't, you'll kick yourself later on, I promise you.

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Go for it!!! You'd be in great demand. I'm trying to improve my Spanish by having friends talk to me. I wonder if they sell bilingual dictionaries of medical terms...

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

They do sell bilingual medical dictionaries, at least for Spanish. Barnes and Noble should have a couple.

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