How valuable is speaking Spanish in health care?

TexMex22 · Apr 9, 2011

I'm hoping to start (pending acceptance) an accelerated BSN program either this fall or next January. I was thinking of investing in Rosetta stone this summer to learn spanish. I figure it will also help keep my mind fresh before the rigors of nursing school. I took 3 years of high school spanish a while ago (now 24) so I have the very basics down. Do you guys think that this would be a worthwhile use of my time? Also, has anyone used/had success with Rosetta Stone.
Thanks,
Ned

Sure, why not go ahead with the Spanish? As for depending on where you live, that could cover pretty much anywhere, California, all the way up the west coast, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Virginia, D.C. -- ah, pretty much anywhere. And -- you don't know where you could end up moving a few years down the road. I say go for it. And yes, Rosetta Stone is a good program. And you'd be an asset to any employer if you can translate when others cannot.

Speaking even minimal Spanish has got to beat trying to look it up on Google translate (which we did on the floor recently) while waiting 2 hours for a translator (who never showed up because he was the only one on duty at the time). The frustration on both sides, caregiver and patient/patient's family is tremendous. You want to help, explain, give the best care, but can't say what you want -- and don't know if the patient understands because even if they speak back to you, you can't understand them. Because talking LOUDER in ENGLISH doesn't make you more understandable. haha. :rolleyes:

tiroka03, LPN · Apr 9, 2011

I have learned a few phrases in Spanish. But, I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to learning a language. My dtr is learning it in high school, and it's a hard language.

But, we work in America, a lot of the patients who speak only Spanish have lived here for 20 years, and have never bothered to learn our langauage. What's up with that? A part of me is not very happy having to learn another language to work in my own country.

sweetnepenthe · Apr 9, 2011

Spanish is much easier to learn than most other languages. If you want a difficult language, try Gaelic or Basque or Chinese.

Spanish is easier than French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Latin

People who go to live in countries foreign to them definitely should make every attempt to learn the language of that country. But it is a process and time-consuming and often takes money.

Think how frightening it would be to you if you needed medical care in another country and could neither understand what they wanted to do to you nor make your needs known to them. It is difficult to get even our english speaking patients to understand whT we are doing and why.

Have mercy and be generous with your compassion so that it might be returned to you one day

elljayo · Apr 9, 2011

I'm seeing a lot of health care job ads that specify bilingual/spanish-speaking as a requirement these days, not even just a "plus." So i'm thinking the same thoughts - if I want to be be the most employable, especially as a new nurse, I would do well to work on my spanish language skills. I doubt I'll ever be fluent, but a limited vocabulary can go a long way.