Increase in hr/$pay for Bilingual

14 minutes ago, HeyHeyRN said:

Hello,

I will be starting my first nursing job very soon, and HR will be contacting me to negotiate salary. I will be working in an area where Spanish is very prominent in the community. I am a native Spanish speaker, and was wanting to see if any other RN’s out there have negotiated a higher hourly rate based on being bilingual? If so, how did you negotiate it? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

It's odd that HR would "negotiate salary" for any new graduate, and I've never heard of a higher pay rate for being bilingual, although it's certainly a positive when seeking employment.

If your area has a high Spanish-speaking population, there are probably a lot of other Spanish-speaking staff. Spanish speaking patients often have English speaking relatives, as well. And unless you have the proper certification, you'll be unacceptable as an interpreter in any sort of official capacity. We have official "blue phone" people for that.

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, but I'd keep expectations low.

You would likely need to take the medical interpretation competency exam before they would give you a differential. You should not be providing interpretation services to patients until you've shown yourself to be competent in medical interpretation. Being bilingual does not mean that you're competent in medical interpretation.

8 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

I’m pretty sure, as a new grad, HR isn’t contracting you to negotiate salary. They are contacting you to tell you what it will be. Not trying to take the wind out of your sails just want you to be prepared for some disappointment. 

Hey!

thanks for responding. I guess I should’ve been more specific when I said “negotiate salary”. They told us what the base pay would be, but they’re going to talk to us about any other experience or qualifications we may have that could add additional $ to the base pay before they finalize the contract.

26 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

It's odd that HR would "negotiate salary" for any new graduate, and I've never heard of a higher pay rate for being bilingual, although it's certainly a positive when seeking employment.

If your area has a high Spanish-speaking population, there are probably a lot of other Spanish-speaking staff. Spanish speaking patients often have English speaking relatives, as well. And unless you have the proper certification, you'll be unacceptable as an interpreter in any sort of official capacity. We have official "blue phone" people for that.

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, but I'd keep expectations low.

Gotcha, thanks!

13 minutes ago, klone said:

You would likely need to take the medical interpretation competency exam before they would give you a differential. You should not be providing interpretation services to patients until you've shown yourself to be competent in medical interpretation. Being bilingual does not mean that you're competent in medical interpretation.

 

Got it, thanks for responding.

One place I worked did pay an hourly differential for nurses capable of being translators, a test was necessary first but if it is your native language and you are a nurse than you probably would pass just fine. If not you could always study whatever is necessary and take it again later. I would however ask HR was it involved. Would it be only your unit etc. And also know that once your coworkers find out you speak Spanish they will be pulling you away from your pts to translate (unofficially) and maybe that it not such a good idea until you get settled in the job, just something to think about (esp if Spanish speaker are predominant in your area). 

And just know, that when you'd get pulled off to translate, be aware that no one will likely be doing anything for your assignment while you're away. Your assignment sits in limbo just waiting for you to return.

Be ye informed!

Just want to add, because this is a personal thing I have...translating is only for written materials. When you're talking about a person in a healthcare setting talking to people, it's interpreting, not translating. 

Interpreting and translating required a both oral and written exam at my last hospital job. I, too, live in an area with a high Spanish speaking population, and believe it or not there was a wait list for the need for Spanish translators because the area is so saturated (Florida). It did come with an hourly differential benefits, .50/hour I believe.