Increase in hr/$pay for Bilingual

[HeyHeyRN]

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!

[DowntheRiver]

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.

 

[ExceptionRN]

Good Luck. I have worked for multiple hospitals and it really does vary. Some facilities utilize interpreter services so they don’t pay employees extra. Other facilities try to utilize their own staff so they offer incentive pay to fluent Spanish speakers. I would say you have a 50-50 shot at getting the extra pay. It varies from 50 cents to $2 /hr.   From my experience, you have to take a basic test or have proof of completion of a Spanish medical terminology course.

 

[PollywogNP, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, NP]

Have never been offered money for interpreting, one hospital required me to get the certification as level2 Spanish interpreter or I would not be allowed to speak Spanish to the patients, I would have to get the receptionist to interpret as she was certified, (learned English age 6, my daughter did not learn English until age 3/4, only speak English at work) but then as level 2 could be asked to interpret hospital wide. As for bring pulled away from nursing duties, after awhile you learn to trade interpreting services, ( need IV started, dressing change, meds given etc) while I figure out what your patient is saying. Once asked to do new patient admit and the nurse had not even done the vitals signs or filled valuable list& expected me to do the care plan. Nope only here to do medical history, physical exam etc rest is for you to complete.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

No you do not get extra just because you are bilingual,you are not a hired interpreter,hospitals  have many that can offer help in different languages,from Russian to Mandarin.Being a native speaker does not mean you are qualified in medical fluency verbal and written,hospitals also have language phone lines as required by LAW,and must offer qualified help.My family has members working only as medical interpreters and go with the patient to the OR ,doctors appointments etc.

Keep up your language skills, learn the different nuances in foreign languages Spanish in Argentina is similar but not exactly  same as Mexico nor Spain,so you can provide best verbal instruction to your patients.Best wishes for your career.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I've been a medical interpreter in most of my jobs as a nurse and have never gotten any incentive other than putting it in my resume and yearly evaluation.  It is also a pain in the behind getting pulled to translate every shift by multiple disciplines and getting behind with your own patients.  Most of my jobs have been in border towns, so it doesn't get much-more-in-demand than that.  Also, never seen any new grad negotiate as you have zero negotiation power until you bring experience/skills to the table.

Maybe things are changing, either way, the best of luck to you and congratulations on the new job!

 

[vanessaem, BSN, RN]

So being bilingual is more important and worthy of higher pay than having actual nursing skills, years in the field, and educational background?

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, vanessaem said:

So being bilingual is more important and worthy of higher pay than having actual nursing skills, years in the field, and educational background?

I don't think that was what was being implied. But if there's a range of  starting salary for new grads, don't you think that it should count towards starting at a higher point on that range than someone who didn't bring that skill to the table?

[Sour Lemon]

6 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

I don't think that was what was being implied. But if there's a range of  starting salary for new grads, don't you think that it should count towards starting at a higher point on that range than someone who didn't bring that skill to the table?

I didn't read it that way, either. It is one of many pluses that can be brought to the table. Some employers do offer a little extra pay for bilingual employees, so I don't blame anyone for asking.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I speak Spanish and our unit would sometimes have more than 50% Spanish speaking patients, with covid up to 90%. I'm the only one from all 3 shifts who speaks Spanish, and one ICU nurse on PM shift. I had to take a (difficult!) fluency exam, and got $100 extra a month in bilingual pay. I definitely got pulled to interpret a lot, mostly for emergent situations or patients so hard of hearing/elderly/unfamiliar with technology that interpreter equipment wasn't working out.

Other than that I tried to follow the rules that I am certified bilingual but not a certified interpreter. I would trade tasks like completing an admission, asking difficult questions, etc. I'd do it for "free" if not busy, but ask coworkers to trade tasks if busy, especially if doing time consuming things like admissions.