Nurses with sign language experience?

TazziRN, RN · Apr 4, 2006

Huh??? You can't talk to your pts if you understand and speak their language unless you're certified??? To be paid extra as an interpreter, yes, you have to be certified, but that doesn't mean you can't communicate with your pts without certification. Just means you don't get the extra pay.

MissJoRN, RN · Apr 4, 2006

I wouldn't try to explain anything "new" to a patient in any language I wasn't very fluent in even if I thought I had the vocabulary but I do use signing with deaf adults for the more routine aspects of care, like do you want water/ something to eat, do you have pain/ where, This will be cold/ hurt, I have your medicine (for your...) I use it more in peds homecare, definitely for ADLs... Time for your bath, eat some more, do you want to play, do you need the bathroom, one more owie, and "conversational" silly stuff like look at the horse, etc.

Even with spanish, I use it the same way, but even less vocabulary. I know most of the routine pre-op questions like any allergies, what surgery are we doing today... in case I can't grab an interpretter. From what I've seen, the alternative is many nurses skip the third line questioning and rely on the chart. That would never be OK in an english speaking patient! Again, even if you can't/ don't explain tests, results, and how to care for themselves in the future in their language, people really appreciate basic communication for basic life needs.

Good luck with your signing!

rambisisking · Apr 5, 2006

That is simply not true. Yes, as Tazzi said, to be paid as an interpreter you would have to. I work with children with trachs and speech problems, they all learn sign to communicate and of course I speak with them in sign. Most of it I've learned from their speech therapists and their parents, and some from them believe it or not. Sometimes I have to ask their mom...Is that a new sign or is she just scratching her stomach? It's a wonderful way to communicate and find myself using it even with my children and grandchildren when we chat sometimes and they think it's great. They are now saying that all babies should be taught to sign so they can communicate before they can talk. Good for you for taking an intrest and I hope you can expand your knowledge of this beautiful art.

Noryn · Apr 5, 2006

Wow I had a similar situation come up about a month ago where I work at although I dont know sign. I spoke with an interpreter and she told me that someone that had not taken extensive sign language classes should not be used to interpret. We did have someone who knew basic sign and she said that wasnt adequate.

I asked her if we could communicate by writing and she still said, "no." She said something to the effect of sign being its own language and communication is different. I even read something awhile back that was really interesting but it looked at the thought process of someone who had been deaf since birth and the thought processes were different.

Of course there are exceptions for example if someone lost their hearing later in life they would be able to write their feelings but the interpreter was worried that there was some deaf who would not be able to correctly state their problem.

If you are in a hospital or any type of setting for the most part, I think an interpreter will have to be provided. It sucks but in nursing school they are also going over the legal aspects of nursing and if you arent certified in sign and something goes wrong it will be a nightmare on the court stand.

Also you will need specific information from patients. Things such as, "my head hurts" will be useful however you need to have them rate the pain, describe the quality of the pain, if it radiates, any accompanying symptoms, etc.

It probably would be ok to say things such as "Hi" in sign although again I may hesitate to give the patient false belief that you are proficient in it. Dont get discouraged though! We need many many nurses like you--try to become a certified interpreter--it will make you a great asset, make your patients feel better and really will help you when looking for a job.

allnurses Guide · Apr 6, 2006

I know a few signs, enough to say hi. We have interpreters on call, and also can check out a TTY from the switchboard.

I had a nine year old, whose mother was interpreting for her. I used what little sign I had to say my name and that I was her nurse. Not enough for "real" communication, but I was trying! She got a big grin on, and told her mother I was "cool!".

People appreciate the fact that you try. Yes, you need a professional for real interpretation and good teaching, such as for informed consent, but saying "Hi" is just polite.

MissJoRN, RN · Apr 6, 2006

I do feel that since signing, like all foreign languages has an "accent" that is very hard to fake, anyone who depends on sign will notice right away who is and who isn't fluent. Maybe it's just me... I admit, I sign like a beginner- I don't know the grammer very well, my face doesn't do the correct expressions- just one fixed "how is this sign formed" look of concentration. No patient has ever expected more of me than I could safely provide. The just seemed so happy that someone lightly entered their world for a moment. I understand the legal limits, and consequences of going too far. I also think a patient telling a jury that except for certified translators no nurse would try to communicate with him for a five day admission wouldn't hold up too well in court, either. Guess that's just my view of reasonable prudence, if it bites my in the butt, oh well. At least I'll lose my license knowing I feel good about the caring I provided. I'll work at WalMart where the greeters don't get sued for being friendly.

LanaBanana · Apr 6, 2006

Thanks for all the replies. Seems like most of you are thinking along the same lines as me - if I can communicate even the slightest bit to brighten their day or let them know that someone cares, it seems like it's worth it. I also have that look of "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying this anyway" so nobody would have too much faith in anything I said! But I also know my limits and that would be casual conversation, and maybe also asking about pain levels or general physical/emotional mood. I've been going to these deaf socials and they are so excited that I am trying to learn their language, especially since I just have a desire to learn it and not really a need. Besides, there's so much to learn just in their culture.

akcarmean, LPN · Apr 6, 2006

kaytekayte said:

I'm starting my nursing program in may. I'm currently taking a sign language class and love it. would really like to be able to continue but can't right now. I was just wondering if there's anybody out there who's certified as an interpreter? are there any pay incentives for it? my sign teacher has told me that if I'm not certified, as a nurse I shouldn't try to talk to my deaf patients because it could become a legal issue of me not being qualified. if I try to communicate in sign with a deaf patient and the communication is just on a personal level, and not trying to convey medical information, would that be a problem? I would like to be able to use this class in my profession. I've met so many deaf people at the social events I've had to attend for class and realize what an opportunity it could be to know more sign.

I have taken several sign language classes and yes silly as it seems they do have their own language. And is spoken differently and in different manner. what the teacher is saying is that everyday communication like water hot/cold, person hot/ cold ex. Should be just fine. but to tell them something medical and intense which would require quite a bit of ? And answer should not be done.

I would be in another class in sign right now if it wasn't for my back surgery but I have all my life to learn and get the degrees I want so soon I hope. Maybe next semester.

I hope I didn't confuse any one. In lot of pain kinda hard to think straight.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2006

I'm not yet a nurse, but I thought I'd throw in my opinion on this topic. As an EMT, I've had this come up with both sign language (I worked with several hearing impaired individuals in a mr/dd group home several years ago) and spanish (took 4 years of spanish in high school/ college over a decade ago. While I understand the legal issues, but sometimes you don't have a choice. There have been occasions when I've had to use what little of the language I still know (yep, use it or lose it) if I didn't have an interpreter handy. In an emergency sometimes the family can't help due to being overwhelmed or hurt themselves. I too have seen it calm the patient down, I think they don't feel so alone. I try to simplify things, for example I sign "point to where you hurt", instead of signing "where do you hurt". I also make sure I am speaking clearly and looking at the patient, as many hearing impaired people are experts at reading lips... combining the signing and speaking can really help to ensure accuracy.

Emery · Apr 6, 2006

I know first hand that deaf people from birth definitely process things differently. I've run into that problem with my boyfriend who is deaf. At first there was a lot of miscommunication, until I realized how he thought. ITs alot easier if you know the deaf culture and how they think and how they are. I also know that they really appreciate it when you even try to talk to them in sign. Well, most of them. A few have a chip on their shoulder, but not most of them. It's a totally different world. Good luck!

akcarmean, LPN · Apr 6, 2006

emery said:

I know first hand that deaf people from birth definitely process things differently. I've run into that problem with my boyfriend who is deaf. at first there was a lot of miscommunication, until I realized how he thought. It's alot easier if you know the deaf culture and how they think and how they are. I also know that they really appreciate it when you even try to talk to them in sign. well, most of them. a few have a chip on their shoulder, but not most of them. it's a totally different world. good luck!

Very true about the deaf culture. When I took my first semester of sign our teacher was deaf so that made it so much easier to understand their culture and a lot easier to understand how to sign the correct way.

I had a lot of fun. I will continue maybe next semester after I have healed from my back surgery.

Nurses with sign language experience?

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