Nursing & Spanish

[inthespotlight7o]

I will be a sophmore nursing major this fall and am considering minoring in Spanish. I would have to take five extra classes (including Spanish with medical terminology) next summer because there is no room in my busy schedule for Spanish classes. I have taken Spanish throughout elementary and highschool, so I would start at an intermediate level.

Would this extra effort make me more marketable as a future nursing graduate? Are hospitals seeking nurses that can speak Spanish, especially in pediactrics?

Thanks for your help =)

[nalaa83]

Speaking Spanish can only help your chances it depends on where you live ..for example in a major city like NYC. Being Spanish speaking is always preferred because of the population we are providing care for.

[pitaya]

Yes, do it! Don't just do it for marketability, think about how much more comfortable you feel and your patients feel when you can communicate effectively. People speak Spanish all across America. It will be great for you. My minor was Spanish, too.

[caliotter3]

I see job ads all the time that state Spanish ability is either required or desirable. If you live in an area with a high concentration of people who speak Spanish, it would be to your advantage to be able to communicate in Spanish. Not only will it help you to get a job, it will help you in the day to day performance of your job.

[regrebs]

I can't even begin to tell you how much being a Spanish speaker would help you in the workplace. The more languages you know, the better! I live in an area heavily populated by Spanish speakers and, being just an English speaker, always found it extremely difficult to survive a day in the hospital when I cared for a "Spanish only" patient. Being multilingual is a very attractive quality; language barriers are the worst.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I wish I knew spanish.

And I wish all my pts knew sign language

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

It depends.

I am a native Spanish speaker and I remember during my GN interview one of the questions was along of the lines what makes you special and I said well I am bilingual and..that is as far as I got. The manager stopped me right there and said if you don't have an interpreter certification don't even bother saying it as we can't use you. Some hospital systems will not use anyone who is not certified. Its my understanding that they are doing it that way because it is coming down the line as a federal regulation.

It helps though so do go for it but also look to get certified as a medical interpreter.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

It depends.

I am a native Spanish speaker and I remember during my GN interview one of the questions was along of the lines what makes you special and I said well I am bilingual and..that is as far as I got. The manager stopped me right there and said if you don't have an interpreter certification don't even bother saying it as we can't use you. Some hospital systems will not use anyone who is not certified. Its my understanding that they are doing it that way because it is coming down the line as a federal regulation.

It helps though so do go for it but also look to get certified as a medical interpreter.

This is true - Joint Commission reg requirements begain in January 2011 as part of the new Patient and Family Centered Care initiative. As with any new regulatory requirements, it takes a while to sort everything out so some employers may be erring on the side of caution. However, the use of a certified medical interpreter is for 'significant' discussions.. not for everyday stuff like explaining how to use room equipment, visiting hours, etc. Multi-lingual staff are always a plus & a HUGE benefit for ESL patients and families.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

This is true - Joint Commission reg requirements begain in January 2011 as part of the new Patient and Family Centered Care initiative. As with any new regulatory requirements, it takes a while to sort everything out so some employers may be erring on the side of caution. However, the use of a certified medical interpreter is for 'significant' discussions.. not for everyday stuff like explaining how to use room equipment, visiting hours, etc. Multi-lingual staff are always a plus & a HUGE benefit for ESL patients and families.

At our facility even for the little stuff, we are not allowed to unless certified. I do it anyway but if caught by administration I could get in trouble. It depends on the facility of course how strict they want to enforce it of course but it can't hurt to go ahead and get certification.

[Olivia., BSN, RN]

I am in the saaaame situation as inthespotlight. I completely agree with all the other posters who said knowing spanish will make you more marketable--especially if it is in your minor.

There are always going to be latinos, especially if you live in somewhere like TX or CA or ILL.

I wonder if it makes a difference whether you are ALREADY fluent in spanish to begin with; or if you actually get a minor in spanish. Anyone know?

[SpanishConsultants]

Do not hesitate even for a minute. Take Spanish! Last U.S census...Hispanics in the US = 50 million, and they are even considering illegal immigrants. Go for it!

[SpanishConsultants]

I meant...they are NOT even considering illegal immigrants.