"You're gonna need to learn Spanish...."

[smkiya]

I'm a new RN, just started orientation last week. I met with my preceptor on the floor for the first time a few days ago and he made the comment, "Working here, you're gonna need to learn Spanish". I was only on the floor for a couple hours for a 'tour' but my preceptors pt needed assistance so I went in to help.

The patient only spoke Spanish and we had to provide care that was very messy, uncomfortable, and embarrassing for the pt. There ended up being 3 of us in the room to try and resolve the problem but it wasn't going well. The pt had tears in her eyes and I wanted so badly to provide comforting words and reassurance, but couldn't. All I could do was look softly into her eyes and stroke her hair, meanwhile feeling like a total failure because I couldn't communicate with her in her time of need.

There wasn't time to use the language line, my preceptor only spoke a couple words, and the other nurse didn't speak Spanish either. For 45 minutes we turned and cleaned only to have to turn and clean, it was terrible. I'm sure she had no idea what we were doing, she was exposed, and no one could tell her anything. All I kept thinking was why wasn't the need to learn Spanish emphasized before now. Sure I've had Spanish patients during clinicals, but I usually had a classmate who was fluent or I used the language line. I had every intention of learning Spanish in the future because I knew it would be beneficial... but now I'm going to do everything in my power to learn it as quickly as possible because I NEVER want to go through that experience EVER again! I had to do everything in my power to keep my tears at bay while silently comforting the pt. Even now as I write I try to avoid imagining myself or a family member in her situation.

Has anyone else had an experience where they felt so strongly about wanting to learn a language? Or, did you learn a language and have a situation where you were so happy that you did?

Thanks for listening....

[GardenDove]

TeleRNer, NewsFlash!!!!!! Mexico is NOT the only country on the face of the earth where Spanish is spoken. Last I heard, Spanish is spoken in Spain, Central and South America with the exception of Brazil where Portuguese is spoken, many islands in the Caribbean and all over the United States of America. Spanish was spoken on these shores 50 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

They know that, but the fact of the matter is that Mexico is the most common country of origin in the U.S. for immigrants, and also Spanish speaking persons. Most of the people who speak Spanish are Mexican.

That reminds me of a young pt I had who was from Cuba. Here in the Pacific NW, Cubans are a rarity. She made a big point to let me know that she was Cuban, and it was perfectly clear to me that she looked down on Mexicans and didn't want to be mistaken for one! It was rather amusing to observe this.

[Euskadi1946]

This forum is turning into a Let's Bash Hispanics Forum and I for one am so sick and tired of all this bashing. I'm a 17th generation American with both Spanish and Indian ties who speaks fluent Spanish and I'M PROUD OF IT!!! We are all nurses for heaven sakes and we're are supposed to heal the sick regardless of their race, nationality and religion. GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!!!!

[GardenDove]

Really, I haven't noticed this. What threads are you talking about where Hispanics are bashed?

[Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN]

Ruby:

I am not advising anyone to do anything as you have suggested.

I was merely sharing my perspective on the topic as is everyone else. I also am not saying that everyone should become fluent in every language..clearly that is not realistic.....I, personally, just happen to live in a large community of hispanic speaking patients so I am just trying to learn a bit of Spanish to be able to better communicate with them. The OP seems to be working in a facility where there are many Spanish speaking patients so in that instance, perhaps it would help her, as it has helped me, to learn some phrases in order to be better able to speak with them. I feel frustrated when I am unable to communicate with my patients, and it seemed that she may feel the same, particularly if the patient is in a situation where it would be nice to give some words of comfort.

I happen to live in Rhode Island which is nowhere near California, and I also do not recall mentioning anything about illegal aliens. I think that is an entirely different topic.

I am also not saying anything about people who have been here for years and do not know or pretend not to know English. Yes, if I relocated to another country, I would certainly be working on learning their primary language, but in the meantime, if there happens to be a large population of a patients who speak a certain language other than English it can only be helpful to know a bit of that language whether it be portuguese, french, or whatever.

From my personal experience, when I encounter a patient who does not speak English well and is primarily Spanish speaking, they have always expressed their appreciation by thanking me when I speak to them as much as I can in their primary language. The other thing is that when we are speaking in Spanish, I will tell them in English the item they are asking for or if asking about pain, I will ask them in Spanish and then say pain in English, and I find that they then will ask me in a mix of Spanish and English what it is they need or if they are in pain, they will then say pain....Then I will say pain is Spanish and they will say yes. So it just works out well in the situations that I have encountered.

Peace,

Carla

[Euskadi1946]

GardenDove not too long ago there was a forum where undocumented aliens especially the Mexican ones were being bashed all over the place. Thankfully it was removed!!!

[prmenrs, RN]

This turning into a lively discussion! Let's respect each other, 'kay?

[Euskadi1946]

They know that, but the fact of the matter is that Mexico is the most common country of origin in the U.S. for immigrants, and also Spanish speaking persons. Most of the people who speak Spanish are Mexican.

That reminds me of a young pt I had who was from Cuba. Here in the Pacific NW, Cubans are a rarity. She made a big point to let me know that she was Cuban, and it was perfectly clear to me that she looked down on Mexicans and didn't want to be mistaken for one! It was rather amusing to observe this.

Since you find this so amusing to observe, I do believe without a doubt that you are a racist and you don't like Mexicans!!! And that is the last I have to say on this horrible thread!!!!

[TazziRN, RN]

CeCi, you need to simmer down some. I think it's wonderful to be multilingual, but that's not the point of these posts. The point is that much of the Spanish-speaking population live in an English-speaking country, yet do not speak English. And someone said something about people from overseas being higher-functioning....for the most part that's true, but what about the peasants from Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos? Many of them are poorly educated and yet if the adults do not learn the language, they insist that their children do. That's called respect for their adopted country.

[TazziRN, RN]

Something I overheard my mother once say has always stuck with me. She is from South Korea and didn't speak a word of English when she met my dad. I was about 13, we were in California, and we were at a company picnic. There was a young Korean woman married to one of my dad's soldiers who came up to my mom and spoke Korean to her. My mom stared at her and in broken English said, "You in America now. You speak Korean at home, okay. Outside home, you speak English!"

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

JCAHO and MC/MA requires that all facilities and physicians identify major languages used by patients in local community and develop material/consents if predominate secondary language is noted along with providing translator services. One of my health system's facilities has heavy Russian/Polish population so they have hospital consents in Russian and Polish. Facilities have been fined big time for not providing a medical translator.

Many facilities sign up with AT+T's Language Line: pay a yearly flat fee to being a member then either monthly if large use or case by case fee for interpretive services. Business agreement one sign's includes HIPAA language that interpreters need to follow regarding protecting health information:

http://www.languageline.com/page/industry_healthcare/

Kudos to OP for recognizing a patient need..

America is becoming a multicultural nation and we need to be educated to function within it. It is important for healthcare providers to know the resources within a facility regarding translation. Night I had to give a fleets enema to Laotian women in 1980's (hospital predominately African American)and awaken someone at 5AM to translate cause no one thought to educate her re test prep during daylight hours, was when I realized need to learn about interpreters.

My HS French has come into play only 1 or 2 times in my career; that's why I encouraged my sons to take HS Spanish ---our schools require 4 yrs language. My youngest son is going to become a Chef, taking French classes as part of culinary arts degree program now so they'll know a little of the language when they visit.

Philadelphia becoming a haven for immigrants from Africa continent along with South America. My local hospitals are ones Philadelphia Airport brings ill passengers to. There are many reasons why non-english speaking patient may land in your facility in need of healthcare. If your traveling outside the US and get sick, you'd expect some one in foreign country to assist in translation services. Same should be said of healthcare in US.

[prmenrs, RN]

I am not sure who CeCi is referring to as a "racist", but in any context, that word, all by itself, tends to wound folks.

Please be careful!!

[ann945n, RN]

I believe while you felt bad for not being able to communicate you should not feel bad for not knowing spanish, would you feel the same way when its german or chinese or another language. You did your best to comfort her with what you could, pat yourslef on the back for that, im sure she felt your caring and concern for her. You cannot possibly learn every language and if people move here and refuse to learn english they are only holding themselves back. this women did this to herself by moving somewhere and not learning the language. I move to german and learned german, not well but i did it. We need to put our foot down and stop accomidating people insulting our country and culture(yes language is a culture) a hold people accountable for BASIC communication skills. Im not saying no interpreters since some people who are learning need extra help but sorry no excuse learn english or leave. (bring on the flaming, i know its coming)