Spanish in the Hospital

[stockholm]

Hey guys! I am a new grad RN. I already have my bachelors degree but I want to take some courses in Spanish. Does anyone know what kind of programs, classes, or maybe certifications would be a good option to learn Spanish that's useful in healthcare and especially nursing? Thanks !!

[brownbook]

So many adult schools and community colleges offer Spanish. Some are geared towards Spanish for the health care provider. The only certification I know about is when whatever hospital you work in tests you on your language fluency and certifies you.

Unless you are super at learning new languages (which I am not). It is a several years, long process, to learn a new language. I never tried to get certification but I made an effort, took classes, etc., so I could take care of the basic needs of Spanish speaking clients.

This was before computers were so common and easily accessed. I have heard there are good apps for learning Spanish. Some nurses have mentioned them on Allnurses.

[TruvyNurse]

I learned Spanish at a young age and yes it's been very helpful in many aspects of my life. I have heard some people having good success with Rosetta Stone

[SmilingBluEyes]

Make sure you take CONVERSATIONAL Spanish. NOT traditional. You want to learn how to talk, and quickly.

There are great flip books like: MEDICAL SPANISH MADE INCREDIBLY EASY. They are awesome

I speak fairly fluently but sometimes get stuck on a word or phrase. I learned it WAY back in highschool. I retained quite a bit however.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I was fluent in high school, having grown up around the language and taking four years of it in addition. That was a VERY long time ago and I got rusty, not having used Spanish much where I live now. I was still good enough to talk a woman through labor once, and I translated for the ER docs every now and again when I worked in the hospital. That was before we had translation services. I can still speak enough to get by, but I miss my old fluency. Does being able to cuss in Mexican Spanish count? Haha!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I was fluent in high school, having grown up around the language and taking four years of it in addition. That was a VERY long time ago and I got rusty, not having used Spanish much where I live now. I was still good enough to talk a woman through labor once, and I translated for the ER docs every now and again when I worked in the hospital. That was before we had translation services. I can still speak enough to get by, but I miss my old fluency. Does being able to cuss in Mexican Spanish count? Haha!

I can swear in Iriquois -learned at my late mother's knee.