Translating at Work

Published

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Hi,

I am a new grad at a hospital where there are a lot of Spanish speakers. I am fluent in Spanish and I am always translating for my patients or other nurses/doctors. I know I should be careful with translating but I want to continue to translate without having to get in trouble in case something happens. Does anyone know if there are programs where I can become a certified translator?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

I just googled 'certification for medical Spanish translation'. All kinds of stuff there. That is a real job for some professional translators.

A word of advice - be SUPER DUPER careful about translating in your hospital. Simple stuff - no big deal. But there are MAJOR LEGAL ramifications re technical information, pt education, informed consent, etc. You could be SUED for mis-information.

That's why hospitals have language type services. They pay for that! Check out your facility's policy & procedure re needing translation.

You mean well and want to be helpful. But you certainly don't want to lose your job or your license. ?

9
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Your hospital should have a way of validating who its official translators are. My hospital's requirements are extremely difficult to qualify and nobody who speaks other languages are allowed to do any translating unless they have been certified. Look into your hospital's processes. If they don't have a process, start deflecting these requests. "My Spanish isn't good enough for these kinds of conversations". "I don't have time right now, I'm sorry". etc. "No" is a complete sentence. Protect yourself.

15
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

You ask a great question, Meow.

Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. This goes for everything from wearing Spandex to dying my hair green to the informal translation services you are generously providing.

First, clarify the policy. If they say "any willing and able staff" - you're golden.

I don't think they will, though.

I am lobbying to have our district get on the language line (which is expensive) because any willing and able staff is, in my opinion, lazy and not really addressing the problem. I know that I have native-speaking Spanish and Vietnamese staff who are willing and able (and they don't see the problem with the off-the-cuff translating).

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
1 hour ago, not.done.yet said:

Your hospital should have a way of validating who its official translators are. My hospital's requirements are extremely difficult to qualify and nobody who speaks other languages are allowed to do any translating unless they have been certified. Look into your hospital's processes. If they don't have a process, start deflecting these requests. "My Spanish isn't good enough for these kinds of conversations". "I don't have time right now, I'm sorry". etc. "No" is a complete sentence. Protect yourself.

I agree with this! I had one coworker that spoke Spanish but found herself not confident enough with medical/legal jargon when translating in the hospital so she starting declining requests to translate.

If you feel uncomfortable translating don't feel bad saying no. It takes you away from your responsibilities, and hopefully your hospital has a contract with translators they can reach by telephone.

Also, find out if you should be paid a differential when translating. 2 of my employers offered this.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some people who translate get bonuses. Translating takes time and the staff for whom you are translating often don't think about helping you not get behind with your own assignment.

Just sayin'...

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

In our hospital, we tend to favor matching a patient's preferred language to a nurse who has some command or fluency in that particular language because it does make it easier to provide care that way. However, when it comes to a provider initiating a discussion of complicated matters such as obtaining consent for surgery, goals of care, or invasive procedures, we will request a certified translator. They can be done via 2-way video.

As a provider, we can be certified if we pass a verbal/conversational standardized test in translating medical information verbally to a foreign language speaker developed by our language services. I don't think that certification has been extended to the nurses yet. I took the test for my native language and passed it...barely, with a score of 75% which goes to show how hard medical translation could be.

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes to all replies. Your hospital has to provide translation services and has to certify you. Plus you should get some small amount of financial compensation for being certified.

If it is simply to translate for a quick minor situation...they are asking for more water, they are still in pain, can their family come to visit, etc. You can help out. But anytime the patient is being asked, or asking about, complex medical issues you'd be better off if any problems arose if you were certified by the hospital.

"Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin is prohibited. Therefore, health care providers, including hospitals, that receive federal funding, including Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP, are required to provide language access services for their patients.Jul 8, 2011"

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Translating is for documents, interpreting is for patients. But yes, contact your interpreting services department — they should have a mechanism for certification. It's not easy! One of our ER techs was a native Spanish speaker and she obtained her official certification for interpreting and received extra pay, but she said that the test she had to take was really in-depth.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
11 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:

Translating is for documents, interpreting is for patients.

Thank you, I was literally just coming here to say that. When you're speaking, it's interpreting, not translating. I know it seems like mere semantics, but the two are very disparate skills.

I know I'm repeating what others have said, but it's a CMS/Joint Commission requirement that anyone who is serving as an interpreter for patients has to prove they're competent in MEDICAL interpretation. There are companies that provide that validation to facilities for a fee, or your hospital may want to implement its own program. Without that validation, you should not be providing detailed patient education or informed consent, or your facility may find itself in violation of CMS regulations. Instead, your facility should utilize an approved language line.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nurse and former hospital staff interpreter (Spanish) here.... You've received good advice above. Don't do it unless/until you've clarified your facility's policy and are 100% sure you're complying with it. The staff you're "helping out" are surely appreciative, but you'll be the one in trouble if there's any question of a misunderstanding later.

A hospital where I worked was sued and paid a huge settlement due to using non-certified "interpreters." IInterpreting skills involve more than just language fluency, and the hospital is obligated to provide qualified language access.

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 9/3/2019 at 2:41 AM, nursingmeow said:

Hi,

I am a new grad at a hospital where there are a lot of Spanish speakers. I am fluent in Spanish and I am always translating for my patients or other nurses/doctors. I know I should be careful with translating but I want to continue to translate without having to get in trouble in case something happens. Does anyone know if there are programs where I can become a certified translator?

My suggestion is to get certified as a translator.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion