I haven't been able to find an answer to this, so I hope you can help me!
If a nurse has a patient that needs discharge teaching done but his primary language is a different language.. can a LPN or CNA translate teaching for that patient if they speak the language? I know LPNs and CNAs can't teach.. so I'm a little confused by this. Even though the RN would be right there instructing them what to say and demonstrating along with the LPN/CNA speaking, would that still be considered a no?
We used certified translators also. We also do not let family members translate unless the patient/parent has signed a waiver refusing the translator. You have no idea what that person is telling them. One if our secretaries is certified.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
We used certified translators also. We also do not let family members translate unless the patient/parent has signed a waiver refusing the translator. You have no idea what that person is telling them. One if our secretaries is certified.
Absolutely. We often have northern African patients who come in with their husbands. They speak Arabic or Amharic, and the patient almost always refuses the medical interpreter and instead wants her husband to interpret, and it's VERY frustrating because I can tell he's not translating appropriately or fully.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Thank you so much!!!! You guys have shined some light on the issue!! It is really appreciated :)
Just a piece of unsolicited advice: using your selfie as an avatar is a bad idea. We tend to be anonymous here for good reasons. At some point you will ask a question, post an opinion or write a vent that insults, offends, or strikes someone somewhere as stupid and ignorant. You don't want that someone somewhere to be your boss, your preceptor or your new colleague. Please change your avatar so you won't be so easily recognizable!
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
FYI, speech is interpreted, only written materials are translated.
At our facility, if you are fluent in the language, you can talk to the patient in their language YOURSELF, but you cannot interpret for anyone else unless you are certified by the facility as an interpreter. So our MAs who are bilingual can do their own stuff with the patient in their native language, but cannot act as interpreter for the provider who doesn't speak the language.
Correct.
CMS & TJC prohibits anyone who is not a certified interpreter to interpret above their level of practice. How do you know that the MA, CNA, LPN is truly fluent, especially r/t medical terminology? Did they perhaps tell the patient that they have an abscess when it's really a cancerous tumor? Asked the suicide question in a way that gives a wrong answer?
In order to do any interpreting of a clinical nature, we require the employee to demonstrate a basic fluency.
If we don't have a qualified interpreter, we have dedicated I-pads that provide video interpretors in the common languages, audio for the less common languages...Hindi, Arabic, Cantonese, etc. works a lot better than the phones.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
You don't NEED to be anonymous. Most people choose to be. If you don't want to be, it's no skin off my nose. I admit, I find the tsk-tsking about people posting using their photo or real name as username to be a bit annoying and net-nannying. Not everyone cares about anonymity.
Keep in mind, though, that most facilities/employers monitor social media.
I completely understand where you're coming from. As I said, thanks for the advice and I changed my profile avatar. I am new to All-Nurses and by your initial comment to "Please change your profile picture" seemed as though we did actually need to be anonymous. Regardless, it's changed. I see the point. I just didn't feel as though I needed to be. I don't plan on upsetting anyone on this site, I'm merely asking for advice on a specific subject I wasn't clear on. I do know that facilities monitor social media, but I haven't done anything that would bring up a red flag nor do I plan to. Picture has been changed.
NicuGal, MSN, RN
2,743 Posts
We used certified translators also. We also do not let family members translate unless the patient/parent has signed a waiver refusing the translator. You have no idea what that person is telling them. One if our secretaries is certified.