This is becoming a serious problem. Not only is there a serious shortage for nurses in this country, Were hiring foreign nurses also, for there ability to speak a second language. Do you think that we should be mandated to speak a second language? Why or why not? Do you think this is a good or bad idea?

No, But I do know some spanish. I live in Colorado and we have a large population of spanish speaking people.If you are a foreign nurse coming to America to work as a nurse, you should be able to speak our language fluently. You need a high level of communaication adn comprehension skills.

Hospitals and other facilities are mandated by federal law to offer interpretive services for clients. That said I do not believe it is anybody's best interest for it to be mandated that nurses speak 2 languages (other than medical and english).

Being conversant in basic Spanish is helpful. But to tell me that to work in the United States I have to be fluent in Spanish to talk to someone who came here of their own choice knowing they did not speak the language, thats going too far. I took 2 years of high school Spanish, I use some Spanish in my current job, but I am not at all what I consider fluent. I think there needs to be more opportunity for both sides to learn the others language but I also feel that it needs to be encouraged and required that you learn the language of the country you have chose to make your home; its what immigrants have done for centuries.

"To stem nursing shortage, state plans to send bilingual students to Mexico, but some say money would be better spent in California."

This from is the feature article today:

http://nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/1007-state-first-in-history-to-outsource-nurses

What do you think about bilingual nurses being taught internationally? Do you think the benefit of having more nurses will outweigh the costs to educate them outside the U.S.?

I think it all depends on the standards and curriculum of the country. How are they monitoring that? Until they have something in place, I think its a bad idea.

I don't think we should be 'mandated' to learn a second language. However, if there is a break in communication with the client, health promotion is basically impossible. In my last job, we had a sheet of spanish terms, both medical and nonmedical. I think for the benefit of the patient (and protection of our licenses, really), nurses should seek to learn at least basic terms of the language.

That's a good idea - a reference card of Spanish terms would be very helpful.

FYI....
I am currently working on my prerequisites so I can apply for the accelerated BSN at Colorado State University Pueblo. Of the 8 required classes, two must be a foreign language. Two language classes do not make you bilingual.

This is still America I have traveled to many countries where I am required to follow that countries guide lines I have been in a foriegn hospital and believe me when I say they did not go learn English for me. Also what is next will we be required to speak German, French, or perhaps Africants as the South Africans speak . People we need to stand up for this country and the language of this country.

KPetro said:

That's a good idea - a reference card of Spanish terms would be very helpful.

I have been begging my hospital to get us spanish classes without success. I work in the er so we really need it. they should give it in nursing school

Nursing students have to make enough sacrifices and so do their families while acomplishing school load. This is English speaking country. We have foreign exchange programs for the students that want to go abroad to learn about another country like Mexico's language and customs. I suggest two alternatives: #1 Schools, adult programs, and hospitals add more quick short language classes for medical personal only (nursing graduates). This way graduate nurses earn their CEU's, everyone benefits, the schools/programs, teachers, community and the nurse! #2 At the end of this course medical and nurses are given flip reference language card books to keep for practice. California;s high standards for nurses is strict enough, students have enough to study, adding more to their curriculum will take away from the necessary art of nursing, which is the heartbeat of it all. I say make the language be picked up as CEU's, everyone benefits that way.

My bad! Mandation was a wrong choice of words but, I'm glad to see all the differences of oppinions to this topic. I agree with a lot of you for the most part that nursing students already have enough on their plates and the hospitals should have interpreters also, this is an english speeking country so who ever comes should learn the language. Being married into a Mexican family for 15 years and in the family for 19 years, the majoitory of them do speak english but, medical terms you don't learn on the streets or in english classes. This is my concern. If I'm not able to go to the hospital with them, most of the time they don't understand what's being done and for what, due to the lack of the interpreters and a bilingual nurse. What is the resolution to this problem? Not only is there a shortage of nurses but, also interpreters. Someone please give me more insite on what we can do and what can be done SOON to fix this problem. Or tell me this, if you were on vaction in Mexico and you had an emergency and had to go to the E.R., you don't speek a lik of spanish, wouldn't you hope that you got a nurse that spoke english even though her or his first language is spanish? Put yourselves in their shoes for a moment and ask yourselves that question. Lets lower our prides and be a little less racist. We never know when we'll find ourselves in this situation.

vowellconstance said:

KPetro said:

That's a good idea - a reference card of Spanish terms would be very helpful.

Perhaps requiring medical personnel to learn Spanish would be a excellent idea. It would be particularly helpful in areas where there are numerous Spanish speaking populations. I have worked in clinics where Spanish dictionary/common phrase books were available for use. These books were only utilized if there was a need. It was rare to see someone just pick up one of these books and read it for knowledge sake. Learning another language can be fun and eliminate the gaps in communication and trust between patient and healthcare provider.

Why aren't we asking the question should immigrants that gain U.S. citizenship or visa status be required to learn english prior to finalizing the process....

If your next thought then is what about illegal aliens, well there illegal. enough said!

I do not feel that it should be necessary but I am sure if you had on a resume you could speak more then one language...depending on what it was and the area you were getting the job in...you may have a better chance at a job and such. I am going to start working on teaching myself spanish I beleive as I learned it in high school but it has been so long since i used it i dont remember much and would like to learn just for myself.