I think that nursing schools should offer foreign language as an elective. If the student wants to take the class so they can say on a resume they are Billingual then that's the student choice. I would take a Spanish class. The reason why is because, I know that I will run into a lot of non English speaking patients in my area. I live near Kansas City Missouri. So, thats why I hope to take a class or learn on a computer how to speak Spanish. Plus, I see all the time in the want ads when an employer is looking for health care workers they always say "Billingual a Plus"

I do not think anyone was trying to be racist or think they are superior than those who do not speak spanish. I agree with georgianurse. Immigrants who want to become citizens of the United States should be mandated to speak our language. We are an english speaking nation. I have been to Mexico and not one person there spoke English. Should I have been upset..no because I was in Mexico and it is a spanish speaking country. If nurses want to learn spanish then more power to ya (and it does help on resumes because there is more education involved) but if you don't then that should be fine too. There are too many cultures in America to single on one particular group and learn that specific language. Learning spanish does not increase patient safety when the patient is from Vietnam or China. It doesn't make sense.

phunaries said:

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?

Americo said:

Remember people that Medical attention should not be deny to anyone in any country of the world. United States of America has (and it will always has) many different ethnicity from different part of the world I think that in different part of the country Nurses should learn basics words in another language.
There are been cases where babies has die because of the parent lack of communication. That is why I think that in some part of the country Nurses should know basics words in another language.

al_chamizo said:

teamrn said:

Mandatory? No. Reccomended? yes.Nurses have more opportunities in which to advance themselves if they speak more than one language. However, hiring nurses JUST because they speak another language should not be the sole criteria for hire. Ability to speak more than one language needs to part of a PACKAGE.

We can't forget the other skills that a nurse needs to have to be effective, so if a nurse has language, technical, psychosocial and theory skills, there is every reason to consider him/her for a position in a chosen field.

teaamRN

Here, here... I would say, strongly recommended. It would just launch nursing and patient care to another level, not just having the skills of our hands, but to actually reach into a culture and make a difference in your own words without the need of mediation.