Medical Spanish
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55% of NURSING.com users are visual learners, and 35% stop using their textbooks altogether.
41 million people in the US (13% of the total population) are native Spanish speakers. Â
To say that you will encounter Spanish speaking patients in your career is a massive understatement. Â Most nurses will care for native Spanish speakers with limited or no English on a weekly basis.
While hospitals usually provide translation services (which you should use extensively) we have created a cheatsheet that outlines some of the most common and basic terms you should learn to help your patient feel more comfortable with you as their nurse.
This sheet is not meant to replace certified translators by any means, but just a few phrases can go a long way!
Put yourself in the patient's shoes . . . You are on a Mayan Riviera cruise during spring break.
You develop gastroenteritis and become severely dehydrated and must be taken to a local hospital. Â Imagine the fear in navigating a new country and healthcare system . . . worrying about paying for the whole thing and if you will even survive.
Now, add to that . . . no one speaks a word of English to you.
Imagine how isolated and alone you would feel.
Use this sheet to learn just a few phrases and words. Â After all, our job as nurses is to care for our patients. Â Empathy is a big part of that.
