Being a non spanish speaking nurse in NM??

[domino]

Originally Posted by SeanAaron

Spanish in New Mexico is like French in Louisiana its mainly for historical reasons.

Stick to English, you shouldn't be learning Spanish, they should be learning English

That attitude won't do you much good in the emergency room when trying to do your job and communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language. Or are you suggesting that service be denied to anyone who doesn't speak English?

[SeanAaron]

That attitude won't do you much good in the emergency room when trying to do your job and communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language. Or are you suggesting that service be denied to anyone who doesn't speak English?

Then why make all our nurses learn Mandarin, Italian, German, Japanese, Arabic, French, Dutch etc? Incase someone who speaks one of those languages is in need of life saving treatment or should special treatment only be given to those who speak Spanish?

In the USA learn English, in Mexico learn Spanish! If I were to move to Mexico I would do the Mexicans and their culture the decency of learning Spanish, why shouldnt they do the same when in the USA?

[Santa Fe]

I would say that every Mexican I have met in New Mexico is learning English or has already learned English. However, in a few cases where the family is here, the wife stays home and lags behind the others in learning. In other cases, people may be here only a relatively short time and not have learned English yet. I believe that the compassionate person would want to learn Spanish to help those people.

When I visited Mexico and split a rib, I was very grateful that some spoke English.

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by loborick

Thank you. It drives me crazy when people ask a question about speaking Spanish. This is the United States. If you moved to New York or LA you'd probably have more spanish speaking patients than here.

Oh I'm sorry small things drive you crazy. Save your energy! You probably have never been an RN, where understanding the patient your speaking to could be a matter of life and death for the patient ... and could put your entire career and nursing license on the line. Tonight at my hospital here in MO I had only one non English speaking pt only, out of my 6 patients. He was groaning and grunting, had Alzheimers, and could not understand any of us when asking him to explain things to us. We had no interpretter available because he spoke French. For all I know he could've been having a heart attack, or any other aneursym, abdominal bleeding, anything ... I couldn't imagine having to deal with even 2 out of 6 or 7 or 8 patients that don't speak English - even if we had an interpretter phone or a live interpretter we could wait on to arrive. It could QUICKLY become a matter of life and death when you're dealing with critical or acute care patients.
So before you run your mouth about questions like this annoying you ... understand why people are worried about it.

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by GregW

Why would you live in New Mexico and not want to learn some Spanish?

Well you know I would probably try to learn some, but I have alot of other hobbies I put my time into. Learning a language might take some real dedication. I'd rather spend my time learning my guitar. What's up with all the rude people on City Data anymore. Just answer the damn question - that's all!!! Just answer the damn question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Melissa E]

Originally Posted by Hombre57

Dear Melissa,
I was having some tests done at a Ben Archer clinic and was in the waiting area.
A spanish speaking only patient was being atteneded to in the lab room.
A nurse speaking english only was asking the spanish speaking patient some medical questions. And the spanish speaking person was unable to answer because she was not bi-lingual. (didn't understand or speak english)
Several minutes passed by, when the nurse hailed another nurse to ask the medical questions in the spanish language.
Maybe you should think of trying to learn the secondary language of the area, often times, this could be a bonus for you and may be rewarding, not to mention, you might be first hired for being bi-lingual.
Just trying to help,
hombre57

yea thanks for the story. Yea yea I can learn a little spanish. a 13 hour shift requires lots and lots of talking. I could learn some basics, but you know just asking!! Thanks people!!

[Melissa E]

Thanks for the replies from those helpful people. I got the answers I was looking for from another source of people who work in the hospitals. We can close the question! Thanks again!