Nurses will not only need to learn how to communicate effectively with non- or limited English speakers, but will need to become comfortable with the use of interpreters.
Suggestions for Addressing the Issue
Hospitals need to devise training and development programs designed to reduce cross-cultural communication barriers. Obviously healthcare personnel cannot be expected to learn to speak every language fluently. However they need to learn the basics of the languages that they encounter most often. Hospitals also need to work more closely with interpreters and have interpreters for every language they may encounter available on-call.
Summary
The population of America is becoming increasingly diverse, with more and more patients coming into healthcare facilities with little or no understanding of the English language. Accordingly, there is a critical need for improved communications between non-native English speaking patients and their healthcare providers.
Executive Summary
This paper addresses the problem of communication barriers between health care professionals and patients that speak no English or limited English. It discusses how these language barriers can negatively effect the patient, including not understanding what the health care provider is telling them; not being able to explain to the health care provider their symptoms or concerns; and the frustration patients may feel due to communication problems that may prevent them seeking treatment altogether. The paper then discusses how the lack of optimum care that occurs as a result of language barriers can negatively impact society as well, in terms of both an increase in communicable diseases as well as rising health care costs.
The impact of language barriers on
Suggestions for addressing the situation include ongoing training and development for nurses to assist them in not only learning other languages, but also to help them learn to work with professional interpreters. Hospitals need to have a comprehensive database of interpreters on call to deal with limited or non-English speaking patients whenever possible.
Ultimately, overcoming the communication problems between health care providers and their patients who are not fluent in English is of critical importance to the health care profession, as well as to all of society. Therefore action needs to be taken to reduce these language barriers in the most effective and cost-efficient manner possible.
References
Dressler, D. & Pils, P. (2009) A qualitative study on cross-cultural communication in post-accident in-patient rehabilitation of migrant and ethnic minority patients in Austria. Disability & Rehabilitation, 31,1181-1190
Flores, G., Milagros, A., Tomany-Korman, S.C. (2005, July/August) Limited English proficiency, primary language at home, and disparities in children's health care: how language barriers are measured matters, Public Health Reports, 120, 418-430
Hagman, L.W. (2006) Cultural self-efficacy of licensed registered nurses in New Mexico. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 13, 105-112.
Langlie J.K. (2005). Social networks, health beliefs, and preventive health behavior. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 18, 244-260.
Staff, (2005) Barriers to care for immigrants, Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Retrieved 3 February 2010 from http://www.mmc.edu/www.meharry.org/Fl/Access_to_Health_Care/Barriers_to_Care_for_Immigrants.html
Zabar, S., Hanley, K., Kachur, E., Stevens, D., Schwartz, M., Pearlman, E., Adams, J., Felix, K., Lipkin, M. And Kalet, A. (2006). "Oh! She doesn't speak English!" Assessing resident competence in managing linguistic and cultural barriers. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21, 510.
Communication Modalities Communication is a fundamental facet in any production plant or organization. There are various communication channels and applications in the world of communication. Communication modalities are present in almost every organization. Different entities of growth and production require a diversity of communication channels. For instance, different communication channels can be involved like e-mails, web-based forums, and electronic medical records. Communication modality used for marketing in health care Web-based forums Web-based forums are
AbstractMost patients, especially after being examined with complex health conditions, have difficulty comprehending or recalling the information their healthcare providers gave them regarding their health. However, the use of teach-back methodology has proven to improve this scenario since it provides guidance that could help deliver health services most effectively. Besides, with diabetes mellitus being a major pandemic in most nations, this review aims to comprehend the information about teach-back methodology
Inter and Intraprofessional Communication Patient-centered practice is designed to address issues that usually appear as a consequence of nurses having a limited understanding of their role and as a result of patients not being provided with the opportunity to learn more about the attitudes they need to take in order to make the experience less painful for all individuals involved. One of the principal ideas related to this type of thinking
Communication Verbal communication includes the words that are physically spoken, as well as factors, according to the video, such as tone of voice, rhythm of speaking, word choice, and emphasis. Experts and researchers in the field of communication assert that nonverbal communication composes more than half of the communication among people. Nonverbal communication has a variety of factors such as eye contact, gestures, body language, the setting, and even the dress
Communication is a necessity for any relationship -- whether personal or professional; without communication there is not a relationship. Though communication is the basis of every relationship, there are good forms of communication as well as not-so-good forms of communication (which we are all probably very aware of). Good communication is imperative in the professional sphere because communication in the workplace is synonymous with information (Dainton & Zelley 2010, p.
1). However, there are several weaknesses or gaps that need to be addressed, according to my assessment. One of the core issues or weaknesses in my communication is related to my ability to give oral presentations. I believe that this gap can be easily addressed via training. The textbook by Baack (2012) outlines some of the core tips for designing effective presentations, both oral and written. Referring to this
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now