How valuable is speaking Spanish in health care?

I'm hoping to start (pending acceptance) an accelerated BSN program either this fall or next January. I was thinking of investing in Rosetta stone this summer to learn spanish. I figure it will also help keep my mind fresh before the rigors of nursing school. I took 3 years of high school spanish a while ago (now 24) so I have the very basics down. Do you guys think that this would be a worthwhile use of my time? Also, has anyone used/had success with Rosetta Stone.
Thanks,
Ned
Depending on where you live, yes. I will just leave it at that. Kind of sore subject.

i agree that it depends on where you live. where i live i can go months without having to use the "language line." i don't think that NOT knowing spanish would keep anyone in my area from ever finding a job. however, i am certain that there are specific job opportunities available to people who DO know spanish. it's not something that would be beneficial enough for me to do personally nor would i want to invest the time and effort. but i think if it's something you're interested in and willing to do, it can only bring good - not harm. so go for it.

If you were to take a look at the majority of job ads for the Los Angeles area that mention Spanish speaking a plus, or required, you would soon see the advantage of fluency in Spanish.

How can you go wrong with education, including learning a language? As others have said, it won't hurt you. I think it's a great idea.

I am using Rosetta Stone to improve my minimal spanish. I like it so far and my spanish speaking husband seems to thing it's ok too when he hovers over my shoulder.

Learning another language has great benefits besides being able to speak Spanish or French or whatever. A variety of studies have shown differing degrees and types of positive impacts on the brain and thinking, but overall I'd say that somebody who uses their brain as much as a nurse does could hardly go wrong with picking up another language if he or she has the time and the interest to do so.

Learning another language is always beneficial. The use in practice definitely depends on where you live- I used to practice in D.C. and for every Spanish speaking patient we had Greek, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, etc. I think it's obvious the number of Spanish speakers are increasing in this country so it absolutely couldn't hurt to know it, whether you use it at work or within the community. Plus, it for sure makes you more marketable if you were to work outside the hospital setting!

I live in the SF Bay Area, and speaking Spanish is very very useful here. I learned a small amount of Spanish before starting my first job in a peds hospital, and I used it, if not every shift, then maybe on 50-70% of my shifts. Even the small amount I learned was useful -- I needed to call the interpreter for detailed discussions, but at least I knew how to ask things like "do you need more blankets", or "how many ounces of milk did your child drink"? I would love to be fluent and am thinking of trying Rosetta Stone myself. Good luck!

Depending on where you live......Very Useful,

The BSN program here offers Spanish for healthcare (I think you have to take beginners and intermediate first though). I'm taking Spanish right now, but I want to get the rosetta stone too. I would worry that it won't cover alot of health related words and phrases. I would recommend the Spanish for Nurses course, if it's available in your area. I want the Rosetta Stone to help me understand a fluent speaker. It's easy for me to understand a teacher that slows it down and uses minimal phrases lol. I don't want to put "Fluent in Spanish" on my resume until I can have someone speak to me and not stand there blank. Plus, people who arrive at the hospital are usually nervous and talke even faster. Yikes.

Depends on where you live. In the D.C. Metro area, I wish at least once a day I was fluent in Spanish.

According to the latest census data the Hispanic population of the United States is not only growing but expanding into most every state/area of the country. In many places the white non-Hispanic population is now a minority (parts of NY), and that trend will only increase until about 2040 where it will be complete nationwide.Spanish television programming, media and so forth are growing as well, indeed in some places far out pacing those of English language.In short while one may not require the need to speak Spanish in one's area today, chances are that will change quite soon.