Better pay if Bilingual?

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and won't be starting my nursing program until fall of '09. My husband and I are thinking about relocating after I finish my program and I want to work ICU. I was wondering if anyone has found that being bilingual makes you a more desirable job applicant or if it has an impact on your salary. I have been thinking about trying something like Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish, thinking that this might really help me get hired if we move to AZ (or anywhere, for that matter.) If anyone has any input, I would really appreciate it.
Quote from Little DoeHi everyone,I'm new to the forum and won't be starting my nursing program until fall of '09. My husband and I are thinking about relocating after I finish my program and I want to work ICU. I was wondering if anyone has found that being bilingual makes you a more desirable job applicant or if it has an impact on your salary. I have been thinking about trying something like Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish, thinking that this might really help me get hired if we move to AZ (or anywhere, for that matter.) If anyone has any input, I would really appreciate it.

i speak fluent spanish and italian and can also sign... although it is impressive on resumes, i've never gotten a penny more for it...

Quote from flightnurse2bi speak fluent spanish and italian and can also sign... although it is impressive on resumes, i've never gotten a penny more for it...

Even if you don't make more for being bilingual, it will certainly make your job A LOT easier. Especially in areas of high immigration, such as AZ. And I have 2 FYI's for:1) I lived in Phoenix, AZ for 7 years. I have seen many ads throughout the years that have offered more pay for being bilingual. However, the pay differences have been minimal. As in, a non-bilingual RN makes $30 dollars an hour and a bilingual RN may make $30.50 an hour. Although I have heard of some people that there are bilingual RN's that make considerably more but they had to really fight for the pay raise. In my opinion, if all you are offered is a .50 cents raise, just take it. Knowing that your job is 1000x easier than everyone else who isn't bilingual is enough. IMO. And rest assured that if you move to AZ you will be glad you learned Spanish.2) I have been using the Rosetta Stone software for about a month now. And let me tell you, it is the best software out there. Don't even consider anything else. It is seriously amazing. There is no memorization and there no translation. You learn as if you are two years old and it works a million times better than Spanish programs that promote memorization and translation. Translation just confuses things and memorization is too hard to do.Hope some of my insight helps! Good luck!

Quote from spring05I have been using the Rosetta Stone software for about a month now. And let me tell you, it is the best software out there. Don't even consider anything else. It is seriously amazing. There is no memorization and there no translation. You learn as if you are two years old and it works a million times better than Spanish programs that promote memorization and translation. Translation just confuses things and memorization is too hard to do.

I am happy to hear that so many people are finding success with Rosetta Stone. I was thinking that the program may provide basic language skills that would help me communicate with patients and families in a supportive way, however I'm not sure if there will be much medical terminology covered. I definitely agree that it can only help me in my work environment, even if it doesn't make me stand out as a applicant. I think it's worth a shot at least. I will have little pre-req to do in the beginning of '09, so I was thinking I could give it a shot while I'm waiting for NS to start. Thanks for all the great info!!!:spin:

I get paid a bonus to translate. It's cheaper than using a service. Of course it is only feasible in a small facility. If I don't get paid, I don't translate.

Quote from MikeyJThere was a doctor on a Discovery Health show I had watched a few years back who was fluent in 10 languages (could have been more.. it has been a while) but he learned them all using Rosetta Stone.

Quote from spring05I absolutely believe it. Once I am fluent in Spanish (and I WILL be darnit!) I am going to work on French and Italian. Since they are so similar to Spanish it should be much easier.

Quote from MikeyJOnce I become fluent in Spanish, I want to try a non-latin based language. I have been studying Spanish for sooooo long that I am honestly kind of sick of the language.. lol... but I will become fluent in it. I was thinking of trying to learn Tagolog because that is another language that is spoken fluently where I live.

Pretty much any nursing position you apply to here in the Phx area will say "Bilingual Preferred". Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen any that don't say that.Where I work, if you pass the hospital's Spanish exam, they will pay you a little extra per hour.

Quote from Little DoeI was thinking that the program may provide basic language skills that would help me communicate with patients and families in a supportive way, however I'm not sure if there will be much medical terminology covered. :spin: