Today's medical professionals must adapt to meet the challenges that come with the growing demographic diversity in the health care population. Some of these challenges are not only linguistic but also cultural at their root. This often requires that health care providers learn to clearly and effectively communicate with patients and their relatives in a second language.
The reality for many health care professionals is that Spanish is the first language of a large percentage of the population served. Miscommunication and misunderstanding of critical information can have a negative impact on every day patient care, not to mention situations where matters of life and death are at stake. Possessing the ability to speak basic Spanish will reduce the need for providers to enlist the services of an interpreter for common everyday communication tasks and can assist health care professionals in providing culturally sensitive care.
A Certificate in Medical Spanish is available through the Boston College School of Nursing’s Continuing Education Program. The Certificate is awarded upon completion of:
- Conversational Medical Spanish I (21.0 Contact Hours)
- Conversational Medical Spanish II (21.0 Contact Hours)
- Conversational Medical Spanish III: Practicum (18.0 Contact Hours)
“A bilingual education is not only preferable in healthcare, but a necessity in my area. I can now strongly compete for the best job opportunities.” — Samantha Unnela, NP
“I was able to transition and get a new job by taking all the Spanish courses - It was great preparation.” — S. Haviland '96