Planning a Career in Healthcare?

Posted by Kathy Quan May 31, 2007

Speaking, reading or writing another language is not a pre-requisite nor a requirement for healthcare education and degree programs, however it is almost always an asset and highly recommended for all students of healthcare professions.

Bilingual abilities are desired in most inner city locations in particular. Healthcare facilities are expected to have a list of bilingual employees available for use as interpreters at all times, particularly those with emergent or trauma care departments where translation services can be most needed in life and death decisions and treatment.

Under duress and stress it is quite common for patients to revert to thinking and speaking in their native or first learned language. This can be true despite the fact that they are fluent in another language that is their primary language at the present time. If they have suffered a severe trauma or brain injury it is possible that the new language skills could be lost completely or badly damaged.

Along with learning another language, customs and cultural diversity issues are often addressed in foreign language classes as well. This information can be a very important factor in providing quality health care and promoting the best possible outcomes. Very simple and well-meaning gestures can be misinterpreted and lead to dire consequences.

For instance, for a Muslim woman to make eye contact with a male other then her husband can be interpreted as infidelity. Yet in an emergency situation where a male physician needs that female patient to make eye contact and to follow an object with the her eyes to help determine her neurological status, eye contact can mean the difference between implementing life saving options or not.

In our global society, cultural diversity and language barriers present a multitude of new challenges everyday. If you are considering a career in healthcare, learning another language and studying cultural diversity issues can be one of the most influential and rewarding aspects of your career path.