Running Head: LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 1

Language Barriers within the Latino Community

Daniel Scruggs

Professor Kathy S. Faw RN, MSN

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 3113

November 4, 2016

Honor Code “I Pledge”

LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 2

Language Barriers within the Latino Community

Over the past several decades, the population of the United States has seen an exponential

increase in immigrant populations. This increase can be largely be attributed to the influx of

Latinos coming from Latin America and crossing the border into the United States. Many of the

families and individuals make the long and sometimes dangerous journey to the United States,

all in seeking the pursuit of a better life. In many cases it can be an improvement, but in some

regards the life in the United States is not as glamorous as they had foreseen.

Social Determinates of Health

Many are met with massive struggles. Many are living a life under the radar and hiding

from the government due to entering the country illegally. Some carry financial burdens, and it

is extremely difficult to assimilate into a new country and new culture without baring the stigma

of being a foreigner. For much of the Latino community in the United States, this is their life.

Many immigrants work countless hours, under harsh conditions, while receiving low wages.

Due to many lacking any form of higher education, their socio-economic status, and

occupational hazards, finding quality healthcare can be difficult. For these individuals, there is

not much assistance from the community to help with their medical needs.

Access to healthcare can be difficult for a foreigner in any country. Having a language

barrier is an extremely difficult obstacle to overcome, and takes many years to learn and master a

new language. Verbal communication is not the only limitation. Non-verbal communication

and learning a culture’s mannerisms can be an even more challenging part of cultural

assimilation. This can be difficult, especially for those without formal instruction on cultural
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 3

norms of the society. However it is imperative to learn if one hopes to assimilate and continue to

live in another culture.

Evidence-Based Interventions Addressing Health Needs.

These language and transcultural barriers have even shaped the way nurses preform their

tasks in the hospitals, clinics, and offices. Nurses and all medical professionals alike, use scales

to score patients, such as a pain scale, severity of condition, and a Schmid or Braden scale. The

Nursing Activity Score (NAS) has been used in critical care nursing, and now has been translated

into Spanish. By using the scale in a patient’s native language it will help them to understand

and receive a more accurate depiction of how their care is being or needs to be addressed. When

a physician or nurses speaks to the patient to gather information, by using the Spanish translated

version the patient has a better understanding of the material (Arias-Rivera et al, 2013). It is

imperative to accommodate immigrants of all langauges in the best possible manner to ensure

quality and accuracy of care.

The Unites States Department of Health and Human Services is trying to combat this

inequality within its borders. Websites can be translated with the click of a button, flyers,

pamphlets, and other forms of literature are available in various different languages. Hospitals

and other healthcare facilities have hired extra staff that are proficient in other languages and can

communicate between the patient and physician. Many of these institutions also have the “Blue

Phones” provided by Cyracom Language Solutions. These services have been implemented by

healthcare institutions and have helped improve the quality of care for all immigrants in the

United States. It is just one way that society is attempting to reduce the disparities that separate

ethnic groups.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 4

As society becomes more interconnected, the healthcare system must progress as well.

Upon entering the new century, Millennium Developmental Goals we set. These series of goals

we listed to reduce global poverty and inequalities. They focus on decreasing child and maternal

mortality, as well as education to improve healthcare and combat disease. Today the human race

is more educated than ever. The Latino community has begun campaigns to fight HIV/AIDS,

communities are looking to improve gender equality. “The Latino population represents the

nation’s largest ethnic minority, numbering over 54 million. In accordance with other ethnic

minorities, Latinos face stark disparities in health and health literacy, influenced by poverty,

institutional racism, and linguistic barriers, among other factors” (Chaet, Morshedi, Wells,

Barnes, & Valdez, 2016). Today the people on this Earth are more integrated across the globe

than ever before. These hospital programs give the communities the education and resources to

carry out the mission of the Millennium Developmental Goals.

Health for All

As these immigrant populations continue to rise it is no surprise that the need for

bilingual nurses and other medical professionals will increase. “With an increase in migration

and mobility of people across the world, the likelihood of experiencing language barriers while

providing and receiving care is high. Eliminating language barriers is a crucial step in providing

culturally competent and patient-centered care” (Ali & Johnson, 2016). Institutions have been

outfitted with language translation and interpretation devices, such as the previously mentioned

phones provide by Cyracom Language Solutions. Across the nation offices and hospitals have

already started printing medical literature in both English and Spanish. Some are even

translating into a variety of other languages trying to accommodate for their direct immigrant

populations.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 5

When using providers that are proficient in Spanish, the patient can relax. They know

that their complaints are being directly transmitted to the physician without the possibility of

confusion. When the provider speaks with the patient, it can put the patient at ease and take

away any anxiety the patient may be experiencing. The patient does not have to worry about

quality of care. They know that their needs will be met, due to the fact that they have established

a direct route of verbal communication with the bilingual provider. There may be other factors

that will determine the patient’s quality of care, however a language barrier is not one of them

(Ali & Johnson, 2016). By breaking through the barrier the patient and provider have both

overcome the first obstacle of an expanding healthcare system.

With the influx of Spanish speaking immigrants, the medical industry has been forced to

incorporate the Spanish language into their scales and charts for assessing patients. Nurses and

doctors are often encouraged to take classes that teach basic medical terminology in Spanish.

These classes teach simple words and commonly used phrases, diagnosis, and conditions within

healthcare along with major parts of the human body. Wherever an individual may go in the

healthcare system, Spanish will always be there. In today’s modernization of the globe,

immigrants are pouring into the United States at extraordinary rates. All who come bring their

language and culture with them.

Conclusion

It is imperative that there be made available resources for those who do not speak the

English language as a primary form of communication. These people need to receive quality

healthcare. As the nation’s largest minority grows, the United States government needs to

expedite the process of formulating software to ease their access to healthcare. Their lives are

important and should receive the same quality of care as all citizens.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 6

As the human race continues to move deeper into the twenty-first century, humanity

realizes that the world is flat. Society has become more interconnected than ever before.

Through the advances of technology, the world has become closer and all ethnic groups can be

found in any given region of the world. In the United States there is a large amount of Latino

immigrants. With an increase within recent years, there is a high demand for the Spanish

language to be incorporated in healthcare. By embracing the change in American demographics,

the healthcare system can break through the hindrance of language barriers and improve

outcomes for the Latino population.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 7

References

Ali, P. A., Johnson, S. (2016). Speaking my patient's language: bilingual nurses' perspective

about provision of language concordant care to patients with limited English proficiency.

Journal of Advanced Nursing. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from US National Library of

Medicine.

Arias-Rivera, S., Sánchez-Sánchez, MM., Fraile-Gamo, MP., Patiño-Freire, Pinto-

Rodríguez, V., Conde-Alonso, MP., Ferguson, ND., Fruto-Vivar, F. (2013).

Transcultural adaptation into Spanish of the nursing activities score.

Enfermeria Intensiva. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from US National Library of

Medicine.

Chaet, A. V., Morshedi, B., Wells, K., Barnes, L., & Valdez, R. (2016). Spanish-language

consumer health information technology interventions: a systematic review. Journal of

Medical Internet Research, 18(8). Retrieved October 22, 2016, from US National Library

of Medicine.
Running Head: LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 1

Course Objectives: 2 & 4

Explore current nursing issues, policies, and research related to reducing health disparities in underserved populations

Examine the literature to identify evidence-based interventions designed to reduce health disparities

Follow the rubric diligently to answer all aspects and components of your paper to achieve total points. Ensure the body of your paper
is 3 to 5 pages excluding the face and reference pages. Students are required to reference at least 3 journal articles from the last 5
years, in addition to the use of your text book and websites.

Criteria Score

Section 1 15 10 5 Worth 15 points total

Introduction  The introduction is captivating as it  The introduction lacks  The introduction

reflects on the meaning of vulnerable captivation but clearly states states the meaning
population. the meaning of vulnerable of vulnerable
 Identifies a vulnerable population population. population but lacks
and states the reason for the choice.  Identifies a vulnerable identification of a
population but lacks reason vulnerable
for choice. population.

 The conclusion is clearly defined  The conclusion is

summarizing the key factors recognizable and attempts to
influencing the health status of the summarize the key factors
identified vulnerable population. influencing the health status
 No conclusion to the
Conclusion of the identified vulnerable
paper is presented.
population.
Section 2 30 20 10 Worth 30 points total

Social  The writer Identifies and reflects on  The writer identifies the  The writer mentions
Determinants the social determinants of health as social determinants of the social
of Health depicted in the literature. health. determinants of
 The writer discusses in detail the  The writer provides minimal health without
relationship between social health discussion relating health discussing its
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 9

determinants and health outcomes determinants to health relationship to health

for the identified vulnerable outcomes and fails to link it outcomes for the
population. to the identified vulnerable identified vulnerable
population. population.
Section 3 30 20 10 Worth 30 points total

Evidence-  The writer identifies evidence-based  The writer identifies  The writer mentions
based interventions addressing the health evidence-based evidence-based
Interventions needs of the identified vulnerable interventions addressing interventions without
population. health needs in general. linking them to the
addressing
 The writer states and relates the  The writer speaks to MDG’s identified vulnerable
Health Needs significance of meeting the related with no relation to the population and
MDG’s in improving health outcomes identified vulnerable depicts a lack of
for the identified vulnerable population. knowledge
population. regarding MDG’s.
Section 4 15 10 5 Worth 15 points total

Global  The writer identifies and reflects on  The writer mentions but  The writer mentions
Approach in two global approaches in eradicating provides minimal reflection but omits reflection
Addressing barriers to health. on one or two global on one global
 The writer relates the significance of approaches in eradicating approach in
“Health for barriers and promoting eradicating barriers
eradicating the chosen health
All” barriers in promoting optimal health health for all. and promoting
for all. health for all.

Section 5 10 5 0 Worth 10 points total

Writing and  The paper is without grammatical  A few spelling and/or  The paper shows
Presentation and spelling errors. APA format is grammatical errors noted. little or no evidence
evident. Writer makes an attempt at of APA format.
APA format. Writer has
numerous errors.
There is no
evidence of
proofreading.

TOTAL PTS:
LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY 10

**Assignments turned in late will be graded as above and then have point deduction taken per syllabus.