Reflections on communicating with non-English-speaking patients.
Nursing patients who speak no English has ethical, legal and professional implications for patients, relatives and healthcare staff. Appropriate communication between a patient and members of the healthcare team demonstrates respect, and empowers the patient to make healthcare decisions. Without appropriate translation, the patient who speaks no English is extremely vulnerable. Healthcare professionals have a duty to provide appropriate care for all patients, irrespective of nationality and ability to speak English. Issues such as empowerment, advocacy and confidentiality need to be considered in relation to caring for non-English-speaking patients. The author of this article reflects on her lecturer exchange at the University of Barcelona, Spain, and how her limited ability to speak Spanish gave rise to considering the needs of non-English-speaking patients in the medical directorate at the Royal London Hospital. This reflection gave rise to working with clinical and university colleagues in an attempt to improve communication with non-English-speaking patients, thus combining the author's role as a nurse, ethics lecturer and link lecturer. Working with clinical and university colleagues gave rise to the development of an advocacy/translation box file for use in clinical practice, and the formation of a staff-student liaison committee working party to review the possibility of student nurses becoming volunteer translators for non-English-speaking patients.
Ledger
Sylvia Dianne
SD
Ethics in Health Care, St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University.
D003144:Communication Barriers; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations