Introduction
Well-established verbal communication plays a significant role in treating patients. Often, a patient and a medical specialist encounter treatment issues due to the language barrier (Sherwood & Barnsteiner, 2021). The presented case demonstrates that a nurse can easily communicate with a Spanish-speaking older man in both languages. However, the patient complained that his previous physician spoke too fast, which made him confused. Hence, if the current nurse speaks the same way, they may face the same challenge. Another impediment may be the patient’s accounts about his family which may seem off-topic.
Discussion
Language differences primarily impact the perception of information as one may face difficulties comprehending field-related words. In addition, it influences the accuracy of diagnosis in the medical field. Meanwhile, sensory deficits might entirely distort social interaction. It means that negligence of body language, visual input, and the environment can disconnect a patient from the nurse (Sherwood & Barnsteiner, 2021). Language difficulties might be fixed by locating a translator, whereas sensory information needs to be established step-by-step. When there is a dissociation between words and actions, one may get confused easily.
If a patient struggles to understand English, the nurse should choose Spanish for delivering information. Such language choice may also establish psychological comfort and ensure mutual understanding. According to the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards, if a specialist has passed the assessment of their language skills, they are qualified to assist foreign-speaking patients (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n. d.).
Conclusion
In the given case, the nurse should ensure any health-related mistakes can be avoided, and if there is uncertainty, a translator should be located. Whenever the man gets off topic, a nurse should implement an acknowledgment and acceptance communicative strategy. It signifies that she should accept what a patient says about his family and recognize the statement’s importance to the client.
References
Sherwood, G., & Barnsteiner, J. (2021). Quality and safety education for nurses (3rd Ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
U.S. Department of health and human services. (n. d.). The national CLAS standards. Think Cultural Health. Web.