According to an article published in 2014 in the International Journal of Healthcare Quality, unaddressed. When compared to English-speaking counterparts, LEP patients have a greater risk of line infections, surgical infections, falls, pressure ulcers and surgical delays, according to studies referenced in the article. They also have a greater chance of readmissions for certain chronic conditions due to difficulties with understanding how to manage their condition and take their medications.

Paula Schipiour, MSN, RN, associate director of the Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium, is gap in healthcare. The nonprofit organization helps internationally educated nurses obtain their nursing licenses in the U.S. The majority of the nurses who join the consortium speak Spanish, but there are others who speak languages such as Polish, Chinese, Serbian, Persian, Filipino and Korean. “There is an incredible demand for nurses who are bilingual,” Schipiour said. “Here in the Chicago area we get calls from many hospitals that are looking to fill positions with nurses who can communicate with patients who aren’t proficient in English.” The consortium helps foreign-born nurses move through the process of becoming licensed, which includes classes to help them become proficient in English and prepare for the NCLEX exam. The organization, which was founded in 2002, has helped more than 700 nurses representing 60 countries earn RN licensure in the U.S. These nurses understand the financial and cultural challenges that come with moving to a new country, which allows them to better relate to their patients. They also notice the nonverbal cues and subtle signs that a phone or iPad translator may not be able to pick up, said Schipiour. “It is highly preferable to have a caregiver who understands the patient’s language,” she said. “When people have multiple questions or are afraid to ask questions, they are much more willing to talk to someone who understands. It’s a safety issue.” This safety issue was highlighted in a study published in 2007 in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care. The data showed that 49% of LEP patients who had adverse events experienced physical harm (any impact on their physiological or mechanical health as a result of healthcare error or systems failure), compared with only 29% of English-speaking patients. The Bilingual Nursing Fellowship Program at South Mountain Community College in Arizona is using another approach to add bilingual nurses to the workforce. The program supports bilingual students fluent in Spanish who are at risk of dropping out of nursing school. “Many students do not have the support to manage school, family and work,” said Loida Gutierrez, coordinator of the program. “We make sure students have academic support by providing qualified tutors, keeping track of their progress in classes and pairing them with a mentor who is an RN.” Roughly 50 students are in a cohort, and they can take classes together. “We find that students who are in a cohort rather than on their own have a higher chance of finishing nursing school,” Gutierrez said. “The support they receive encourages them, and in some cases has been the determining factor in their decision to finish school.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 38 million people speak Spanish in the U.S. — the most common language other than English by far. The second and third most common languages are Chinese with 3 million people and Tagalog with 1.6 million. Kathlene Wilson, a nurse recruiter, sees the preponderance of Spanish speakers reflected in the staffing needs of hospitals. “Certain parts of Florida, Texas and Arizona look for bilingual nurses who speak Spanish,” said Wilson, president of Wilson Staffing Network based in Houston. “The need is not just in hospitals, but also in places like community clinics and blood donation centers where translation services are not available.”

From passion to purpose

An unexpected path

Growing the bilingual workforce

Looking ahead