Do you need to know Spanish?

[Blue Frog]

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I know almost zero Spanish and was wondering if that would hurt me when I am applying for EM residency. I could maybe try to fit it in, in the next year and a half, but it would definitely sacrifice some of the other things that I really want to do during 4th year. Keep in mind I am hoping to match in Chicago.

 

[GeneralVeers]

I know almost zero Spanish and was wondering if that would hurt me when I am applying for EM residency. I could maybe try to fit it in, in the next year and a half, but it would definitely sacrifice some of the other things that I really want to do during 4th year. Keep in mind I am hoping to match in Chicago.

This has been discussed extensively in this last month. Please do a search on it, as there are at least two threads. Basically no, it's not going to hurt you.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

I know almost zero Spanish and was wondering if that would hurt me when I am applying for EM residency. I could maybe try to fit it in, in the next year and a half, but it would definitely sacrifice some of the other things that I really want to do during 4th year. Keep in mind I am hoping to match in Chicago.

It is unlikely that in 1.5 years you will learn enough Spanish to cover your arse medico-legally. There's a big difference between ordering in a resturaunt and consenting someone for a procedure...

 

[TPS report]

I do not know spanish and it freaking sucks. I wish I had learned it in high school or something. I always have to get one of the nurses to help.

pretty much all I know is "dolor?!"

or this gem: "corazon dolor?"

 

[mlw03]

i think it's nice to know a little bit of spanish so you can get a bit of history, but like the above person said - unless you can speak well enough to do informed consent, you're gonna need help. there are plenty of good docs in all specialties that don't speak spanish, and like the rest of us you'll learn to get by on a bit of spanish along with help from anyone who can translate.

 

[Blue Frog]

Which are these threads? I did a search before posting. I saw the one called "language competancy" but that was more of a discussion of what to write on an application. Thanks.

 

[trkd]

Which are these threads? I did a search before posting. I saw the one called "language competancy" but that was more of a discussion of what to write on an application. Thanks.

Go to the search tab at the top, scroll to "advanced search". Enter "spanish" in the keyword search and in the pull-down menu below it scroll to "titles only". Out of the forums to search, highlight "emergency medicine". I also recommend searching the word "language" in the titles after you have looked through the threads that resulted from searching "spanish".

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I know almost zero Spanish and was wondering if that would hurt me when I am applying for EM residency. I could maybe try to fit it in, in the next year and a half, but it would definitely sacrifice some of the other things that I really want to do during 4th year. Keep in mind I am hoping to match in Chicago.

I think that depends on where you are at. My medical school is Texas Tech at Lubbock, we have a fair amount of Hispanics, but certainly not so many that not knowing spanish has been a crutch as a student. My classmates who went to El Paso pretty much 'learn' medical spanish after just a year of medical school. BKN is the EM PD there and is very helpful; I believe he once said that their residents get some sort of formal training at the start. I would think that after 3 years of residency there, you would know Spanish well if you put any heart into learning it.

I did an away rotation in Temple, TX and saw the same or maybe even a bit less spanish speaking only versus Lubbock, and certainly it was not a crutch.

I am in Jackson, MS now and have not encountered one spanish speaking patient yet.....