MEDizzy - The nurse is caring for a client who primarily speaks

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The nurse is caring for a client who primarily speaks Spanish. An interpreter is currently unavailable. The nurse must perform a dressing change. What should the nurse do in order to enhance communication with this client prior to changing the dressing?

ExplanationWhen caring for a client who speaks a language that is different from the nurse’s, it is ideal for the nurse to call on a dialect-specific interpreter designated by the health care agency that is the same age and same gender as the client. If an interpreter is unavailable, the nurse should speak slowly and allow the client time to interpret what is being said. The nurse should avoid the use of relatives as interpreters to minimize bias and misinterpretation. The nurse should avoid using nonverbal facial expressions and body language, because they could be misinterpreted by the client. The nurse should use common words in the client’s language if known; the nurse should become familiar with Spanish terms that are frequently used in health care.