When I was in junior high and high school in Massachusetts back in the 1908’s, “foreign” languages were required courses. We had two choices: Spanish or French. Apparently the educators in central Massachusetts anticipated that the United States would eventually be conquered by French Canadians. Most of us viewed the required foreign language courses as irritation requirements that were unlikely to be of much use once we graduated.

Perhaps this was a sign of the times or perhaps it was a sign of the mainly Caucasian English speaking region I was growing up in. Whatever the reason, times have changed and the demographic of the U.S., including my hometown, has become much more diverse and reflective of our reputation as a “melting pot.”

These days, languages spoken across the country extend well beyond Spanish and French. Hospitals and clinical settings in particular are magnets for patients from all cultures, ethnicities and homelands, speaking a wide variety of languages. For this reason, nursing students and nurses who are multi-lingual are a valuable commodity in health care.

Sometimes the language barrier involves the patient, others involve the patient and family members and still others involve only family members. Most hospitals employ interpreters in some capacity, however, tightening budgets may cause unnecessary delays in finding an interpreter and getting them to the bedside (or emergency room gurney).

Savvy nursing students would be well advised to add at least one foreign language to their nursing education. Although with the increasing diversification of America’s patient population, the line between “foreign” and “domestic” may soon be erased. It is especially wise to speak, write and read multiple languages in the currently competitive job market. Being multi-lingual may give you just enough to edge out another new graduate for a coveted hospital job.