---
title: "\"When Nurses Double as Interpreters\" — #1 Medical Spanish eLearning | Canopy Innovations"
description: "Have you ever had a bilingual colleague interpret during a conversation with a limited English-speaking patient? The article, \"When nurses double as interpreters: a study of Spanish-speaking patients in a US primary care setting\" is a must read!"
image: https://blog.withcanopy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1427730064154.jpeg
---

[![Canopy](https://blog.withcanopy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Canopy%20Logo_Blue-06-1.png?width=438&name=Canopy%20Logo_Blue-06-1.png)](https://withcanopy.com)

 

#### Canopy Latest

# "When Nurses Double as Interpreters" - Why ALL Nurses Should Be Certified Bilingual

Posted by [Anny Zhang](https://blog.withcanopy.com/author/anny-zhang) on Mar 30, 2015 12:00:00 AM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

![](https://blog.withcanopy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image-asset-Mar-09-2021-10-26-57-05-PM.jpeg)

# ERRORS IN INTERPRETING: "When nurses double as interpreters: a study of Spanish-speaking patients in a US primary care setting."

Have you ever had a bilingual colleague interpret during a conversation with a limited English-speaking patient?

This study examines the accuracy of translations when un-trained bilingual nurses acted as interpreters during consultations. The article provides in-depth analysis of specific video-recorded conversations.

Check out the full article [here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953600002343?via%3Dihub).

But what about trained & qualified bilingual medical staff? Remember you have other tools at your disposal to work with your limited-English-speaking patients!

Become proficient in medical Spanish with [CanopyLearn Medical Spanish](https://info.withcanopy.com/canopymedicalspanish) Training Course, the #1 medical Spanish course in the US.

With over 40+ medical specialties and the most flexible e-learning platform of its kind, you can get bilingual certified and improve your patient care while learning on YOUR time.

Click the link to learn more about CanopyLearn medical Spanish (and get a 10% discount when you sign up.)

[![Start Learning Medical Spanish](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5953582/5ddd002f-79f9-4227-9a8e-e68deeeefdd1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5953582/5ddd002f-79f9-4227-9a8e-e68deeeefdd1)

 

#### Want to bring medical Spanish to your institution? [Contact us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/anna-spivey/meeting-link?__hstc=246563675.6446866d5a685d7315f9574fe547ad19.1667571500317.1671115690924.1671123163343.65&__hssc=246563675.12.1671123163343&__hsfp=626429062) to learn more about our turnkey solution and custom quotes!

 Topics: [bilingual healthcare providers](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/bilingual-healthcare-providers), [Insights](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/insights), [mistranslation](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/mistranslation), [interpreting](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/interpreting), [medical spanish course](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish-course), [culture](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/culture)

# **Let us know what you think!**

# About Canopy

### We’re Eliminating the Language Barrier in Healthcare – *Beyond Interpreters*

Canopy is a proven, all-in-one digital platform that fills your healthcare institution's language-access gaps with innovative, NIH-supported solutions including language and compliance training, QBS certification, administrative oversight, and much more. All to improve performance, retain quality workers, and deliver better care. [**Click here to learn more.**](http://withcanopy.com)

### Want to Bring Medical Spanish to Your Organization?

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Tag

- [medical Spanish (70)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish)
- [Insights (67)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/insights)
- [Newsletter (33)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/newsletter)
- [Language Barrier (18)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/language-barrier)
- [Press Release (18)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/press-release)
- [Canopy Medical Spanish (11)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-medical-spanish)
- [Healthcare Language Gap (10)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/healthcare-language-gap)
- [canopy Learn (10)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-learn)
- [Canopy (9)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy)
- [Canopy Credential (9)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-credential)
- [Canopy Spanish (9)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-spanish)
- [CanopyLearn (9)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopylearn)
- [bilingual healthcare providers (9)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/bilingual-healthcare-providers)
- [Canopy Apps (8)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-apps)
- [LEP Patient (8)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/lep-patient)
- [medical schools (8)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-schools)
- [medical spanish course (8)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish-course)
- [nursing (8)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/nursing)
- [Case Study (7)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/case-study)
- [Medical Students (7)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-students)
- [Product Updates (7)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/product-updates)
- [Spanish for Healthcare (7)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/spanish-for-healthcare)
- [language barriers (7)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/language-barriers)
- [Nursing Spanish (6)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/nursing-spanish)
- [international health (6)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/international-health)
- [latino provider (6)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/latino-provider)
- [medical mission (6)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-mission)
- [medical spanish vocabulary (6)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish-vocabulary)
- [Learn Spanish (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/learn-spanish)
- [Medical Translation (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-translation)
- [Non-English Speaking Patients (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/non-english-speaking-patients)
- [Testimonials (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/testimonials)
- [Translator App (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/translator-app)
- [learn medical spanish (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/learn-medical-spanish)
- [medical interpretation (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-interpretation)
- [medical spanish training course (5)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish-training-course)
- [Canopy Translator (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-translator)
- [Interpreters (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/interpreters)
- [canopy medical translator (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-medical-translator)
- [feedback (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/feedback)
- [google translate (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/google-translate)
- [interpreting (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/interpreting)
- [languages (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/languages)
- [limited english proficiency patients (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/limited-english-proficiency-patients)
- [medical translator app (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-translator-app)
- [mistranslation (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/mistranslation)
- [translation app (4)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/translation-app)
- [Canopy Speak (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-speak)
- [Spanish (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/spanish)
- [culture (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/culture)
- [latino health (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/latino-health)
- [medical english (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-english)
- [medical interpreter app (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-interpreter-app)
- [urgent care (3)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/urgent-care)
- [ACEP (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/acep)
- [Duke University (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/duke-university)
- [EDTalk (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/edtalk)
- [Healthcare Professional (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/healthcare-professional)
- [Jerrit Tan (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/jerrit-tan)
- [Medical Spanish in 30 sec (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-spanish-in-30-sec)
- [communication (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/communication)
- [coronavirus (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/coronavirus)
- [emergency departments (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/emergency-departments)
- [innovatED (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/innovated)
- [language concordant care (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/language-concordant-care)
- [medical Mandarin Chinese (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-mandarin-chinese)
- [misinterpretation (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/misinterpretation)
- [mobile app (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/mobile-app)
- [vaccines (2)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/vaccines)
- [2019-nCoV (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/2019-ncov)
- [Affordable Care Act (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/affordable-care-act)
- [American College of Emergency Physicians (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/american-college-of-emergency-physicians)
- [CFHI (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/cfhi)
- [Canopy Cares (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopy-cares)
- [CanopyTranslator (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/canopytranslator)
- [Conference (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/conference)
- [Dr. Lopez (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/dr-lopez)
- [ER (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/er)
- [Emergency Physician (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/emergency-physician)
- [Global Health (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/global-health)
- [Google (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/google)
- [Healthcare for the Underserved (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/healthcare-for-the-underserved)
- [Henry Ford Health System (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/henry-ford-health-system)
- [Immersion Programs (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/immersion-programs)
- [JAMA (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/jama)
- [Kaitlin E. Thomas (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/kaitlin-e-thomas)
- [LGBTQ (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/lgbtq)
- [LGBTQ Health (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/lgbtq-health)
- [Las Vegas (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/las-vegas)
- [Latinx (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/latinx)
- [Los Angeles (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/los-angeles)
- [Medical School (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-school)
- [NYIC (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/nyic)
- [OMED Conference (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/omed-conference)
- [Obamacare (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/obamacare)
- [Osteopathic Medical Conference (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/osteopathic-medical-conference)
- [Osteopathic Medicine (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/osteopathic-medicine)
- [Pride (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/pride)
- [Proficiency Test (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/proficiency-test)
- [Raj Jhaveri (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/raj-jhaveri)
- [Seattle (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/seattle)
- [Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/thomas-jefferson-university-hospital)
- [Touro (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/touro)
- [Translation (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/translation)
- [Translator (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/translator)
- [University of Kentucky (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/university-of-kentucky)
- [VentureBeat (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/venturebeat)
- [aaucm (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/aaucm)
- [alzheimer (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/alzheimer)
- [american medical student association (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/american-medical-student-association)
- [amsa (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/amsa)
- [app launch (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/app-launch)
- [article (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/article)
- [bayside (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/bayside)
- [bengali (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/bengali)
- [bilingual nurses (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/bilingual-nurses)
- [college of osteopathic medicine (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/college-of-osteopathic-medicine)
- [covid-19 (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/covid-19)
- [cultural competence (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/cultural-competence)
- [discount (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/discount)
- [ems (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/ems)
- [false fluency (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/false-fluency)
- [french (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/french)
- [haitian creole (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/haitian-creole)
- [hispanic heritage month (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/hispanic-heritage-month)
- [hofstra (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/hofstra)
- [hospitals (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/hospitals)
- [ielts (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/ielts)
- [immigrants (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/immigrants)
- [infographics (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/infographics)
- [interpreter app (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/interpreter-app)
- [intoxicado (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/intoxicado)
- [japanese (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/japanese)
- [korean community (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/korean-community)
- [latinos (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/latinos)
- [malpractice (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/malpractice)
- [medical tourism (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-tourism)
- [medical translator (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/medical-translator)
- [mexico (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/mexico)
- [new york (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/new-york)
- [partnership (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/partnership)
- [pharmacy label (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/pharmacy-label)
- [phrasebook (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/phrasebook)
- [polish (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/polish)
- [premedical students (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/premedical-students)
- [research (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/research)
- [shortage (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/shortage)
- [verbal ink (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/verbal-ink)
- [video (1)](https://blog.withcanopy.com/tag/video)

[See all](https://blog.withcanopy.com/blog-list/when-nurses-double-as-interpreters#)

<https://www.facebook.com/canopynyc/> [mailto:info@withcanopy.com](mailto:info@withcanopy.com) <https://www.linkedin.com/company/canopy-innovations/>