Summary:
In halting English, Maria’s husband tried to tell the nurse that his wife’s stomach pain was more intense than the discomfort she experienced while giving birth. Since Maria was not pregnant and was demonstrating symptoms of urinary tract stones, the words that could have pinpointed the problem eluded the patient, her husband, and the nurses. No one in the ED, including social workers, could identify the problem by her discomfort alone. Situations like this will increase with the growth of a U.S. population that does not speak English or does not speak it well. According to 2006 to 2008 census data, this constitutes 24.3 million people. A self-reported assessment from the same census of the almost 55 million people who speak languages other than English at home found that 8.6% speak English with difficulty or not at all. This increase in the number of limited English speakers is expected to rise.
Objectives:
The goal of this program is to improve social workers' ability to care for patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP). After you study the information presented here, you will be able to —
- Discuss the need for enhanced communication skills across language barriers.
- Describe strategies for improving direct caregiver-patient communication.
- Describe strategies for effective use of interpreters.
Approval Information
Gannett Education, provider # 1203, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Gannett Education maintains responsibility for the program. Approval Period: February 15, 2010 to February 15, 2014. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Social workers participating in this course will receive 1.0 continuing education clock hour.
Gannett Education maintains responsibility for the program.
Course delivery format: Online
Audience
Social Workers
Social Work Practice Levels: Intermediate
Course Completion Requirements and Awarding Certificate
After reading the presentation, complete the course test online. With a score of 75% or better and completing the evaluation, you may immediately print your CE certificate of completion or save a pdf of it for your records. You may also request a copy to be sent to you by mail. If your score is less than the passing score of 75%, you may retake the test. In the event of loss, there is no charge for a replacement copy of a CE certificate.
Jurisdictional Requirements
Continuing education licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, are not well defined, and may change. We recommend you contact your licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest continuing education requirements of your state or territory. To review state specific/jurisdictional continuing education requirements, click
here.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Every effort will be made to accommodate your special needs. To request accommodation; please contact the CE office at (800) 866-0919.
Grievance Procedure
Gannett Education is committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with accreditation agencies and boards. Gannett Education will comply with all responsibilities to be nondiscriminatory in activities, program content, and in treatment of participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the Executive Vice President, Gannett Education, Global Programming, and members of the continuing education division.
While Gannett Education attempts to assure fair treatment of all participants, we recognize grievances that may require intervention. Grievances are handled in the following manner:
When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance, the Executive Vice President, Gannett Education, Global Programming, will evaluate the nature of the complaint. If it is meritorious, the Executive Vice President, Gannett Education, Global Programming, will instruct the staff to implement any necessary changes in the course. The complainant will receive a response from the Executive Vice President, Gannett Education, Global Programming, or designated staff within 5 working days.
You may file a complaint by telephone or email.
Telephone #: 800.866.0919