This Nurse Can Speak Your Language- Ep. 41
LeShawnda Fitzgerald is the Creator and Founder of Fitzgerald media which houses her company Online Spanish Challenge an online learning program for busy adults. She has created online Spanish courses, books and workshops that help busy adults learn Spanish easier and faster than ever before. When she's not teaching Spanish, she is coaching passionate entrepreneurs on how to live their dream by monetizing their passions, skills, and expertise. She is a mom of 3, lover of travel, and superfan to her favorite boy band of all time New Edition.
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FREE weekly Spanish class for healthcare professionals
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TRANSCRIPT:
Naseema McElroy (00:00): Hey Nurses on Fire. I am super honored to have LeShawnda Fitzgerald here from online Spanish challenge. Hey Liz. Shonda, how are you?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (00:10): Well how are you? Excited to be here.
Naseema McElroy (00:12): Oh, thank you. I'm good. So could you tell us first of all, a little bit about your background on how you learn Spanish, how you learn to see Spanish and why you focused on teaching Spanish to medical professionals?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (00:26): So I actually am not a native speaker. I took my first Spanish class when I was in the seventh grade and it was just something that I was naturally good at. So I continue learning, but went to college, but I actually wasn't fluent in Spanish. I majored in, in Spanish in college. And then I got a job as a Spanish teacher, like a high school Spanish teacher. And that's when I really honed in on my skills just because a lot of the ways that people are taught Spanish don't really teach you how to speak. So that was kind of my issue. And then that was also the opportunity for me to overcome when I began to teach Spanish because I don't want to teach like I've always been taught. And then other people have essentially you just wasted all this time because they have a skill that they can't use.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (01:17): So I just, little by little began developing a method to help people actually speak. So that's how I got here. Um, I got laid off from my teaching job, so like two years into teaching, it was kind of like what's going on now with the economy. So like teachers are home, like hopefully, you know, teachers aren't getting fired, but the substitutes are already, you know, kind of displaced, um, just due to what's going on. So you would think that education was a solid career, but it wasn't. I was laid off and I started my own business. Like I started my own thing. So I started the Spanish program for kids and then all of the adults were like, no, I want to learn. [inaudible] so that's how I kind of started teaching adults. And then from there, health care was just the next logical step was just to niche down so I could focus in on individual skills, Spanish for business, Spanish for health care for my healthcare programs specifically really took off. And that's how I'm here today.
Naseema McElroy (02:24): That's right. That's right. And that's how I found you. So why do you think [inaudible] learning Spanish is important for healthcare workers in general?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (02:32): Well, there's a huge Hispanic and Latino population here in the U S and it's just the way that healthcare works, the demographics, especially in certain parts of the country, those patients are underserved, right? So they're a large community. They different and we need health care and has specific needs, but there are language barriers that are really dangerous. Health care workers, depend on clear communication, this, this. I see. So when there's a language barrier or even a third party, that's just a huge liability, right?
Naseema McElroy (03:15): Yeah. So I was going to tell you like, why don't we just lean more on a third party interpreter versus you know, learning it ourselves.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (03:23): No. The thing is that third party interpreter, even a family member who sometimes, you know, Spanish speaking patients come in with a family member, they're just not that expert, right? So they don't have the medical background. Things still get lost in translation. Right? Even with that, just having some sense of the language can still improve the quality of care that for the patient. So even a nurse or a health care provider speaking just a little Spanish, like showing, Hey, I'm trying to communicate with you, I'm trying to understand you. That helps the patient even just feel more comfortable. That immediately improves the comfort which correlates to the care of the patient. It's just a small gesture, seemingly small gesture that goes along the way in the care of this particular demographic of patient.
Naseema McElroy (04:27): Why do you think it's even more timely now that medical professionals learn Spanish?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (04:37): Well, there are a couple of reasons. A, it's empowering for the healthcare professional. So like just, or the healthcare professional is like, Hey, I have these set of skills that set me apart. Like I have these set in addition to my medical training. And background. That just kind of makes me more personable. It makes me more marketable, you know, should I B on the search for another job, I haven't found that nurses who speak Spanish get paid more per se. So like I haven't found that yet. I think that's just the cause nurses in general aren't negotiating. There are contracts when they go in. So I think that if nurses felt more empowered where Hey I have these additional skills that I could negotiate, they would do that more. So that's the only reason why I feel like nurses aren't getting paid those additional skills. But it does kind of put you on the front lines of getting hired. It does still sets you apart from the nurse B C D F G who is applying for that same position.
Naseema McElroy (05:47): So right now, even though we're having a healthcare crisis, I think is kind of ironic that a lot of nurses maybe facing job loss during time or if they don't work in acute care settings, they're finding themselves either with their hours cut or just out of a job in general. So can you talk about how important building these skills are during these times?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (06:13): Right, right. So especially now if you find it herself out of a job, if you are a nurse, you won't be out of job long. You can literally put in or apply for a job in where B employee very soon just because there is such a e need
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (06:33): especially now with everything that's going on with Covid 19
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (06:38): hospitals, the healthcare industry, it's a business. It's like, yes, they're helping people, but it costs money to misdiagnose people or two and just have things go wrong due to the translation. So, Oh, I'm sure there aren't enough translator is like everything is understaffed. People just from health care nationals that I've spoken with, it's that translator. It just hasn't been worked out yet. Right? Like it's hard. You got to call a number. If you don't have a chance later, I'll translate do, it's still not a fool proof plan. Like it still doesn't eliminate all the barriers. So just like empowering yourself with these extra skills. Here's the thing, you don't even have to be fluent in Spanish to take advantage of the opportunities. You can honestly just know a little like on your resume, Hey, Hey, uh, I've taken a a crash course in medical Spanish. Right. And we do offer those, cause I have like it's a class you can say, Hey, I've taken a crash medical Spanish course and that's still going to position you head of other health care professionals who don't have any type of um, dual language background.
Naseema McElroy (07:57): Yeah. And the thing is is that it's really about patient care. I know that I'm a labor and delivery nurse and when I can say certain terms in Spanish, it just makes the patient so much more comfortable and they trust me more. I can see their family relax, I can see them relax and they kind of know I can kind of meet them where they're at. And so it builds that rapport. So even at the end of the day, if it's not about just increasing your revenue, it's really about that patient care experience. And it, just knowing those few phrases really helps in that relationship. And making sure that that patient trusts you and feels comfortable because everybody that comes into the hospital, whether it's for having a baby, whether it's for being sick, it's uncomfortable. People feel vulnerable in whatever you can do to ease that is gonna help them heal and help them transition through whatever they're going through a lot easier. So what are some common, I know you're going to share some common phrases that every healthcare professional should know.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (09:02): Okay? So the number one phrase that I think every healthcare professional should know is, do you need an interpreter? Okay. Like that is the number one phrase. So I don't care if you are fluent in Spanish, if you just know a few phrases and I'll teach you how, how to say it in a second. You've done want to violate the guidelines of your employee, right? So if you haven't gone through whatever passes that is to say no, you don't need an interpreter. You want to ask every single patient, do they need an interpreter just to cover yourself, right? So we talked about empowering yourself. You don't want to be like a Spanish hero, right? You want to ask if they need an interpreter? Not if they say no, carry on. Right? But you do want to ask just to cover yourself. So do you need an interpreter?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (09:57): Necesita un interpreter ? Do you need an interpreter? Necesita un interpreter? Now interpreters get a bad rap. But here's why I love the interpreter. Especially while you're learning because the interpreter is the best teacher for you, right? Like you're in the healthcare setting, depending on what area you work in. If it's nine times out of 10 going to be the same Spanish all the time, right? It's only gonna be I'm gonna max it out or a hundred phrases or so like you're not going to go outside of that. So if you start to work with that interpreter and really pay attention, you'll start to learn those phrases. So the interpreter is your friend, the interpreter is ultimately your teacher. So like don't get frustrated with the interpreter. Don't get mad that it takes a long time. Use that to learn. All right, so that's kind of like my key point.
Naseema McElroy (11:00): I love that. I love like leaning on the interpreters to help you learn as opposed to just looking at them as a just a resource for your patients. They're also a resource for you and yes, please love on and don't get frustrated with our interpreters. Cause my step mom is actually a medical interpreter. She does Somali though, so I won't be in Somali.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (11:23): But they honestly, especially [inaudible] you're learning on your own. I have a really practical approach. This just like, you know, we, we apply what we learned right away. So it's not just, you know, um, the girl, the boy, it's like, no, we got practical Spanish. The I wants you to implement right away. The next time you got to work right. Oh and then the interpreter will really help you. So follow along with the interpreter, jump in with an interpreter. Like now our time, I love the interpreter. It keeps everybody kind of under the guidelines. It protects you and it's a great way to learn. So that's praise number one. This is the thought on it. What about, what is the problem, right? Why are you here? Why here? So you can say "Tiene", which is do you have Tiene un problema, right. It will problem. Right. Do you have a problem? Like, I know it sounds crazy, but we just,
Naseema McElroy (12:30): you got a problem that's not for me. Like when I think about saying it, I'm like, Ooh, is that kind of antagonistic? Like do you have a problem but not a sentence.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (12:39): I'm the patient. I really appreciate it. You know, I don't want to teach you something like that. You don't have the skills. Yeah. All right. They may take that and run. So I, so um, nurses, healthcare professionals to tell your patients to say yes, no, or I don't know. Right. Cause it's better if you ask yes. Most, um, Spanish speakers understand, yes. Now or I don't know, but then you no or no say, right. Tell them to tell their patients is they say yes, no, or I don't know. Right. Okay. So we tell them to say "Diga", which is say "Diga, si, no, o no sey."
Naseema McElroy (13:26): Diga, si, no, o no sey. Like that. Yeah.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (13:29): Right. Just ask. Yes ma'am. As students to kind of eliminate it and have them reply by saying yes, no. Or I don't know, kinda just some things. Six started. It's nice to, of course introduce yourself. Tell them that you're learning Spanish. Like Hey, you know, I'm learning Spanish so "Aprendo espanol," right? Aprendo espanol, Estoy Aprendo espanol, so just some of those little niceties Do you need an interpreter? Hola, I am your doctor. I am. I'm your nurse. I am learning Spanish. Right. We need an interpreter that will take you so far, so, Soy Nurse Fitzgerald, I'm not a nurse, but Soy Nurse Fitzgerald. Estoy aprendo espanol, mucho gusto. Nice to meet you. Necesito un interpreter. Do you need an interpreter, that if that's as far as you can go, that has made a world of difference for your patient. Yes. Yes.
Naseema McElroy (14:41): I love it. Thanks for stringing that altogether. And I think all of us could do that now. Okay, so don't say I didn't teach you nothing
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (14:49): anyway. How people
Naseema McElroy (14:52): access your programs and your services as far as like what services do you provide for our nurses and other healthcare professionals and how can people access it?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (15:00): I have tons of resources for healthcare professionals. I have tons of the resources, I have pay resources that are very affordable for people well who are really serious and want to take it to the next level. I'll do, I understand that people like to try things fires. So I give a lot of my classes away. I just published a COVID 19 class. I shared that I'm with nurses. So you can go to my website. Um, onlineSpanishchallenge.com it's actually not on my website. So is how you can get my, just like a lot of my free resources. I send a free medical Spanish lesson out every Monday through email. So those are really practical step by step lessons. And then I have this study group with nurses that have just step by step lessons, simple daily lessons, weekly lessons. And there's a lot of teacher that comes each week that teaches you medical Spanish. So if you're consistent within a year, you can be fluent in Spanish and speaking right away at work. We don't play, we get you in there speaking. And that class is only $10 a month.
Naseema McElroy (16:19): All the links to the program will be in the show notes so you guys don't have to worry about memorizing them. And I really hope that you guys take advantage of these resources. I mean $10 a month is nothing to level up your career. And in general, I really feel like any skill set that you can have is just a valuable asset in life in general and for you professionally. So please take advantage of these resources and especially during these troubling time. So I want to thank LeShawnda for joining us on the nurses on fire podcast and um, you guys make sure you connect with her over on online Spanish challenge.com right?
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (17:05): Yeah, I'll, and I do just think that they're all in their life. Nursing school is hard. Like, I'm not saying that nothing that I've done isn't hard, but pay attention to like what I do and how I do it in terms of like monetizing my exact skill because I took a language, something that people take for granted. English is not something that people take for granted. So any type of skill you can monetize, but especially even something as extensive as nursing. So I'm sure a lot of you all have skills. So if you do happen to like join my program or interact with it, just pay attention to how to the business side of it. See how I connect with people, how people ultimately pay me, you know, just for this skill that I have. So I just wanted to, throw that in there.
Naseema McElroy (18:01): No, that's straight game. So you guys, let's not just putting you up on game because we all have skills that we can monetize even just as a labor and delivery nurse. If I have a course that just specifically teaches people how to interpret a fetal heart rate monitor, like that's it. So many new nurses are people that have been out of the workforce for a while. Need to know that. It doesn't have to be, you don't have to teach people how to be a nurse. Just like LeShawnda was laid off from her job. She knew she could teach people how to speak Spanish and she monetize that. So this is straight game. She's putting you on, okay. If you have a skill you can teach that even if it's just one small thing. As a matter of fact, I'm would encourage you to just teach one sing and be known for that one thing because that's what you can, you can specifically target your audience and you can grow.
Naseema McElroy (18:57): Phyllis, Shonda, she's first taught kids and then the adults were looking out or asking for it. And then healthcare professionals, it was an obvious. So she took one small thing, she took her Spanish, she taught that to a small group of people. And then from there she was able to scale and grow. So yes, she is using this business. Um, this, this one small skill set to grow and monetize and scale a large business and we can all do that. So thank you for sharing that because I think that that's super important because sometimes, especially nurses get stuck in this mindset that we're just a nurse in that we can only do what we're trained to do because, you know, we get stuck in this rut, but we have skills on top of skills, on top of skills that we can use and take then out of the health care setting and use them to grow and learn and build wealth for our families.
Naseema McElroy (19:52): So that is a super important things. Had note [inaudible] a super important thing to close on is that we have the skills internally, even if it's just not learning Spanish, if it, I mean this is a new skill that I want you all to develop if you haven't already. But if it's not just that we have so many other things that we can use to monetize. So you know, think about that for yourself. Like what can you do? What skills do you know? What are you good at? Teaching other people when new nurses come, what are you good at teaching them? And then use that and grow. Like LeShawnda says, study. Join her program, study her business model, and you could see how you can make it work for yourself. So again, thank you for sharing all the nuggets that you shared. Thank you for being here and thank you for all that you do because your role is super important.
LeShawnda Fitzgerald (20:41): Thank you for having me on, this was amazing
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