March 2024
Dom
Torres
,
BSN, RN
OR
Dignity Health St. Mary's Medical Center
San Francisco
,
CA
United States
Because of Dom, the Manager was able to share concerns about the confusing translator policy with the Mission Integration department, who then realized the confusing policy and raised it up to the Chief Medical Officer.
Dom was preparing to take a Spanish speaking patient to surgery when he noticed that the other staff had not used a interpreter translator and the patient seemed anxious to him. The staff told Dom the patient was ready and agreed to go to surgery. He noticed the patient appeared anxious and he stopped the line and told the team it was important that he verify with the patient that she understood her surgery. The nurse resourced the translator tool and spoke with the patient and realized she was very concerned and wanted more information about her upcoming surgery. Dom took extra time to bring the Anesthesia person and Surgeon back to the patient, and using the proper language translator, he could ensure the doctors heard and answered the patient's concerns. Dom was very concerned that doctors and staff seemed to use their own native language to speak to the patient rather than the proper language translator service. As a new Staff RN, he reached out to the Manager to verify what the hospital policy was regarding the use of translators. The policy was actually not as clear as it could have been. Because of this nurse, the Manager was able to share concerns about the confusing translator policy with the Mission Integration department, who then realized the confusing policy and raised it up to the Chief Medical Officer. The Chief Medical Officer later met with all the Medical staff and re-clarified the policy that the hospital would now be requiring all providers to use the proper translation service. Because Dom cared to make a difference, he spoke up and changed a very important policy and practice for an entire medical center.