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Spanish Minor

The Spanish for Healthcare Professionals minor is designed for bachelor degree-seeking healthcare students at Nebraska Methodist College. The six-course, 18 credit hour curriculum provides students with the practical communication skills necessary for healthcare professionals working with Latino populations as well as a basic understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures in the U.S.

The minor in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals is a blended curriculum of on campus and online courses that are completed over two years. The courses are offered sequentially to help students build upon their knowledge and experiences working with Spanish-speaking populations. Students who successfully complete the minor are prepared to clearly communicate with Spanish-speaking patients to complete patient assessments, take patient histories and instruct or assure patients in a clinical setting for medical-related issues. All courses require a minimum passing grade of “C” or better to successfully complete the minor.

Spanish Minor Perks
  • Delivered over five semesters, the minor can be easily added to a bachelor program. Ask your advisor for assistance
  • Gain cultural insights, experience and increased confidence when interacting with your Spanish-speaking patients
  • Employers value healthcare professionals with the verbal and writing skills and abilities to overcome language barriers and communicate clearly with patients in the workplace

Admissions Information

Criteria

Any student regardless of their language background and experience can begin the minor if they meet the COM 255, Beginning Healthcare Spanish, prerequisite.

Requirements

Six courses (3 credits each) with a minimum total of 18 credits which includes the prerequisite COM 255.

NURSING STUDENT OPTION: The last course of the minor is cross-listed as a nursing non-clinical course. Students can elect to take this course to meet the non-clinical requirement.  They would register for NRS 370. 

STUDY ABROAD OPTION:  Some students may elect to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, and develop a portfolio demonstrating how one meets the COM 370 course objectives. 

TRANSFER CREDIT: Students with college Spanish credit may take a placement test to be placed in the appropriate course level in the minor.  It is possible to transfer in 9 credits toward the minor through this placement testing process.  Contact an academic advisor for more details. 

HERITAGE SPEAKERS/STRONG SPANISH ACADEMIC COURSEWORK: Heritage speaker students or those having strong prior Spanish academic coursework from high school may take a placement test to enroll in the appropriate minor course.  The college follows its Credit for Prior Learning policy and guidelines.

Start Sequences

The Spanish minor cohort begins every spring semester with COM 265, Intermediate Healthcare Spanish. 

Students who want to begin the Spanish minor in the spring semester should work with their advisor upon registration at NMC to ensure that they have met the COM 255, Beginning Healthcare Spanish prerequisite in the fall term or earlier.

Minor Sequence Starts Each Spring Term Fall Spring Summer Fall Spring Summer
Prerequisite
COM 255: Beginning Healthcare Spanish
Offered Offered Offered Offered Offered Offered
COM 265: Intermediate Healthcare Spanish   Offered        
COM 270: Healthcare Spanish Synthesis     Offered      
COM 360: Advanced Healthcare Spanish I       Offered    
COM 365: Advanced Healthcare Spanish II         Offered  
COM 370/NRS 370: Healthcare Spanish Community Engagement           Offered

 

Curriculum

Prerequisite

COM 255
LANGUAGE & CULTURE IN HEALTHCARE
DETAILS
Access to healthcare is greatly affected by one's command of language. Students in this course engage in the exploration of language and culture then apply these concepts to the healthcare environment through service-learning and community engagement. Students develop practical communication skills that enable effective cross-cultural work with health professionals and clients with backgrounds different from their own. This course lasts over the entire semester.

Required

COM 265
Intermediate Healthcare Spanish
DETAILS

This course enhances oral and written Spanish communication skills. Lessons integrate real-life and healthcare themes, fostering meaningful interactions. Students will gain cultural insights to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and communities.

COM 270
Healthcare Spanish Synthesis
DETAILS
This course enhances communication skills in medical contexts. It covers complex terminology and real-world scenarios, focusing on cultural competency. Students will deepen their ability to interact with Spanish-speaking patients and communities, readying them for diverse healthcare environments.

COM 360
Advanced Healthcare Spanish I
DETAILS
This course intensifies focus on advanced grammatical structures and specialized medical language. It explores complex terminology and detailed patient interactions, with a strong emphasis on cultural empathy. Students will enhance their ability to convey precise information and understand comprehensive medical discussions in Spanish, preparing them for challenging communication in diverse healthcare settings and communities.

COM 365
Advanced Healthcare Spanish II
DETAILS
This course enhances Spanish proficiency with a focus on medical communication. It encompasses cultural insights, practical interview questions, online videos of physician-patient exchanges, and clinical vignettes for real-world application. Complementing the medical focus, the course also explores literary works, offering a rich exploration of everyday Spanish language and culture, broadening students' linguistic and cultural comprehension beyond clinical settings.

COM 370/NRS 370
Healthcare Spanish Community Engagement
DETAILS
This capstone course focuses on the application of advanced Spanish language skills to promote healthy living among vulnerable minority populations through culturally sensitive communication and primary preventative strategies. Students will engage with population health concepts to identify and address health-related needs within Spanish-speaking communities. The culmination of the course involves demonstrating proficiency in healthcare language communication. This comprehensive approach ensures students not only consolidate their linguistic skills, but also apply them in meaningful ways to contribute to the health and well-being of Spanish-speaking populations.

Meet the Faculty

Our Spanish faculty are highly experienced and credentialed in their own fields, giving you constant real-world insight you can use.

While any instructor can recite from a textbook, ours go a step further and draw from vast personal experience. Instructors here care as deeply about their students as they do the subject matter and it shows.

Meet the Faculty

How to Declare Your Minor

Current Students

Please contact your advisor for assistance in registering for the minor in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (COM 255 prerequisite).

To get started, complete the following form:

Program Update Form (pdf download)

New Students

New students should contact an academic advisor early to begin planning your course of academic study with the addition of the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals minor. 

Please contact Admissions.

I wanted to minor in Spanish because I currently work as a CNA at Children's Nebraska and many of my patients and their families only speak Spanish. In the NMC Spanish minor, I was able to learn general conversational Spanish along with useful medical terms and phrases. Through learning Spanish at NMC, I am now able to better communicate with my Spanish-only speaking patients and provide them with a better quality of care. NMC also has annual study abroad trips. I went on a study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal and was able to practice my Spanish speaking with locals in Spain.

Lizzy Mitchell

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I wanted to minor in Spanish because I currently work as a CNA at Children's Nebraska and many of my patients and their families only speak Spanish. In the NMC Spanish minor, I was able to learn general conversational Spanish along with useful medical terms and phrases. Through learning Spanish at NMC, I am now able to better communicate with my Spanish-only speaking patients and provide them with a better quality of care. NMC also has annual study abroad trips. I went on a study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal and was able to practice my Spanish speaking with locals in Spain.

Lizzy Mitchell

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I wanted to minor in Spanish because I currently work as a CNA at Children's Nebraska and many of my patients and their families only speak Spanish. In the NMC Spanish minor, I was able to learn general conversational Spanish along with useful medical terms and phrases. Through learning Spanish at NMC, I am now able to better communicate with my Spanish-only speaking patients and provide them with a better quality of care. NMC also has annual study abroad trips. I went on a study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal and was able to practice my Spanish speaking with locals in Spain.

Lizzy Mitchell

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I wanted to minor in Spanish because I currently work as a CNA at Children's Nebraska and many of my patients and their families only speak Spanish. In the NMC Spanish minor, I was able to learn general conversational Spanish along with useful medical terms and phrases. Through learning Spanish at NMC, I am now able to better communicate with my Spanish-only speaking patients and provide them with a better quality of care. NMC also has annual study abroad trips. I went on a study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal and was able to practice my Spanish speaking with locals in Spain.

Lizzy Mitchell

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I wanted to minor in Spanish because I currently work as a CNA at Children's Nebraska and many of my patients and their families only speak Spanish. In the NMC Spanish minor, I was able to learn general conversational Spanish along with useful medical terms and phrases. Through learning Spanish at NMC, I am now able to better communicate with my Spanish-only speaking patients and provide them with a better quality of care. NMC also has annual study abroad trips. I went on a study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal and was able to practice my Spanish speaking with locals in Spain.

Lizzy Mitchell

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the minor program at NMC has prepared me to work with different populations and approach situations with an open mind. The minor prepared me for working with the Spanish-speaking population, however, I found that no matter the population, the skills and information I learned in the Spanish minor are valuable to have. With my experience in the Spanish minor, I am more prepared for the future as a nurse to work with diverse populations.

Austin Carman

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the minor program at NMC has prepared me to work with different populations and approach situations with an open mind. The minor prepared me for working with the Spanish-speaking population, however, I found that no matter the population, the skills and information I learned in the Spanish minor are valuable to have. With my experience in the Spanish minor, I am more prepared for the future as a nurse to work with diverse populations.

Austin Carman

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the minor program at NMC has prepared me to work with different populations and approach situations with an open mind. The minor prepared me for working with the Spanish-speaking population, however, I found that no matter the population, the skills and information I learned in the Spanish minor are valuable to have. With my experience in the Spanish minor, I am more prepared for the future as a nurse to work with diverse populations.

Austin Carman

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the minor program at NMC has prepared me to work with different populations and approach situations with an open mind. The minor prepared me for working with the Spanish-speaking population, however, I found that no matter the population, the skills and information I learned in the Spanish minor are valuable to have. With my experience in the Spanish minor, I am more prepared for the future as a nurse to work with diverse populations.

Austin Carman

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the Spanish minor at NMC has prepared me for my career as a nurse by opening my eyes to people who come from various backgrounds. Everyone has a story, and it is sad that people are judged based on what they look like or what they have, especially in healthcare.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

My time in the Spanish minor at NMC has prepared me for my career as a nurse by opening my eyes to people who come from various backgrounds. Everyone has a story, and it is sad that people are judged based on what they look like or what they have, especially in healthcare.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

To be able to care for and to comfort an entirely other population of people just because I learned a second language is such an incredible feeling. One thing NMC offered that ended up being the most incredible experience of my life was a study abroad option to complete the requirements for my minor in Healthcare Spanish. I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for seven weeks. I was able to observe and provide hands-on help in the hospitals in Oaxaca while immersing myself into the culture. This expedited my level of the Spanish language. I feel so confident caring for Spanish speakers in a hospital setting because of the NMC program and the study abroad program. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and I feel even more valuable as a nurse in our healthcare system.

Lyndie Brady

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

To be able to care for and to comfort an entirely other population of people just because I learned a second language is such an incredible feeling. One thing NMC offered that ended up being the most incredible experience of my life was a study abroad option to complete the requirements for my minor in Healthcare Spanish. I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for seven weeks. I was able to observe and provide hands-on help in the hospitals in Oaxaca while immersing myself into the culture. This expedited my level of the Spanish language. I feel so confident caring for Spanish speakers in a hospital setting because of the NMC program and the study abroad program. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and I feel even more valuable as a nurse in our healthcare system.

Lyndie Brady

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

To be able to care for and to comfort an entirely other population of people just because I learned a second language is such an incredible feeling. One thing NMC offered that ended up being the most incredible experience of my life was a study abroad option to complete the requirements for my minor in Healthcare Spanish. I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for seven weeks. I was able to observe and provide hands-on help in the hospitals in Oaxaca while immersing myself into the culture. This expedited my level of the Spanish language. I feel so confident caring for Spanish speakers in a hospital setting because of the NMC program and the study abroad program. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and I feel even more valuable as a nurse in our healthcare system.

Lyndie Brady

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

To be able to care for and to comfort an entirely other population of people just because I learned a second language is such an incredible feeling. One thing NMC offered that ended up being the most incredible experience of my life was a study abroad option to complete the requirements for my minor in Healthcare Spanish. I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for seven weeks. I was able to observe and provide hands-on help in the hospitals in Oaxaca while immersing myself into the culture. This expedited my level of the Spanish language. I feel so confident caring for Spanish speakers in a hospital setting because of the NMC program and the study abroad program. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and I feel even more valuable as a nurse in our healthcare system.

Lyndie Brady

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

To be able to care for and to comfort an entirely other population of people just because I learned a second language is such an incredible feeling. One thing NMC offered that ended up being the most incredible experience of my life was a study abroad option to complete the requirements for my minor in Healthcare Spanish. I traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for seven weeks. I was able to observe and provide hands-on help in the hospitals in Oaxaca while immersing myself into the culture. This expedited my level of the Spanish language. I feel so confident caring for Spanish speakers in a hospital setting because of the NMC program and the study abroad program. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and I feel even more valuable as a nurse in our healthcare system.

Lyndie Brady

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

Professor Kernen was a great Spanish teacher and was the reason I decided to continue to complete the Spanish minor. The nursing faculty was amazing and really cares about your success.

Lindsay Holloway

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

Professor Kernen was a great Spanish teacher and was the reason I decided to continue to complete the Spanish minor. The nursing faculty was amazing and really cares about your success.

Lindsay Holloway

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

For citizens in the U.S. who don’t speak our language, these patients don’t have a voice in their own health care. So much can be lost in translation when we as health care providers are forced to use an interpreter because rather than focus our attention on the patient, we focus our attention on the interpreter. Your conversational Spanish language abilities will allow you to establish a trusting, open, therapeutic relationship with these patients because you speak their language and can create a more personalized and specific care plan. As a Spanish/English health care provider, you will be able to understand, educate, and better care for this ever-growing population because the language barrier won’t exist.

Halley Graber

BSN 2013, Employee of Methodist Women’s Hospital

I am so proud of accomplishing my minor at NMC. At the end of the class, I had to give an oral presentation completely in Spanish to other native Spanish speakers. It was not something that I thought I could do.

Crystalyn Lessner Prine

Spanish minor

I am so proud of accomplishing my minor at NMC. At the end of the class, I had to give an oral presentation completely in Spanish to other native Spanish speakers. It was not something that I thought I could do.

Crystalyn Lessner Prine

Spanish minor

Heritage speaker students or those having strong prior Spanish academic coursework from high school may take a placement test to enroll in the minor. When I look at applications, having Spanish is a big plus! If two [applications from] nurses were equal, I would hire the one that had Spanish!

Patty Sullivan

Nurse Recruiter, Methodist Health System

Heritage speaker students or those having strong prior Spanish academic coursework from high school may take a placement test to enroll in the minor. When I look at applications, having Spanish is a big plus! If two [applications from] nurses were equal, I would hire the one that had Spanish!

Patty Sullivan

Nurse Recruiter, Methodist Health System

Heritage speaker students or those having strong prior Spanish academic coursework from high school may take a placement test to enroll in the minor. When I look at applications, having Spanish is a big plus! If two [applications from] nurses were equal, I would hire the one that had Spanish!

Patty Sullivan

Nurse Recruiter, Methodist Health System

Heritage speaker students or those having strong prior Spanish academic coursework from high school may take a placement test to enroll in the minor. When I look at applications, having Spanish is a big plus! If two [applications from] nurses were equal, I would hire the one that had Spanish!

Patty Sullivan

Nurse Recruiter, Methodist Health System

I saw that in hospitals many healthcare providers do not speak another language, so they have to utilize a translator for every interaction. For me, I saw an issue with that because you can’t build a relationship with your patient if there is a communication barrier. Even though I finished the Spanish minor, Ms. Kernen and others have inspired me to continue learning Spanish because a language barrier should not be a reason that people have such a hard time navigating the healthcare system.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I saw that in hospitals many healthcare providers do not speak another language, so they have to utilize a translator for every interaction. For me, I saw an issue with that because you can’t build a relationship with your patient if there is a communication barrier. Even though I finished the Spanish minor, Ms. Kernen and others have inspired me to continue learning Spanish because a language barrier should not be a reason that people have such a hard time navigating the healthcare system.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I saw that in hospitals many healthcare providers do not speak another language, so they have to utilize a translator for every interaction. For me, I saw an issue with that because you can’t build a relationship with your patient if there is a communication barrier. Even though I finished the Spanish minor, Ms. Kernen and others have inspired me to continue learning Spanish because a language barrier should not be a reason that people have such a hard time navigating the healthcare system.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I saw that in hospitals many healthcare providers do not speak another language, so they have to utilize a translator for every interaction. For me, I saw an issue with that because you can’t build a relationship with your patient if there is a communication barrier. Even though I finished the Spanish minor, Ms. Kernen and others have inspired me to continue learning Spanish because a language barrier should not be a reason that people have such a hard time navigating the healthcare system.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor

I saw that in hospitals many healthcare providers do not speak another language, so they have to utilize a translator for every interaction. For me, I saw an issue with that because you can’t build a relationship with your patient if there is a communication barrier. Even though I finished the Spanish minor, Ms. Kernen and others have inspired me to continue learning Spanish because a language barrier should not be a reason that people have such a hard time navigating the healthcare system.

Sydney Roseby

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Spanish minor