# A patient with limited English proficiency arrives for discharge teaching with the family. Which nursing actions reflect appropriate use of a qualified medical interpreter? Select all that apply.

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Management of Care  
> category: MOC

## Question

A patient with limited English proficiency arrives for discharge teaching with the family. Which nursing actions reflect appropriate use of a qualified medical interpreter? Select all that apply.

1

Confirm understanding using the teach-back method through the interpreter at key teaching points.

2

Document the interpreter's name or ID and modality (in-person, video, phone) in the medical record.

3

Use a qualified medical interpreter (in-person, video, or phone) rather than family members or untrained staff for any clinically significant communication.

4

Speak directly to the patient and look at the patient (not the interpreter), using short complete sentences and pausing for translation.

5

Have the patient's 12-year-old child translate the discharge instructions because the child is fluent in both languages.

## Explanation

Working with a medical interpreter: use a qualified interpreter for any clinically significant communication, speak directly to the patient (not the interpreter), use teach-back to verify understanding, and document the interpreter's identification. Choice 5 is wrong — minor children must NEVER serve as medical interpreters; this is a Joint Commission and CMS prohibition because of role reversal, accuracy concerns, confidentiality breaches, and emotional harm to the child.

## In-depth explanation

The "do not use a child as interpreter" rule is among the most-tested cultural competence and patient-rights points on NCLEX. Adult family members are also discouraged for clinical communication because of accuracy and confidentiality concerns; a qualified medical interpreter is the standard. Documentation of the interpreter is part of the medical record.

## Clinical scenario

Adult patient with **limited English proficiency** ready for discharge teaching with multiple medications and follow-up appointments. Family present and offering to translate. Joint Commission and CMS standards require a **qualified medical interpreter**.

## Key concepts

- **Qualified medical interpreter** — Trained, ethically bound interpreter providing accurate, complete, and confidential translation of medical communication.
- **Teach-back method** — Asking the patient to explain back the information in their own words to verify understanding.
- **Joint Commission language access standard** — Hospitals must provide qualified interpreters at no cost to patients with limited English proficiency.

## Related questions

- [A nurse is adopting the I-PASS structured handoff tool for end-of-shift report. Which elem…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=372862&lang=en)
- [The night-shift nurse receives a telephone order from the on-call provider for "morphine 4…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=373130&lang=en)
- [A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery later today. The provider has just left the roo…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=373400&lang=en)
- [A 82-year-old presents to clinic with recent falls and worsening confusion. After reviewin…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=373873&lang=en)
- [A nurse is caring for an agitated post-operative patient who is pulling at the IV and surg…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=373880&lang=en)
- [Immediately before a bedside lumbar puncture, the nurse leads the team through the Univers…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=373883&lang=en)
- [An alert and oriented patient with metastatic cancer states, "I do not want any more chemo…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374912&lang=en)
- [A patient without insurance arrives at the ED with chest pain. The triage nurse confirms t…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374913&lang=en)

## Read in another language

- [en](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=en)
- [ko](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=ko)
- [ja](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=ja)
- [zh-TW](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=zh-tw)
- [vi](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=374874&lang=vi)

---

More free questions: [NCLEX-RN Practice](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_bank.php?lang=en)

_For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols._