The California Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would allow nursing assistants to be certified in Spanish-only exams, leading to concerns that English, or other non-Spanish language-speaking doctors, nurses, and patients being unable to communicate with nursing assistants may lead to injuries or even death.
AB 2131 would “make available the option to take the written and oral competency examination of a nurse assistant certification examination in Spanish.” According to bill author Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, D-Anaheim, “AB 2131 ensures our caregivers reflect the communities they serve and allow for a diverse nursing workforce ready to meet the needs of all patients” and will “help build the workforce pipeline to one that is more reflective of our population.
