Addressing Vicarious Trauma and Emotional Stress Among Medical Interpreters Through Care, Partnership and Respect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/nvts.2022.24Keywords:
interpreter, occupational stress, vicarious trauma, teamworkAbstract
Interpreting palliative care conversations can be stressful due to the emotions and complex terminology involved, as well as the emphasis on fostering patient autonomy and disclosing prognosis transparently. To improve the quality of care for patients speaking different languages, a palliative care physician and social worker approached the director of interpreter services offering to provide sessions to address vicarious trauma. With interpreter input, they developed a series of monthly Dialogues in Palliative Care. This paper recounts how this supportive educational endeavor became a holistic approach to medical interpreters’ occupational safety and health. The relationship between the clinicians and interpreters enabled a smooth transition to weekly emotional support for the interpreters and the modeling of a culture of care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Interpreters are integral members of the health care team and are uniquely vulnerable to emotional stress. They deserve a work environment that mitigates vicarious trauma.