Mr. Mendes is an 81-year-old man who speaks only Portuguese. He is quite frail, weighing only 110 pounds. He had a below-the-knee amputation of his left leg two weeks ago. Mr. Mendes has been admitted to the hospital from a rehabilitation center with an acute change in mental status and diminished lung sounds in the left base. Mr. Mendes is diagnosed with left lower lobe pneumonia and antibiotic therapy is prescribed. The nurse assigned to care for Mr. Mendes does not speak Portuguese.

Case Study Mr. Mendes requires complete assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) . A medical interpreter is not assigned to the nursing unit; but if needed, the nurse can ask a Portuguese-speaking nursing staff member to help interpret what Mr. Mendes is trying to express. However, the nurse still must develop a way of communicating with Mr. Mendes so the nurse can assess Mr. Mendes’s level of comfort, provide care, and identify any needs.

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