EP 135 :: The Need for Bilingual Caregivers in Dementia Care :: Zoila Ortega

Parlez-vous Français? Habla Española? Parli italiano? Speaking more than one language opens doors in many ways, especially for nurses and caregivers caring for a dementia patient who can no longer speak English. Dr. Zoila Ortega knows this firsthand. She learned a lot taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s, including the importance of bilingual nurses. As a health care professional and teacher for more than 50 years, she founded a nursing school that makes it possible for ESL CNA students to more readily learn course material. It’s a critical skill, especially with a nursing shortage. And we think that’s muy bueno!

Zoila Ortega has been a health care professional for more than 50 years. She has taught at six major universities throughout the United States, established and administered numerous health promotion centers, and worked in non-profit, for profit, and governmental health agencies. Her areas of expertise include nursing education, educational psychology, cardiovascular health, childbirth education, home health, studying and test-taking strategies, and international health.

Dr. Ortega has an M.A. in Health Education from New York University, a Masters in Philosophy with a specialization in Health Administration from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. from American International University with a specialization in Human Behavior.

Zoila  was an adjunct professor in the Nursing Department at Germanna Community College where she taught in the R.N. and the Practical Nurse programs and created the Nurse Aide Program.

In May 2015, Dr. Ortega established the Career Nursing Academy in Locust Grove, Virginia which offers Virginia Board of Nursing approved  Nurse Aide courses. Personal Care Aide courses are also being offered at the Academy. She is the owner, director and an instructor. Most recently, in January 2019,  Dr. Ortega started the Kauai Career Nursing Academy which is now suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Kauai Career Nursing Academy is expected to restart functioning in 2022.”

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