Ateneo - UPO

Having a good command of the English language has become an essential skill for health professionals working in the bio-medical field. Hence, the need to offer nursing students a practical and easy-to-learn English course aimed at improving their English communication skills (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing). These new language skills will enable students to communicate effectively in English not only with patients and their families but also with the medical team of the ward, so as to provide the best nursing care service.

1) Wright and Cagnol (2012). English for Nursing 1. Pearson

2) Wright and Cagnol (2012). English for Nursing 2. Pearson

The aims, objectives and functions are those recommended for attainment of a B1 Level according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). In particular, these language skills will be contextualized in the health care setting. At the end of the course, the student will be able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in the workplace. In addition, the student will be able to deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling and/or working in an area where the English language is spoken and describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. The student will also improve its pronunciation and listening skills and learn the most commonly used medical terms.

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Lectures

As of 2018, all students of the three-year degree course in Nursing are required to take a computerized English Placement Test in collaboration with Oxford University Press. The test is mandatory but not selective or binding. In other words, it will not preclude students from attending the “English for Nursing” course. The placement test does not replace the English exam, even in the case of C1 students. All students are required to prove that they have taken the entry test at the time of the registration to the “English for Nursing” test. The Oxford entry test determines a student’s English level according to the international CEFR parameters. It is highly recommended that students with an A1 (elementary) or A2 (pre-intermediate) level should attend a basic English course preparatory to the B1 (intermediated) "English for Nursing” course.

The final test will assess the newly acquired nursing care English language skills. It consists of 60 questions based on all topics addressed throughout the course and the listening and glossary material contained in the two text books indicated in the bibliography. The questions will therefore focus on grammar, comprehension and listening. The exam is calibrated on a B1 level (intermediate) according to the CEFR parameters.

a) book 1) indicated in bibliography; b) book 2) indicated in bibliography.

Specifically, the course will focus on the following nursing care topics:medical-nursing glossary; grammar; syntax; pronunciation and listening; comprehension of written texts; patient admission and discharge; vital signs; symptoms; nutrition; hygiene; elimination route; pain management; geriatrics; pediatrics; supporting disease management and patient outcome (preoperative evaluation and post-operative evaluation of the patient, disclosure of treatment and diagnosis); application of the therapeutic process (communicating the diagnosis and treatment to the patient);

With their new language skills, students will be able to independently understand the tasks assigned to them by the medical team. Furthermore, they will be able to interact in a natural way with the patient and his family, manage any requests and give clear indications on how best to deal with critical situations such as pain, therapy and convalescence.