title: Challenges in oral communication for internationally educated nurses.
abstract: Achieving English language proficiency, while key to successful adaptation to a new country for internationally educated nurses (IENs), has presented more difficulties for them and for educators than previously recognized. Professional communication within a culturally diverse client population and maintaining collaborative relationships between nurses and other team members were perceived as new challenges for IENs. Learning an additional language is a long-term, multistage process that must also incorporate social and cultural aspects of the local society and the profession. This article provides a descriptive review of current research literature pertaining to English language challenges, with a focus on oral language, experienced by IENs. Educational strategies for teaching technical language skills as well as the socio-pragmatics of professional communication within nursing programs are emphasized. Bridging education programs must not only develop students'academic language proficiency but also their ability to enter the workforce with the kind of communication skills that are increasingly highlighted by employers as essential attributes. The results of this review are intended to facilitate a clearer understanding of the English language and communication challenges experienced by IENs and identify the implications for designing effective educational programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada lum@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Lillie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dowedoff
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerekes
authors.affiliation: Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valeo
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064700:Nurses, International / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: English language education; Internationally educated nurses; professional communication