Clinical expectations: what facilitators expect from ESL students on clinical placement

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Second Language Acquisition
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) nursing students encounter communication barriers in clinical settings.
• Clinical facilitators, though not language experts, often evaluate ESL students' language proficiency.
• Limited research exists on specific areas facilitators focus on when assessing ESL nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specific aspects of clinical performance facilitators assess in ESL nursing students.
• To understand facilitators' expectations regarding ESL students' language use and professional conduct.
• To identify challenges faced by ESL nursing students during clinical placements.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of written assessment comments from clinical facilitators.
• Longitudinal study over two and a half years.
• Data collected from clinical assessment forms for a small group of ESL nursing students.

Main Results:

• Facilitators' written comments reveal clear expectations for ESL students' communication skills.
• Assessment focuses on language performance, learning styles, and professional demeanor.
• Identified specific challenges encountered by ESL nursing students in clinical environments.

Conclusions:

• Facilitators possess defined expectations for ESL nursing students' clinical language performance.
• Findings offer insights into ESL students' challenges and facilitators' assessment criteria.
• This study can inform better preparation for ESL students and facilitators in clinical placements.