How do nurses acquire English medical discourse ability in nursing practice? Exploring nurses' medical discourse learning journeys and related identity construction

Abstract

BackgroundIn Taiwan's hospitals, English medical discourse underpins nursing and medical practice. Much patient care work is done through language work, by both text and talk. This means that when nurses start their nursing careers in the hospital context, where English medical discourse is shared to produce knowledge and engage in practice, knowledge of medical discourse and the ability to use it are prerequisites. In the process of learning and using such specialist language, the formation of professional identities is assumed. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore nurses' learning journeys relating to medical discourse and the development of their professional identities. MethodsThis research adopted a qualitative approach, using data from 10 nurses working in different hospitals in Taiwan. ResultsThe findings revealed that English medical discourse was employed in Taiwan's hospitals not only for fulfilling professional purposes but also for socialising nurses into the healthcare community. Nurses acquired it through interactions, small talk, relationships, discussions, and nursing tasks. Their professional identities were formed through engaging in meaningful nursing practice based on English medical discourse. However, in the learning process, they encountered difficulties in the areas of listening, speaking, and reading, which raised concerns about patient safety. ConclusionSufficient support is needed to ease nurses' difficulties in learning. We propose having primary and secondary preceptors, establishing a mentorship policy, and creating a learning environment that is supportive of nurses' learning experiences.