Written by Sharon Aschaiek

Workplace Communication Skills for Internationally Educated Nurses

Rita de Casia David was a community health nurse in the Philippines who provided care to marginalized residents in remote regions. By 2019, she was eager to explore new opportunities in a different country, so she immigrated to Canada.
Rita settled in Scarborough and, at first, studied community development at Centennial College and then worked as a coordinator at a personal support worker agency. But she missed nursing, so last winter, she enrolled in Centennial’s virtual OSLT course Workplace Communication Skills for Internationally Educated Nurses.

This 180-hour course teaches internationally trained nurses about the language skills and cultural knowledge of working as a nurse in Ontario hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. It also focuses on how to interact effectively in verbal and written forms with colleagues, clients and supervisors in a health care setting, and how to pursue employment opportunities with local health care employers.

Soon after completing the course, Rita landed a permanent full-time job as a community health nurse for children with complex medical needs.

Here, Rita shares her experience in the OSLT course.

What are some of the most useful things you learned in this course?

I learned how to express myself in a clear and professional way with others in the workplace, whether it is emailing co-workers, talking with a supervisor, or gathering and documenting patient information. It was also helpful to learn to communicate in a sensitive way with the patients’ parents. Working in groups with other students, we created scenarios that are common in a health care workplace, and we had to figure out how to communicate in ways that are straightforward and respectful.

How did the course enhance your understanding of workplace culture in Ontario?

In workplaces in Côte d’Ivoire, managers have a traditional leadership style that is more top-down. Here, everyone is more on the same level. It is participatory management, and everyone is welcome to give their input. I also learned about the importance of small talk — finding a connection with a co-worker rather than directly going to the main point. I found it to be a more human-oriented approach that helps to improve relations with others at work. As well, we learned about the power relationships between different employees in health care environments. The culture here is that people are more empowered to express their opinions, ideas and concerns. There is also a strong emphasis on respect for diverse identities.

How did the course prepare you to apply for community nursing jobs?

My confidence shot up after the course. I knew that putting the OSLT course on my resumé gave me an advantage in the job market. In the course, we dissected the entire job interview process. We learned what kinds of questions to expect, how to speak about our work experiences, strengths and weaknesses, and how to follow up afterward. During my interview with my current employer, I felt very comfortable sharing my experiences.

Would you recommend this course to other internationally educated nurses in Ontario?

The number one thing that mattered to me when I moved to a new country was learning the language because that would help me integrate into the workforce. I am so appreciative of how I learned to express myself professionally through this course. I have already referred other nurses to this course because it’s virtual, it’s free and it makes you more confident in your workplace communication skills.