So you know that your international nurse has to pass either the IELTS or the OET before they can even start the NMC registration process, and you know they’re probably going to need some sort of English Language support – but what does that look like? And how do you know which features will help them most?

We’ve spent a lot of time working out what does and doesn’t work for nurses studying for their English Language test, and I want to share these with you now so you can sidestep some of the challenges, and help your nurses progress more quickly than ever before.

Tip One. Make sure that your nurse is enrolled with a review centre which can support and direct their study and provide relevant materials. Typically when a nurse studies entirely independently they fail to cover key areas because they don’t have access to all the right materials – they’re just using what they come across. Directed study provides a much more rounded curriculum and opportunity for learning.

Tip Two. Make sure that the review centre works with the candidate to target their specific areas of weakness. Many English language courses are delivered in a standardised “cookie cutter” kind of a way, meaning standard material is delivered to all students, regardless of their individual strengths and weaknesses. It is far more effective to provide some standardised material, but then tailor the remainder to an individual’s weaknesses so that they can focus on the areas that require most improvement.

Tip Three. Ensure the review centre the candidate is working with adopts a flexible approach to an individual’s changing circumstances. There are many reasons a nurse might fail to attend their tuition classes – perhaps a last minute shift change or family emergency. By monitoring the candidate’s attendance and checking in with them regularly, tutors can identify challenges early on and provide workarounds such as catch-up classes or an adjusted schedule. The review centre should be providing regular updates to the recruiter/employer on the nurse’s progress so that expectations are managed effectively.

Tip Four. It is really important that the review centre guides the nurse on when they should sit their English test. If a nurse takes their test too early, it can be a real blow to their confidence – and also their finances – both of which cause additional delays in the process. Ideally the nurse would consistently be achieving IELTS level 7.0 or OET B pass in every area for at least two weeks prior to sitting their test.

If you have any other tips about what makes an effective English language programme we’d love to hear from you! Please email hello@myhealthcarerecruit.com

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organization, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com