Experience of Teaching English in a Disciplinary Subject to Nursing Students at a Chilean university
Abstract
Introduction: Globalization has transformed the training of nursing professionals, due to the requirement of English proficiency as an essential skill for patient safety and scientific updating. However, non-English-speaking students face linguistic difficulties that impact their academic and clinical performance, requiring contextualized teaching strategies such as English for nursing purposes.
Objective: To describe the experience of implementing and evaluating a subject-specific course in English for nursing students at a Chilean university.
Methods: Descriptive study with two cohorts (2021 and 2022) of third-year nursing students. There were 117 participants, who responded to a survey. An active methodology was applied with synchronous classes in English, analysis of clinical cases, and use of Shadow Health® interactive software with virtual patients. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: The course achieved high levels of satisfaction in teaching clarity (96%), theory-practice relationship (97%), and simulated experiences (97%). Students valued the active methodology, timely feedback (97%), and pedagogical consistency of the program. The average grade was 6.6/7, demonstrating the effectiveness of the educational model implemented.
Conclusions: The incorporation of disciplinary courses in English in nursing promotes meaningful learning, integrates theory and practice, and strengthens preparation for international contexts. The active methodology and the use of simulations enhance student satisfaction and commitment, which contributes to the training of professionals with a global profile and communication skills for clinical practice.
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Author Biographies
Giselle Riquelme Hernández, Universidad del Desarrollo
- Matrona, Universidad de Santiago de Chile.
- Magíster en Enfermería, mención Gestión Clínica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Máster en Atención Ginecológica para Matronas, Universidad Tecnológica (TECH), España.
- Postítulo en Investigación Aplicada en Salud CICAD/OAS/ University of Toronto, Canada.
- Diplomada en Sexología Clínica, Universidad del Desarrollo.
- Diplomada en Gestión Curricular Orientado Por Competencias, Universidad de Chile.
- Diplomada en Docencia Universitaria, Universidad del Desarrollo.
- Diplomada en Medicina Basada en Evidencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Diplomada en Tendencias Innovadoras de Docencia en Salud, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Miembro Comité Editorial y Revisor, Revista Confluencia, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana- Universidad del Desarrollo.
- Profesora Asociada Regular, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo.
- Área de docencia: salud de la mujer, sexología clínica, investigación en salud.
Claudia Verónica Pérez Acuña, Universidad del Desarrrollo
Enfermera-Matrona, Magíster en Psicología de la Salud, Doctorado en Educación y Sociedad ©, Universidad de Barcelona, España. Directora Carrera Enfermería, Investigadora Programa de Estudios Sociales en Salud, Instituto de Ciencia e Innovación en medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo
Sofia Decker, Universidad del Desarrollo
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Emergency Unit RNEmergency Unit RN Physicians Regional Healthcare System · Jornada completaPhysicians Regional Healthcare System · Jornada completaene. 2022 - actualidad · 3 años 11 mesesene. 2022 - actualidad · 3 años 11 mesesNápoles, Florida, Estados UnidosNápoles, Florida, Estados Unidos
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University ProfessorUniversity Professor Universidad del DesarrolloUniversidad del Desarrolloago. 2020 - ene. 2022 · 1 año 6 mesesago. 2020 - ene. 2022 · 1 año 6 meses
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Teach an online course, “Physical Assessment”, to eighty 3rd year Nursing students divided into two sections of 40 students each.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Designing Universidad del Desarrollo’s first online course “Physical Assessment” to be fully taught in English to Nursing students in Chile.
• Lesson planning, researching content, designing presentations, and delivering content online “live” in two weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each.
• Teaching and mentoring students to be able to perform physical assessments to patients in their non-native language.
Teach an online course, “Physical Assessment”, to eighty 3rd year Nursing students divided into two sections of 40 students each. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Designing Universidad del Desarrollo’s first online course “Physical Assessment” to be fully taught in English to Nursing students in Chile. • Lesson planning, researching content, designing presentations, and delivering content online “live” in two weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each. • Teaching and mentoring students to be able to perform physical assessments to patients in their non-native language. … ver más
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Teach an online course, “Physical Assessment”, to eighty 3rd year Nursing students divided into two sections of 40 students each.
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Clínica Las CondesClínica Las Condes 8 años 10 meses8 años 10 mesesProvincia de Santiago, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, ChileProvincia de Santiago, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile
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Assistant Nurse Manager Emergency UnitAssistant Nurse Manager Emergency Unit
Jornada completaJornada completasept. 2013 - oct. 2017 · 4 años 2 mesessept. 2013 - oct. 2017 · 4 años 2 meses
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Delivering on-going patient care at an Emergency Service Unit within a multi-disciplinary full-scale private hospital with 55 Emergency Room boxes, average daily patient inflow of 400 patients, with varying degrees of complexity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Coordinating, supervising, staffing, providing feedback and payroll management for over 154 employees (including nurses, technicians, and administrative personnel) for Emergency Service unit (“ER”)
• Collaborating with Head Nurse in establishing the ER unit annual work plan, including goal setting, and providing on-going monitoring of key performance indicators and auditing patient documentation throughout the year
• Procurement of equipment, materials, and supplies for the ER unit, as well as coordinating physical and IT infrastructure upgrades, and sourcing training programs with external providers, when required.
• Ensuring that all norms, regulations, and protocols are enforced and complied with by all employees of the ER unit, including timely reporting to government entities and patients on illnesses with obligatory notification and/or food related illnessesDelivering on-going patient care at an Emergency Service Unit within a multi-disciplinary full-scale private hospital with 55 Emergency Room boxes, average daily patient inflow of 400 patients, with varying degrees of complexity. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Coordinating, supervising, staffing, providing feedback and payroll management for over 154 employees (including nurses, technicians, and administrative personnel) for Emergency Service unit (“ER”) • Collaborating with Head Nurse in establishing the ER unit annual work plan, including goal setting, and providing on-going monitoring of key performance indicators and auditing patient documentation throughout the year • Procurement of equipment, materials, and supplies for the ER unit, as well as coordinating physical and IT infrastructure upgrades, and sourcing training programs with external providers, when required. • Ensuring that all norms, regulations, and protocols are enforced and complied with by all employees of the ER unit, including timely reporting to government entities and patients on illnesses with obligatory notification and/or food related illnesses… ver más
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Delivering on-going patient care at an Emergency Service Unit within a multi-disciplinary full-scale private hospital with 55 Emergency Room boxes, average daily patient inflow of 400 patients, with varying degrees of complexity.
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Staff Nurse, Nursing Team LeaderStaff Nurse, Nursing Team Leader
ene. 2009 - ago. 2013 · 4 años 8 mesesene. 2009 - ago. 2013 · 4 años 8 meses
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• Responsible for administering the following procedures: intravenous, subcutaneous, oral, intramuscular sublingual, oral and nebulization, as well as installing nasogastric tubes, Foley catheter, and taking samples for further examination.
• Supervision of personnel, coordinating
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• Responsible for administering the following procedures: intravenous, subcutaneous, oral, intramuscular sublingual, oral and nebulization, as well as installing nasogastric tubes, Foley catheter, and taking samples for further examination.
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Assistant Nurse Manager Emergency UnitAssistant Nurse Manager Emergency Unit
Jornada completaJornada completasept. 2013 - oct. 2017 · 4 años 2 mesessept. 2013 - oct. 2017 · 4 años 2 meses
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Copyright (c) 2026 Giselle Riquelme Hernández, Claudia Verónica Pérez Acuña, Sofia Decker
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