มัณทิญา ชวนะ. Communication Strategies Used by Nursing Students When Interacting With Foreign Patients in a Nursing Simulation. Master's Degree(Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2009.
Communication Strategies Used by Nursing Students When Interacting With Foreign Patients in a Nursing Simulation
Abstract:
Communication Strategies have been widely studied in the fields of linguistics and
second language acquisition. They are important tools especially for language learners
when communicating with foreigners in L2. The purpose of this study was to examine
(l) the types of communication strategies commonly used by the subjects, and (2) the
effects of communication strategies used by nursing students when interacting with
foreign patients in nursing situations.
Four fourth year nursing students who took ENG 1401: English 4, at Phrapokklao
Nursing College in Chantaburi (PNC) participated in this study. The students received a
Patient Record Form and were asked to interview a patient, complete the form, do the
primary physical check up, and send the patient to the proper ward. Data were collected
via (1) observation, (2) transcription from video recorder of four different nurses, and
(3) interview.
The results of the study indicated that while communicating in English with foreign
patients, the most frequent strategies nursing students used were (1) using of fillers and
other hesitation devices, and (2) asking for confirmation. In this study, the participants
did not use the following strategies: (l) using all-purpose words, and (2) foreignizing.
Even though communication strategies were not highlighted, they used them while
performing the task. The use of communication strategies seemed to be effective as they
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helped the nurses accomplish the task. They also revealed their intention and reasons
behind their use of some communication strategies during the interview.
Finally, suggestions concerning the use of communication strategies to teach nursing
students were given since the nurses, in authentic working routines, have to sometimes
communicate with foreign patients. Teachers should provide some knowledge of
communication strategies and increase the awareness of using communication strategies
among groups of nursing students.