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Communication requirements

To be a registered nurse you need to be able to show you have strong verbal, written and non-verbal communication skills. 

To gain admission into the UTS Bachelor of Nursing, you will have demonstrated English Language Proficiency as per the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English Language Skills registration standard (6). 

Information relating to acceptable additional English Language Tests and required results can be found here.

Demonstrating your English skills

During your clinical placement, your clinical facilitator will assess your communication skills and ensure you are able to communicate effectively with patients, members of the healthcare team and other students.   

If English is not your first language you might find the clinical placement expectations difficult.

You will need to be able to show that:

  • You can comprehend and use appropriate technical and medical terms
  • You can talk appropriately and develop therapeutic relationships with patients and relatives 
  • You can pronounce clearly and be easy to understand
  • You can ask for help when you don’t understand
  • You can understand what is being said to you by responding with words and action
  • Support to improve English proficiency
  • UTS can help to improve your English skills. The HELPS (Higher English Language and Presentation Support) has:
  • Pronunciation classes and resources
  • Conversation sessions
  • Holiday intensive English language courses

Outside of the university, you could consider:

  • Hiring a tutor
  • Learning English online through a number of resources (some of these are listed in your clinical subjects and on the framework for assessing spoken language)