Language skills in nursing – German proficiency as a key qualification

Communication plays a central role in care, as clear and understandable language is essential when dealing with patients, relatives and for collaboration within the care team. It helps to maintain the quality of care and provide those in need of assistance with the best possible care. Find out why language skills are so important in nursing and how the ÖSD German course can support nursing staff learning German in the following article.

Language skills in nursing improve the care of those in need of assistance

As there is a shortage of nursing staff throughout the DACH region, foreign nursing staff with German language skills are in high demand. The importance of sufficient language skills becomes clear in everyday working life at the latest. Without sound language skills, the risk of misunderstandings, incorrect treatments or incorrect medication increases, which can have health consequences for patients and legal consequences for nursing staff. Good communication also plays a key role in care on an interpersonal level: communication helps to avoid unpleasant situations and conflicts and to react appropriately to the emotional or physical stress of those in need of care.

Language skills in care strengthen teamwork

However, a lack of German language skills puts pressure on the care team: if the language skills of foreign professionals are too poor, carers with German as their first language often take on additional responsibilities. This can lead to increased burden on individual carers and tensions within the team. Smooth communication in care has a positive effect on care staff and helps to eliminate uncertainty and reduce stress. This is important because communication problems can result in frustration, loss of motivation or emotional stress, which in turn can lead to dissatisfaction with the job. Clear communication has a positive effect on the quality of work: Handovers take less time, errors are avoided, tasks can be better distributed and carers feel better understood and more comfortable in the team.

Dialects and standard varieties in the care sector

It is not only insufficient knowledge of German that can be problematic in everyday working life: Dialects or different variants of standard German can likewise lead to misunderstandings, for example because certain expressions are used or understood differently from region to region. As a result, communication may become more difficult, widening the gap between carers and those in need of care. It adds considerable strain to the daily work of healthcare professionals. To ensure good care, language skills that not only cover standard German, but ideally extend to the standard regional varieties, are therefore a key qualification in the care sector.

Learn German in a practical way with the ÖSD language course

Language skills at levels B1 or B2 are required for nursing training or recognition procedures. Anyone wishing to work in the care profession will therefore benefit in particular from targeted preparation for the language requirements in the care sector. Thematically appropriate learning materials can prepare nursing staff learning German in a practical way for everyday working life. With the course book ‘Pflege und medizinische Berufe’, the ÖSD offers a special German course for carers for levels B1 and B2, which prepares you in two volumes for the language requirements of everyday care work.

A German course for carers in training and at work

The language course is aimed at German learners who are training in the care sector or in a medical profession or are planning to do so in the future. It is also aimed at people who are already working in the care sector or aspire to work in this field. Additionally, the course is of interest to those who would like to learn more about the language requirements in nursing. The topics and content are based on typical professional situations in nursing and geriatric care and everyday situations in nursing homes and hospitals in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol). Designed for flexibility, this language course supports both self-learners and teachers preparing students for the ÖSD Zertifikat B2 / Pflege und medizinische Berufe (ZB2 / PMB) exam.

Language course for nursing and medical professions in detail

Each volume is made up of four modules, each with its own thematic focus from everyday nursing and medical life. The course intensively trains listening, vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing and speaking skills. Volume 1 is dedicated to the areas of: Everyday language in a team, everyday language with clients, everyday language with relatives and anatomy/body. Volume 2 covers topics such as nursing prophylaxis, observing and documenting vital signs, handing over duties and documentation. The individual modules are each divided into three lessons with defined learning objectives that are specifically trained with the different language skills.

Furthermore, the course book includes the solutions and a glossary with the most important terms and example sentences. The corresponding audio files and transcripts are available as well to learners. The ÖSD language course ‘Pflege und medizinische Berufe B1-B2’ is a practical and targeted support for anyone who wants to expand and consolidate their language skills in nursing.

Prepare your course participants for the language requirements in the care sector!