FLNG 0127 - English for Healthcare Providers
Course Description
Designed for CNA students who need to refine their English communication skills before entering the workforce. Through interactive scenarios, hands-on role-playing, and clinical case studies, students will practice patient-centered communication, medical terminology, documentation, and professional interactions in a health care setting. The course will help CNAs develop confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English within a medical environment.
Duration: 2 weeks (10 hours total, 20 short modules, with office hours)
Delivery Mode: Asynchronous (pre-recorded lessons, interactive exercises) + Live Office Hours
Target Audience: Bilingual CNA students, many of whom are Spanish-speaking
Focus Areas: Oral communication, medical terminology, workplace readiness
This course is funded by the HERA Microcredential Grant funding provided by US Department of Education: Award P116Z24014917.
Course Outline/Topics
Week 1: Core Medical Communication for CNAs
Lesson 1: Speaking Clearly in a Health Care Setting
- Common CNA phrases (greetings, patient check-ins)
- Pronunciation and intonation practice
- Role-play: Introducing yourself to a patient
Lesson 2: Understanding & Giving Instructions
- Simple language for explaining ADLs (bathing, feeding, dressing)
- Teach-back method for patient understanding
- Practice: Giving instructions for post-hospital care
Lesson 3: Medical Terminology & Common CNA Terms
- Basic medical vocabulary used in hospitals
- Abbreviations & acronyms (BP, HR, PRN, BID, etc.)
- Flashcard activity: Match medical terms with definitions
Week 2: Communicating with Supervisors & Documentation
Lesson 4: Understanding the Hospital Work Culture
- Differences: Hospital vs. Clinic vs. Residential Facility
- Chain of command & professionalism
- Video example: A day in the life of a hospital CNA
Lesson 5: Communicating with Nurses & Doctors
- How to report patient changes clearly
- "SBAR" technique (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
- Example: Reporting a fall to a supervisor
Lesson 6: Navigating Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- How to complete CNA charting in a digital system
- Checking boxes, selecting correct patient notes
- Interactive practice
Office Hours (Optional)
- Speaking practice
- Feedback on recorded speaking exercises
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, supervisors and medical teams
- Use medical terminology and common phrases accurately in professional settings
- Follow and provide step-by-step instructions for patient care activities such as bathing, feeding, mobility and medication reminders
- Report changes in a patient’s condition to nurses and supervisors clearly and concisely, using structured communication techniques (e.g., SBAR) (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
- Navigate electronic health records (EHR) systems confidently, including selecting correct checkboxes, writing brief notes, and following documentation protocols
- Apply effective listening and pronunciation strategies to improve spoken English in a medical environment