English Language Proficiency of Foreign Applicants

12 Mar 2010

Question No:  344   

Question

Name of the Person: Er. Lee Bee Wah

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the level of English language proficiency required from foreign applicants before they are appointed as nurses at our hospitals; and (b) whether they have to undergo an oral test to ensure their proficiency to communicate in English.

Reply

Reply From MOH

1 One challenge faced by foreign nurses working in Singapore is the variety of local languages and dialects spoken by our patients.  We have Mandarin and Malay conversational language training for foreign nurses to enable better nurse-patient communications. 

2 However, English proficiency is most important for speaking, understanding and documentation in health care work.   Hence both the prospective employers and the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB) require that foreign nurses applying to work in Singapore have English language proficiency. First, interviews are conducted by the prospective employers in English to assess their oral English proficiency.  Next, the applicants are required to take the SNB licensure test in English.  The test seeks to evaluate the applicants’ general nursing knowledge and communication skills. 

3 Once they start their employment, foreign nurses are closely supervised during their probation.  Employers will only confirm their employment, if they have the required competencies, which include English language competency and communication.  So far, the written test and interviews have been effective in screening foreign applicants for their English language proficiency.