Quality Care through Language Competence
The health professions have their own language, content and culture. Career-specific language is evident in the communication health professionals have with colleagues in written, verbal and non-verbal form.
When English is the language of choice in a health care context and a health professional of non-English speaking background wishes to access it, language competency based in that cultural context will be essential. It will provide the avenue for membership in the profession in the new context as well as the satisfaction of being able to work safely within a new or foreign language. The concept of safety to practice is identified as a professional standard of practice in nursing, medicine and health care.