English for nurses · One-to-one classes

English for Nurses: Online Course with IELTS Preparation

Break Into English offers an online English course for nurses, taught one-to-one over video by a native teacher assigned to you. You practice the English of patient care: admission, pain assessment, medication, handovers, and explaining a procedure, with IELTS preparation if you plan to work abroad. Classes run 7 days a week on Zoom, Teams, or Meet, from €14.38 per class. Your first 30-minute class is free.

  • Your own native teacher
  • Program built around patient care
  • IELTS preparation available
  • Classes that fit around your shifts
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4.9/5· 39 Google reviews

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Free nursing English trial class

30 minutes to assess your level, talk about your unit and your goals, and try our method. No commitment and no credit card.

  • We contact you within 24 hours to schedule your class.
  • We assign you a native teacher based on your level and goals.
  • The class takes place on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, with nothing to install.

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Reply within 24 hours · No commitment · No credit card

350,000+
Hours taught
150
Native teachers
17,000+
Satisfied students
64
Corporate clients
Cambridge Assessment English · Authorised Exam Centre ETS TOEIC · Authorized Test Provider
Nursing English

Online English course for nurses with a native teacher

The Break Into English course for nurses is taught one-to-one over video, with a native teacher you keep from start to finish. It starts from your unit and your real situations: a patient who arrives in the emergency department, a family to reassure, a handover to a colleague.

With English-speaking patients, you need to understand how they feel, explain a procedure, and check that they understood. These exchanges are short but precise, and a vocabulary mistake can have consequences.

That is why the classes focus on speaking: you do most of the talking, through care role-plays, and your teacher corrects what matters in your job. For more vocabulary, read our guide to medical English vocabulary.

The Break Into English method

How the nursing English classes work

Classes follow a dynamic method focused on speaking and listening. Your teacher combines several activities based on your goal and, if useful, uses our General English textbooks.

  • Oral presentations

    You prepare a case from your unit, with no personal data, and present it to your teacher.

  • Listening activity

    You summarize a short audio clip, then summarize it again using the new vocabulary.

  • Picture description

    You describe a care photo or a body diagram, then describe it again using 3 to 7 new words.

  • Grammar in practice

    Grammar is practiced out loud, based on your own mistakes, with no fill-in-the-blank drills.

Sample 45-minute class

10 min · Your case

You present a fictional patient as you would in a handover.

15 min · Listening and summary

You work on comprehension and vocabulary with an audio clip.

20 min · Role-play

You admit a patient played by your teacher, then go over your mistakes.

Course length and schedule, built around your shifts

Course length depends on your starting level and your goal. To make fast progress, we recommend at least 2 hours of class per week, with a little practice between classes.

Classes last 30, 45, or 60 minutes and are booked in packs of 5 to 40 sessions.

Classes run 7 days a week and can be canceled for free up to 6 hours before, so you can fit them between shifts, on a day off, or after a night.

English for nurses, based on your goal

The course adapts to your unit and to what you want to do with your English.

Caring for English-speaking patients

Emergency, wards, tourist areas: welcome, assess, and explain care in English.

Working in the UK, US, Ireland, or Australia

Prepare for registration, the IELTS, and your job interview.

Specialty units

Operating room, ICU, pediatrics, or elder care: the vocabulary of your unit.

Nursing students

Read research articles in English and prepare a placement abroad.

English level nurses need, by goal

The CEFR measures language level in 6 steps, from A1 to C2. Here are benchmarks by goal, with the matching IELTS band commonly used as a reference.

GoalRecommended CEFR levelIELTS reference
Welcome an English-speaking patient on your unitB1Around 4.0 to 5.0
Explain treatment and reassure a familyB2Around 5.5 to 6.5
Work in a hospital abroadB2 to C1Set by the registration body, often 7.0

Score requirements change: always check the current rules of the registration body in the country where you want to work, such as the NMC in the UK.

Nursing English course content

Your teacher builds each class around your unit. Every situation is practiced in role-play, out loud and in writing.

  1. Patient admission and history taking

    Introduce yourself, ask admission questions, and record medical history and allergies.

  2. Pain assessment and vital signs

    Ask where and how it hurts, use the pain scale, and explain a set of observations.

  3. Medication and dosage

    Explain a treatment, a dose, and timing, and check for allergies and side effects.

  4. Handovers to the care team

    Give a clear verbal handover, for example with SBAR, and write a nursing note.

  5. Explaining a procedure and consent

    Explain a procedure before you start, reassure an anxious patient, and talk to the family.

  6. Nursing job interviews

    Present your experience, describe clinical situations, and explain why you want the job.

Want to talk about health topics with more ease? Read how to discuss medical topics in English.

Essential nursing English vocabulary

A few words and phrases nurses use every day with patients, each with a sample sentence you will practice in class.

TermMeaningSample sentence
AdmissionEntry to a ward or unit“You’re being admitted to the cardiology unit.”
Vital signs / obsTemperature, pulse, blood pressure“I’m going to check your vital signs.”
Pain scaleA 0 to 10 pain rating“On a scale of 0 to 10, how bad is the pain?”
AllergyA bad reaction to a substance“Are you allergic to any medication?”
DosageHow much and how often“Take two tablets twice a day, with food.”
IV dripFluids or drugs into a vein“I’m going to set up an IV drip.”
Nil by mouth (UK) / NPO (US)No food or drink“You can’t eat or drink anything after midnight.”
Ward (UK) / unit (US)Hospital department“The ward is on the third floor.”
HandoverPassing care to the next shift“I’ll give the night nurse the handover at nine.”
DischargeLeaving hospital“You’ll be discharged tomorrow morning.”

Not sure where to start? Book a free trial class and your teacher will assess your level.

IELTS preparation and certificates for nurses

To register abroad, you usually need an English test. In the UK, the NMC accepts the IELTS Academic and the OET. Break Into English prepares you for the IELTS, is an authorized Cambridge English exam center, and is accredited by ETS for the TOEIC.

  1. Assess your level

    In the free trial class, your teacher assesses your level on the CEFR scale.

  2. Choose the exam

    IELTS, Cambridge English, or TOEIC, depending on where you want to work.

  3. Prepare in class

    You combine nursing English with practice on the exam format.

  4. Take the exam

    You sit the exam with the score you need.

IELTS preparationCambridge English exam centerETS TOEIC accreditation

Nursing English course pricing

from €14.38

per class, in packs of 5 to 40 sessions. Your first 30-minute class is free.

One-to-one classes, self-paced courses, or immersion?

FormatHow it worksFits around your shifts
Self-paced online courseVideos and quizzes at your own pace, with no live teacherYes, but no speaking practice
Group classFixed schedule and the same program for everyoneRarely
Immersion course abroadSeveral weeks on siteOnly during your vacation
One-to-one classes with Break Into EnglishA live native teacher, 7 days a week, free cancellation up to 6 hours beforeYes
Book my free trial class

English training for nursing teams

We train care teams with one-to-one classes: one native teacher per nurse and schedules that fit each rota. 64 companies already trust Break Into English.

See training for companies Request a quote

Reviews of our online English classes

Break Into English

4.9Out of 5 stars

Overall rating out of 39 Google reviews

Verified by Google Reviews WordPress Plugin

Selma LEMDEWAR
a week ago

Giuliana Dall'Antonia
a month ago

Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit meiner Englischschule und insbesondere mit meiner Lehrerin Bakara. Sie gestaltet die Lektionen interessant, lernfördernd und abwechslungsreich – es macht richtig Spass, Englisch zu lernen! Man merkt, dass sie mit Herz bei der Sache ist und auf individuelle Bedürfnisse eingeht. Break Into English ist absolut empfehlenswert für alle, die ihre Englischkenntnisse effektiv und mit Freude verbessern möchten.

Gregory Benabu
a month ago

Un grand merci à Carmen, qui est vraiment géniale : très patiente, à l’écoute et toujours motivante. Les leçons sont ludiques, interactives et parfaitement adaptées au niveau de notre fils. Il progresse rapidement, tout en prenant plaisir à apprendre. Nous recommandons fortement Break Into English — c’est l’idéal pour progresser en anglais facilement et dans la bonne humeur !

Svetlana Kupriyanchik
a month ago

I've had a wonderful experience learning English at this school! The program is well-structured, engaging, and truly helps you improve naturally and confidently. All the teachers are highly professional and supportive, always creating a welcoming and motivating atmosphere. I want to give special thanks to Gabu Ithier – she is an outstanding teacher! Her energy, patience, and ability to explain even the most complex things in a clear and fun way made every class a joy. I’m incredibly grateful for the progress I’ve made with her help. Thank you to the entire team – I’m so glad I chose this school!

Théophile Robertaud
a month ago

Ivan Magnusek
Edited a month ago

Marie-Jo Golovine
a month ago

L'équipe prend le temps de trouver le prof idéal qui correspond à vos souhaits, à vos besoins et votre profil. Au début, ma fille a "testé" plusieurs professeurs qui ne l'ont pas satisfait (fuseau horaire et difficulté à trouver un horaire commun, méthode du professeur qui ne correspond pas à l'enfant, etc.), mais au bout de 4 professeurs on nous a enfin trouvé la perle rare et ça fait maintenant 3 ans que nous avons toujours le même professeur pour notre fille de 14 ans, et sa sœur de 12 ans a aussi commencé avec ce professeur il y a plus de 6 mois. Les progrès en anglais des deux enfants sont incroyables. Nous sommes ravis ! De plus le fait de pouvoir s'entendre sur les horaires avec les professeurs, qu'ils soient flexibles est un plus.

Fatimazahra Hdid
a month ago

Jimena C.
a month ago

Break Into English offers excellent one-on-one online lessons with skilled native-speaking teachers who tailor each session to your needs. Their professional approach make learning both effective and enjoyable. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to improve their English confidently and efficiently.

Sam Louwman
3 months ago

I've been taking classes with Break Into English for a while now, and it's honestly one of the best learning experiences I’ve had. All the teachers I've worked with are native speakers, super professional, and really good at adapting lessons to what I need What I love most is how personalized everything feels, it's not just a generic course. The classes are structured but flexible, and I can see real progress in my speaking and confidence. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants serious, high quality English lessons with great teachers

Olena Vrublevska
a month ago

This has been the best experience I’ve ever had — I truly enjoy every lesson with Kirstyn, and we’ve been having them for the past two years already (Wow!)!

Emma
a year ago

I can recommend. Staff are attentive and supportive. Break Into English is hearing to student's needs. What's more, I'm extremely satisfied with the quality of the courses' content. It was possible to make real progress thanks to the particular course.

Karenina Alvarenga (Karen)
a year ago

I took 5 classes with Krystin and she was very kind, gentle and helpful.It was an excellent approach to the learning process.

azadeh djalili
6 years ago

Great teachers & method

FAQ about our English course for nurses

How much does an English course for nurses cost?

One-to-one classes start at €14.38 per class, in packs of 5 to 40 sessions. Your first 30-minute class is free, with no commitment and no credit card.

Can I fit the classes around shifts and night work?

Yes. Classes run 7 days a week on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, and you schedule them with your teacher around your rota. You can cancel or move a class for free up to 6 hours before.

What level of English do I need to start?

There is no minimum level. Your teacher assesses your level on the CEFR scale during the free trial class, then builds the program around your unit and your goal.

Which English test do I need to work as a nurse in the UK?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) asks internationally educated nurses for proof of English, usually the IELTS Academic or the OET. Break Into English prepares you for the IELTS in one-to-one classes, alongside clinical English.

Do you prepare for the OET?

Our certificate classes cover the IELTS, Cambridge English, and the TOEIC. If you plan to take the OET, contact us before you start so we can tell you what we can offer.

How long does it take to feel confident with English-speaking patients?

It depends on your starting level. We recommend at least 2 hours of class per week. The most common situations, such as admission, pain, and medication, are covered from the first classes.

Do I learn American or British English?

Both. Your teacher focuses on the country where you work or want to work, and shows you the terms that change, such as ward and unit, or nil by mouth and NPO.

Can you help me prepare for a nursing job interview?

Yes. You practice presenting your experience, describing clinical situations, and answering behavioral questions in mock interviews. Your teacher also helps you adapt your résumé or CV.

Do you train nursing teams?

Yes. We train teams with one-to-one classes: one native teacher per nurse and schedules that fit each rota. Request a quote from our page for companies.

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Free trial class

30 minutes to meet a teacher and try our method.

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