Adrienne Harrison

ESP
Series
FLASH on
English for
NURSING
Contents
Unit Topic Vocabulary Skills

1
Medical Parts of the body Talking about parts of the body
Terminology Body systems Getting to know the body systems
Conditions and complaints Listening to the description of the excretory system
Areas of specialization Reading about the reproductive system

p. 4-7

2
Nursing Roles Nursing roles and duties Reading about the different nursing roles
Workplaces Listening to the practice nurse job description
Writing about a nurse’s duties

p. 8-10

3
In the hospital Staff Reading about hospital departments, wards and each
Departments nurse’s duties
Ward equipment Listening to a dialogue between a hospital receptionist and
a visitor

p. 11-14

4
Admissions Programmed or elective Reading about emergency admission and programmed
admission admission
Emergency admission Listening to a conversation between the admissions nurse
Dates and numbers and a patient
Admission forms Writing and speaking: taking turns to fill in an admission
form by asking each other questions
p. 15-17

5
The Triage Nurse The triage nurse Reading about the triage nurse and A&E
A&E Listening to the triage colour-coding system and a dialogue
Emergency treatment between a triage nurse and a patient
Triage colour-coding Reading about first aid for burns
Heartburn and angina pectoris
First / second / third degree burn
p. 18-21

6
Monitoring Vital Body temperature Reading about body temperature and different types of
Signs Thermometers thermometers
Pulse Listening to a text about the pulse
Blood pressure Reading a text about blood pressure and an introduction to
Neurological assessment neurological assessment
p. 22-25

7
Preventing Cross infection Reading and listening to a description of cross infection
Cross Infection Bacteria Listening to the handwashing guide
Handwashing Speaking: acting out in turns handwashing instruction
Universal precautions

p. 26-29

8
Assisting with Urination Listening to a text about managing urinary incontinence
Elimination Urinary elimination / Reading a text about urinalysis
incontinence Speaking: discussing appropriate urination methods for
Urinalysis patients with a medical condition
Bladder
p. 30-32
Unit Topic Vocabulary Skills

9
Assisting with Personal hygiene Reading a text about assisting patients with personal
personal hygiene Bed-baths hygiene
Toiletries and equipment Listening to the notes about bathing a patient
Symptons / conditions Reading a text about bed-baths
Parts of the mouth Speaking about what problems edentulism can cause
p. 33-37

10
Diet and Nutrition Food groups Reading about a healthy diet
Foods Speaking about dietary issues
Conditions Reading about what the elderly won’t eat
Feeding methods Listening to a text about childhood obesity

p. 38-41

11
Respiratory Care Respiratory system Speaking about respiratory equipment
Equipment Reading about asthma
Conditions and symptoms Reading about pulse oximetry

p. 42-46

12
Wound Care Equipment Reading a text about wound healing
Skin injuries Reading about wound types
The skin
Wound healing
Wound assessment
p. 47-50

13
Administering Types of drug Reading about medicines and ‘controlled drugs’
Drugs Forms of administration Listening to a text about side effects
Side effects

p. 51-55

14
The Geriatric Symptoms Reading a text about why people live longer
Patient Conditions Reading and listening to a text about mobility
Reading and writing about the importance of a healthy
lifestyle

p. 56-60

15
The Diabetic Diabetes Reading about different types of diabetes and people living
Patient Insulin with diabetes
Dialysis Listening to a nurse giving advice on living with diabetes
Hyperglycaemia

p. 61-63

1 MP3 audio files downloadable from www.elionline.com

1 Medical Terminology

1 Work with a partner. Label the pictures with the words from the box.

head neck shoulders hair chest arm hand abdomen leg

knee buttocks hip ankle elbow foot toes eye nose ear

h m

n
b i

c
o

p
e
q

r
j
f

l
s
g

2 Match the body systems to the illustrations.

1 respiratory system 3 digestive system 5 nervous system
2 muscular system 4 skeletal system 6 cardiovascular system

a b c d e f

4
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3 Complete the table with the words from the box.

spinal cord arteries nose femur stomach pelvic bones lungs veins abdominal muscles
ribs brain biceps heart nerves liver bronchi trachea
gall-bladder blood pectoral muscles nerve endings skull intestine calf muscle

SKELETAL NERVOUS CARDIOVASCULAR RESPIRATORY DIGESTIVE MUSCULAR

SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM

4 Pairwork Take turns to ask and indicate the correct body system.
‘Where’s the heart?’ ‘The cardiovascular system!’ ‘Where are the lungs?’ ‘The respiratory system!’

5  1 Listen and then complete this short text about the excretory system with the words from the box.

kidneys connects organs expelled removes urinate bladder toxins

The excretory system (1) __________________ waste and (2) __________________ from the body. The main
(3) __________________ are the (4) __________________, the ureter, the bladder and the urethra. We have
two kidneys which are located above the urinary (5) __________________. The ureter is a tube which
(6) __________________ the kidneys to the bladder. The urethra is the tube from the bladder to the outside.
Waste fluid and toxins are (7) __________________ through the urethra when we (8) __________________.

6 Now label the picture with the words from the box.

bladder urethra kidney ureter

b
c

5
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7 Read the text about the reproductive system. Are the sentences below True (T) or False (F)?

The human female reproductive system is a series of organs located inside the body in the pelvic area of a
female and consists of three main parts:
• the vagina, which leads from the vulva, the vaginal opening, to the uterus
• the uterus, which holds the developing foetus
• the ovaries, which produce the female’s ova

The male reproductive system is a series of organs located outside the body in the pelvic region of a male.
There are three processes carried out by the male reproductive organs:
• sperm production and storage - this takes place in the testes
• ejaculatory fluid producing glands - includes seminal vesicles, prostate and vas deferens
• copulation and deposition of sperm - penis, urethra, and Cowper’s gland

T F
1 Both male and female reproductive systems are external.
2 The baby develops in the ovaries.
3 The function of the ovaries and the testes is production.
4 The testes are involved in copulation.

8 Prefixes and suffixes. Which part of the body do these medical prefixes refer to? Match A and B and
complete column C.

A B C
andro liver ANDRO = MAN
hepato nose

nephro intestine

derma stomach

pneumo eye

gastro bone

entero ear

ocul / ophthal woman

andro skin

rhino lung

osteo man

paedia hard

neuro muscle

arthro nerves / brain

cardio blood

sclero joint

haemo heart

myo child

gynaeco kidney

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9 What do these suffixes (1-6) mean? Match them to their meanings (a-f).

1 ~ist (eg. cardiologist) a tumour or swelling

2 ~algia (eg. cephalgia) b inflammation and/ or infection

3 ~itis (eg. conjunctivitis) c the study of

4 ~oma (eg. melanoma) d pain / ache

5 ~pathy (eg. cardiopathy) e a disease or condition

6 ~ology (eg. cardiology) f the person who specialises in an activity

10 Match the definitions 1-5 to the words a-e.

1 The study of the skin? a  nephroma
2 A specialist in the respiratory system? b  arthritis
3 A tumour in the kidney? c  dermatology
4 Inflammation of the heart? d  carditis
5 Inflammation of the joints? e  pneumologist

11 Complete the sentences below with the words learnt in this unit.
1 All women should go to the __________________ for a check-up regularly.
2 There are many __________________ patients who suffer from dementia and other age- related diseases.
3 Diarrhoea, vomiting and fever are symptoms of __________________.
4 __________________ is a common infection in intra-venous drug addicts.
5 A tumour or protuberance in the muscle tissue is called a __________________.
6 When arteries become rigid because plaques attach to the artery wall, this is called __________________.
7 A disease affecting the nerves is known as __________________.
8 The study of the respiratory system is known as __________________.
9 Pain in your joints is known as __________________.
10 A brain / nerve specialist is called a __________________.

MY GLOSSARY
Parts of the body nerves /n‰…vz/ ________________ myoma /maI"´Um´/ ____________
Head /hEd/ __________________ liver /"lIv´/ ___________________ arteriosclerosis /A…"tI´rI´UsklI´"r´UsIs/
Neck /nEk/ ___________________ bronchi /"brÅNkaI/ _____________ ______________________________
Shoulders /"S´Uld´z/ ____________ gall-bladder /gO…l "blæd´/ _______ neuropathy /njU"rÅp´TI/ _________
Chest /tSEst/ __________________ blood /blød/ __________________ arthralgia /A…"TrældZ´/ ___________
Arm /A…m/ ___________________ skull /skøl/ ___________________ gastroenteritis /"gæstr´U"Ent´"raItIs/
Hand /hænd/ __________________ intestine /In"tEstIn/ ____________ ______________________________
Abdomen /"æbd´m´n/ __________ calf muscle /kA…f"møs´l/ ________ dermatitis /"d‰…m´"taItIs/ ________
Leg /lEg/ _____________________ kidney /"kIdnI/ ________________ conjunctivitis /k´n"dZøNktI"vaItIs/
Knee /ni…/ _____________________ bladder /"blæd´/ _______________ ______________________________
Buttocks /"bøt´ks/ ______________ penis /pEnIs/ _________________ melanoma /"mEl´"n´Um´/ ________
Ankle /"æNk´l/ _________________ testicles /"tEstIk´lz/ ____________ nephritis /nI"fraItIs/ ___________
Elbow /"Elb´U/ _________________ vagina /v´"dZaIn´/ _____________ Areas of specialization
Foot /fUt/ _____________________ ovaries /"´Uv´rIz/ ______________ gynaecology /"gaInI"kÅl´dZI/ _____
Eye /aI/ ______________________ uterus /"ju…t´r´s/ _______________ cardiology /"kA…dI"Ål´dZI/ ________
nose /n´Uz/ __________________ Body systems pneumonology /"nju…m´"nÅl´dZI/
ear /I´/ ______________________ skeletal /"skElIt´l/ ______________ ______________________________
spinal cord /"spaIn´l kO…d/________ respiratory /"rEsp´r´t´rI/ _________ neurology /njU"rÅl´dZI/ __________
arteries /"A…t´rIz/ _______________ muscular /"møskjUl´/ ___________ endocrinology /"End´UkraI"nÅl´dZI/
stomach /"støm´k/ _____________ digestive /dI"dZEstIv/ ___________ ______________________________
pelvic bones /"pElvIk b´Unz/ ____ cardiovascular /kA…dI´U"væskjUl´/ haematology /"hi…m´"tÅl´dZI/ _____
lungs /løNz/ __________________ ______________________________ gastroenterology /"gæstr´U"Ent´"rÅl´dZI/
veins /veInz/ _________________ nervous /"n‰…v´s/ ______________ ______________________________
brain /breIn/ _________________ Conditions and complaints andrology /æn"drÅl´dZI/ ________
heart /hA…t/ ___________________ hepatitis /hEp´"taItIs/ ___________ myology /maI"Ål´dZI/ ___________

7
2 Nursing Roles

1 Speaking Who are the people in the photos?

1 Where would you work with these people? (in a hospital, in a residential care home, in the community)
2 Which nursing situation do you prefer and why?

a _____________________ b _____________________ c _____________________ d _____________________

2 Match the words (1-8) with their definitions (a-h).

1 limbs a  doctor who cares for people in the community
2 team b  old (polite)
3 midwives c  the place where doctors operate on patients
4 elderly d  dangerous, potentially causing death
5 feed e  a group of people who work or play sport together
6 theatre f  nurses who assist during and after birth
7 general practitioner g  arms and legs
8 life threatening h  to give nutrition

3 Read about different nursing roles and complete the text with the words from the box.

theatre nurses adult nurses school nurses neonatal nurses

mental health nurses paediatric nurse learning disabilities nurses midwives

Careers in Nursing
(1) ________________ work with newborn babies who are born sick or prematurely. Often, premature infants
have breathing problems which can be life-threatening if they are not treated promptly and monitored. Also,
ill babies must be fed in a specialised way in a hygienic environment that is warm.
These patients have a wide range of physical and mental health conditions so (2) ________________ work with
the patient, the family and carers for the health and social inclusion of people of all ages with a learning disability.
(3) ________________ face a complex and difficult area, working with GPs, psychiatrists and psychologists to
care for patients with mental illness. Conditions range from personality and psychological disorders to neuroses
and psychoses.
The (4) ________________ faces a wide range of situations, including babies with heart complications, teenagers
with broken limbs and child protection. Health problems can affect a child’s development socially and educationally
so the nurse’s role is important. (5) ________________ work with adults with diverse health conditions. They work
in hospitals, clinics or in the community. Many patients are elderly, others have disabilities or have a terminal illness
so it may involve shift work to provide 24-hour care. (6) ________________ are specialised nurses who assist
mothers and newborn babies during and after the birth. They give advice on hygiene, breastfeeding and the post-
natal well-being of the mother and baby. They work both in hospitals and in the community.
(7) ________________ usually work for the national health service (NHS) or schools. They provide health and sex
education in schools, carry out developmental screening (testing all students) and administer immunisation programmes.
(8) ________________ are qualified nurses that have completed additional training to care for patients of all ages
at the different stages of surgery. Based in hospital, they work in operating theatres, anaesthetic/recovery areas
and on specialised wards.

8
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4 Find the words in bold in the text in exercise 3 and match them with their definitions or synonyms below.
1 a period of work (usually 8 or 12 hours) in a 24-hour day ____________________
2 vaccination ____________________
3 phases ____________________
4 respiratory ____________________
5 baby ____________________
6 disease (3 words) ____________________
7 immediately/quickly ____________________
8 help ____________________
9 where patients sleep in hospital ____________________

5 Read the text in exercise 3 again. Are the following sentences True (T) or False (F)?
T F
1 All nurses do shift work.
2 Some nurses must have extra qualifications.
3 Childrens’ nurses work with newborn babies.
4 School nurses work privately.
5 Premature babies can have very serious health problems.
6 Nurses often give advice on medical problems.

6 Label the photos with the activities from the box.

applying a dressing ear syringing taking a swab

a _____________________________ b _____________________________ c _____________________________

7  2 Read and listen to the Practice nurse job description.

Practice nurses work with GPs (General Practitioners) in their surgery

(the place where a General Practitioner or family doctor meets and
treats patients) as part of a team. Their duties include running clinics
for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart problems and skin
disorders, offering advice on family planning and contraception, taking
blood and urine samples and other specimens and swabs, routine
procedures such as ear syringing, applying and removing dressings and
treating wounds, offering specialist information and advice on blood
pressure, weight control and stopping smoking, carrying out infant
injections, vaccinations and travel immunisations, and giving advice to
patients with long-term medical needs.

8 Read the text in exercise 7 again. Complete the duties that are mentioned.
1 Running ______________________________________________________________________________________
2 Offering ______________________________________________________________________________________
3 Taking ________________________________________________________________________________________
4 Applying ______________________________________________________________________________________
5 Giving ________________________________________________________________________________________

9
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9 Complete the sentences with an appropriate verb from the box in the correct form.
affect be work have (x2) eat continue risk

1 Practice nurses ____________________ with a GP.

2 The baby ____________________ in an incubator. She ____________________ breathing problems.
3 Premature babies ____________________ complicated feeding problems.
4 The patient ____________________ too much and ____________________ becoming obese.
5 Many patients ____________________ to smoke against the GP’s advice.
6 Health problems ____________________ a child’s progress at school.

10 3 Listen to Fiona speaking about her job as a nurse and complete her duties.
1 Disinfecting ___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Changing _____________________________________________________________________________________
3 Measuring ____________________________________________________________________________________
4 Giving ________________________________________________________________________________________
5 Taking ________________________________________________________________________________________
6 Checking ______________________________________________________________________________________

11 Find 20 words from Unit 2 in the wordsearch below.

W O U N D I S O R D E R I
A A W X R E M O V E K Z L
D S A N E O N A T A L X L
V S R Z S H I F T G P J N
I I D I S A B I L I T Y E
C S Z D I S I N F E C T S
E T K Q N E L D E R L Y S
G S T A G E S A M P L E Z
C L I N I C Z D U T I E S
M E N T A L H E A L T H Q
C H E C K Z M E A S U R E

MY GLOSSARY
Roles vaccination /"væksI"neIS´n/_______________________
psychiatrist /saI"kaI´trIst/________________________ running clinics /"rønIN "klInIkz/___________________
psychologist /saI"kÅl´dZI/________________________ taking swabs/samples /"teIkIN swÅbz/"sA…mp´lz/
general practitioner /"dZEn´r´l præk"tIS´n´ ______________________________________________
(g.p.) dZi…pi…/___________________________________ applying dressings /´"plaIN "drEsINz/_______________
neonatal nurse /"ni…´U"neIt´l n‰…s/__________________ removing samples /rI"mu…v "drEsINz/_______________
learning disabilities nurse /"l‰…nIN "dIs´"bIlItIz n‰…s/ weigh /weI/___________________________________
______________________________________________ control blood pressure /k´n"tr´Ul blød" prES´/
mental health nurse /"mEnt´l hElT n‰…s/____________ ______________________________________________
paediatric nurses /"pi…dI"ætrIk n‰…s/________________ Workplaces
adult nurses /"ædølt n‰…s/________________________ care home /kE´ h´Um/__________________________
midwife /"mId"waIf/_____________________________ operating theatre /"Åp´reItIN "TI´t´/________________
school nurses /sku…l n‰…s/________________________ community /k´"mju…nItI/_________________________
theatre nurse /"TI´t´ n‰…s/________________________ hospital /"hÅspIt´l/______________________________
Duties clinic /"klInIk/__________________________________
screening /"skri…nIN/_____________________________ surgery (g.p.) /"sE…dZ´rI (dZi…pi…)/__________________
immunisation /"ImjU"naIz/________________________

10
 In the hospital
3
1 Match the symbols to the correct hospital department.

a b c d

1  maternity 3  orthopaedics
2  accident and emergency 4  radiology

2 4 Read and listen to the text then complete the table.

Hospitals are divided into departments and / or units. Each department or unit has wards where the patient
beds are located. The nurse who is responsible for a ward is called the ward sister. Auxiliary or ancillary nurses
help the patients to wash, eat, go to the bathroom or use a bed pan. The head doctor of each department or
unit is known as the chief consultant. Surgeons, the doctors who carry out operations, may work in general
surgery or may be specialists in a specific area such as cardiac surgery or neurosurgery.

POSITION DUTIES
this person operates on patients
this person supports nurses and patients
this person is responsible for a department or unit
this person is responsible for the ward

3 5 Listen and complete the dialogue.

Receptionist: ‘Good morning, Madam. How can I help?’
Visitor: ‘I’m looking for the (1) _______________ department.’
Receptionist: ‘Ah, see the corridor (2) _________ _________ _________ ?’
Visitor: ‘Yes, (3) _________ the vending machine?’
Receptionist: ‘Okay, go (4) _______________ the corridor to the end and (5) _________ _________ into a hall.
Cross the hall. On the (6) _______________ side is a door. Go (7) _______________ the door and
you will find the radiology department. It’s (8) _________ _________ _________ of the
orthopaedics department.’
Visitor: Is there anywhere I can buy something to eat?
Receptionist: We only have the vending machine 9 _______________ the hospital but if you go
(10) _______________ and turn (11) _______________ there is a café that sells take-away
sandwiches. It’s on the corner, (12) _______________ the bank.
Visitor: Thank you.
Receptionist: You’re welcome.

11
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4 Mark the radiology and orthopaedics departments on the hospital plan after listening to the dialogue in
exercise 3.

HALL

Vending
machine

RECEPTION

5 Read the text below to complete the hospital plan.

The obstetrics and gynaecology department is next to reception.The haematology department is between
the orthopaedics department and the obstetrics and gynaecology department. The paediatrics unit is
next to the surgery unit. Surgery is opposite the obstetrics and gynaecology department.

6 Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition.

1 The hall is _______________ the radiology department and surgery.
2 The paediatrics unit is on _________ _________ of surgery.
3 Haematology is at _________ _________ of the corridor on _________ _________ _________ .
4 The vending machine is _________ reception.
5 Walk _______________ the corridor. Surgery is on your _______________.

7 Complete the sentences with a word/s from the box.

paediatric obstetrics and gynaecology general surgery ward haematology neonatal
intensive care / high dependency maternity ward geriatrics accident and emergency (A&E)
pharmacy operating theatre orthopaedics radiology neurology outpatients

1 Conditions related to the female reproductive system are treated in the _________________ and
_________________ department, often known as Obs & Gyn.
2 Elderly people are often treated in the _________________ unit.
3 A surgeon works in an _________________ _________________ with a team including theatre nurses and an
anaesthetist.
4 Mothers and their new born babies stay in the _________________ _________________.
5 Patients with severe trauma are treated in the _________________ _________________ or _________________
_________________ unit.
6 Drugs are dispensed in the _________________.
7 Suspected fractures are examined in the _________________ department.
8 Premature babies are cared for in the _________________ department.
9 Patients with mobility issues are dealt with in the _________________ department.
10 After an operation, most patients recover in the _________________ _________________ _________________.
11 Patients suffering from memory loss, fits or paralysis are examined in the _________________ department.
12 Children are admitted to the _________________ unit or to a _________________ hospital.
13 Blood samples are examined in the _________________ department.
14 Ambulances take patients to _________________ and _________________.
15 Patients who attend the _________________ clinic are treated in hospital but do not sleep there.

12
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8 6 Listen, mark the word stress and repeat.
1 gynae co logy 3 neurology 5 accident
2 dependency 4 emergency 6 haemotology

9 Label the objects with a word/s from the box.

pillow bed pan sharps bin drip stand locker thermometer
patient chart medicine trolley gloves call bell needle stethoscope

a ____________________ b ____________________ c ____________________ d ____________________

e ____________________ f ____________________ g ____________________ h ____________________

i ____________________ j ____________________ k ____________________ l ____________________

10 Complete the sentences using the vocabulary in exercise 9.

1 Every evening the nurse will bring the _________________ _________________ to give you medication.
2 You will sleep better with your head on one _________________, not two, Mrs. Harvey.
3 Your books and money are in the _________________ Mr. Rashid.
4 If you have a problem just press the _________________ and a nurse will come.
5 We have to take your temperature. Put the _________________ under your arm, please.
6 If you can’t walk to the toilet you can use the _________________.
7 Your medical notes are updated constantly on the _________________.
8 It is important to use new sterile _________ with every patient.
9 The _________________ holds a bag that gives the patient fluids and medication intravenously.
10 Put the needle in the _________________, please.

13
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11 7 Listen, read and complete the description.

light medicine trolley two pillows bottle of water drip stand patient chart

On the (1) _________________ of the bed

there is a monitor and some equipment.
(2) _________________ the monitor table and
the bed there is a (3) _________________
_________________. On the right of the
(4) _________________ there is a locker.
There are (5) _________________ glasses
(6) _________________ the locker. There are
two (7) _________________ on the bed.
On the (8) _________________ of the bed
there is a cover.

MY GLOSSARY
Staff \stA…f\ _____________________________________ drip stand \’drIpstænd\__________________________
Surgeon \"s‰…dZ´n\________________________________ medicine trolley \’mEdIsIntrÅlI\____________________
auxiliary \O…g"zIlj´rI\ ______________________________ bed pan \"bEdpæn\_______________________________
nurse \n‰…s\_____________________________________ sharps bin \SA…ps bIn\ ___________________________
ward sister \"wO…dsIst´\ ___________________________ patient chart \peIS´nt SA…t\________________________
chief consultant \tSi…f k´n"sølt´nt\ _________________ gloves \‘gløvz\__________________________________
Departments \dI"pA…tm´ntz\______________________ thermometer \T´"mÅmIt´\_________________________
Outpatient \"aUt peIS´nt\ __________________________ Prepositions of place
"
Orthopaedic \O…T´Upi…dIk\_________________________ On \Ån\________________________________________
general surgery \"dZEn´r´l"s‰…dZ´rI\_________________ in \In\_________________________________________
radiology \reIdI"Ål´dZI\___________________________ next to \nEkst t´\________________________________
obstetrics \Åb"stEtrIks\ ____________________________ behind \bI"haInd\________________________________
gynaecology \gaInI"kÅl´dZI\_______________________ in front of \Infrønt´v\____________________________
haematology \hi…m´"tÅl´dZI\_______________________ at the foot of \ætðIfUt´v\__________________________
paediatrics \pi…dI"ætrIks\__________________________ between \bI"twi…n\_______________________________
Ward equipment \"wO…d I"kwIpm´nt\______________ at \æt\_________________________________________
bed \’bEd\_____________________________________ opposite \"Åp´zIt\________________________________
pillow \"pIl´U\___________________________________ left \lEft\_______________________________________
locker \"lÅk´\___________________________________ right \raIt\_____________________________________
call-bell \’kO…lbEl\________________________________

14
 Admissions
4
1 Pairwork Read the text and look at the photos that show patients arriving at hospital. Describe the
photos. Who are the people in the photos? What are they doing? Which situation is the most serious?

Programmed or elective admission to hospital happens when you and your doctor know that treatment is
necessary and a hospital appointment is organised.
Emergency admission is when admission is not planned and when the patient’s condition is very serious.
Patients who need immediate treatment but do not need to stay overnight in hospital also go to the
emergency department.

2 Read situations a-h and write E.M. (emergency admission) or P.A. (programmed/elective admission)
according to the patient’s situation.
a You have a known medical condition that requires treatment or surgery. _______
b The admission can wait until a time that is convenient both for you and for the doctors. _______
c You will come to the hospital’s admitting office, not to the accident and emergency department. _______
d You may be instructed to go to the hospital in advance for X-rays, electrocardiograms (ECG), or
other prescreening tests. _______
e If you require surgery and may need a blood transfusion, you can donate blood in advance. _______
f You will go to the emergency department. _______
g You may be brought by ambulance with paramedics. _______
h You may be admitted to a specialised unit (for example, surgical intensive care unit). _______

3 What is appropriate in these situations, emergency admission, elective admission or treatment in A&E?
Why?
severe haemorrhage in a pregnant woman ______________________________________________________
cataract operation ______________________________________________________
asthma attack ______________________________________________________
broken nose ______________________________________________________
varicose vein removal ______________________________________________________
anaphylactic shock ______________________________________________________
burn on hand ______________________________________________________
heart attack ______________________________________________________

4 8 Listen to a conversation between the admissions nurse and a patient and answer these questions.
1 Is the patient an elective or an emergency admission?
2 Has she had any tests?
3 Is she being admitted for tests?
4 Does she ask the admissions nurse any questions?

15
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5 8 Listen again and complete the spaces in the dialogue.
Nurse ‘Good morning Mrs Mir. We have to (1) ____________
some details and fill in the (2) ____________ forms
before you can be admitted.’
Mrs Mir ‘Certainly Nurse, go ahead.’
Nurse (3) ‘____________’s your full name?’
Mrs Mir ‘Uzma Aysha Mir.’
Nurse ‘Could you spell Uzma for me, please?’
Mrs Mir ‘U-Z-M-A’
Nurse ‘And what’s your (4) ____________ ____________ ____________?’
Mrs Mir ‘15th October 19_____’.
Nurse ‘Okay. What’s the name of your (5) ____________?’
Mrs Mir ‘Dr. De Sousa, Allison De Sousa.’
Nurse ‘Now, I know you came to the hospital (6) ____________ week for some tests. And we asked you
about any allergies and your medical (7) ____________.’
Mrs Mir ‘Yes that’s right. Blood tests, (8) ____________ tests and an ECG.’
Nurse ‘Yes we have the (9) ____________ here. Everything seems fine. Now, we need the name of your
(10) ____________ ____________ ____________ and a contact number just for the books. It’s a
(11) ____________ operation but we will need you to sign this consent form. Could you read it
carefully, please?’
Mrs Mir ‘Of course.’
Nurse Is there anything you’ d like to ask me?
Mrs Mir ‘Yes. I was wondering how long I’ll be in hospital after the (12) ____________?’
Nurse (13) ‘____________ depends on how you react to the anaesthetic and how you feel but probably no
more than a (14) ____________ ____________ ____________. That’s all the paperwork finished.’
Mrs Mir ‘Where do I go now?’
Nurse ‘Take a seat in the (15) ____________ ____________ and one of the nurses will call you.’
Mrs Mir ‘Thank-you very much.’
Nurse ‘You’re (16) ____________ , Mrs. Mir. If you need anything, just ask.’

6 Complete the questions (1-10) with a wh- question word. Match them with the answers (a-j).
1 W____________ is your national insurance number?
2 W____________ is you name?
3 W____________ was your last appointment?
4 W____________ is your next of kin?
5 W____________ do you want to see the doctor?
6 W____________ is your date of birth?
7 W____________ do you live?
8 W____________ did you first notice the pain?
9 W____________ is your job?
10 W____________ have you taken for the pain?

a My wife, Mariella Dellaway.

b I have a terrible pain in my head that is getting worse.
c Frank Dellaway.
d Three months ago.
e Belview Road, 65 Belview Road.
f The tenth of October, nineteen sixty two.
g NH248533N
h I’m a computer analyst.
i It started at the weekend, so five days ago.
j Paracetamol.

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