MEDICAL ENGLISH | Common vocabulary used in nursing 1
If you're a nurse and would like to communicate better with your English-speaking patients, this exercise will help you by allowing you to practice useful terms/expressions nurses use every day.
Choose the best response to complete each of the sentences below.
📚 Key vocabulary nursing assessment — a systematic process of gathering, verifying, and communicating data about a patient's health status care plan — a documented strategy outlining goals and interventions for a patient's ongoing medical and nursing needs vital signs monitoring — regular measurement of key health indicators including temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation wound care — the clinical management and treatment of injuries, surgical incisions, or chronic wounds medication administration — the safe preparation and delivery of prescribed medications to patients according to protocol IV (intravenous) — delivered directly into a vein, as with fluids or medications that need to act quickly catheter — a flexible tube inserted into a body cavity or vessel to deliver or drain fluids triage nurse — a trained nurse who assesses incoming patients and prioritizes care based on the severity of their condition shift handover — the formal process of transferring patient care information from one nursing shift to the next patient advocacy — representing and supporting patients' rights, preferences, and needs within the healthcare system
READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!
1. I'm here to change your __________________________. ( = the container used by bedridden patients to go to the bathroom)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
2. Turn __________________________ please. I have to wash your back.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
3. We need to move Mr. Harris into a __________________________ room. ( = a room with no other patients)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
4. I need __________________________ your blood pressure.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
5. We have to __________________________ ( = clean/disinfect) your wound.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
6. To help a patient put on his/her clothes = To ___________________________ a patient
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
7. Yes, Mr. Brown was _________________________ to the hospital ( = checked in to the hospital) yesterday.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
8. Your grandmother was taken to the respiratory ___________________________. ( = the part of the hospital that deals with patients with respiratory illnesses)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
9. Right now all the rooms are full. We'll get you a space as soon as one is __________________________.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
10. Doctor, Mrs. Williams' __________________________ (= I.V.) line is not properly connected.
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.