4. Consider the following question and discuss in small groups.

‘Do you believe Caesarean sections should only be done when medically
necessary OR do you think women should have the right to choose this option?’

To introduce your opinion, you can use phrases such as ..

a. In my opinion, I believe…..
b. From my point of view,...
c. As far as I am concerned, ...
d. Personally, my opinion is that …

5. After your discussion, write a short summary below. Use the opinion expressions
above as well as vocabulary from Exercise 2. Remember to give a reason for your
opinion. (100-150 words)

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

English for Nursing 1 - Page 46

6. You are starting a new job as a nurse in a maternity unit in a hospital and you want to
support both mother and her new baby as best you can.

In pairs, discuss your opinions and make some notes below.

a. What would be important when supporting a new mother who has just had a C-
section?

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

b. What other parties would you collaborate or have to work with in this room?

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

c. What preparations might you be responsible for in a maternity ward?

…………………………................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................

7. What are your expectations of working as a nurse in a maternity ward in a hospital?

Share your opinions as a class. Start your sentence with one of the opinion phrases
from Exercise 3. You can also use ‘I would say that ... ‘ or ‘Speaking personally, I
believe….’

After your class discussion, consider whether your expectations were the same or
different from your peers.

English for Nursing 1 - Page 47

 Module 2

Anatomy and Physiology

of the Human Body
English for Nursing 1
3.1 Vocabulary to Talk about Parts of the Human Body

1. On your own and without your dictionaries, write down 25 words about the parts of the
human body. Once you are done, discuss your words with a partner.

2. Look at the list below. Did you include these parts of the body? Do you know the
location and function of each part? Discuss. If you are unsure, check your dictionaries.

heart lungs spleen

liver artery vein
pancreas bone muscle
brain nerves abdomen

3. Listen carefully to your teacher say each word and then repeat. Next, match the
vocabulary for parts of the human body with their correct definition. Work on your own
and then check your answers with your partner.

Vocabulary Meaning

1. heart (n) a. a large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen,

/hɑːt/ involved in many metabolic processes

2. lungs b. a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood

/lʌŋ/ through the circulatory system by rhythmic
contraction and dilation

English for Nursing 1 - Page 49

3. spleen c. any of the tubes forming part of the blood
/spliːn/ circulation system of the body, carrying in most
cases oxygen-depleted blood toward the heart

4. liver d. an abdominal organ involved in the production

/ˈlɪv.ər/ and removal of blood cells forming part of the
immune system

5. artery e. each of the pair of organs situated within the rib

/ˈɑː.tər.i/ cage, consisting of elastic sacs with branching
passages into which air is drawn, so that
oxygen can pass into the blood and carbon
dioxide be removed

6. vein f. any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of

/veɪn/ the circulation system by which blood is
conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body

Vocabulary Meaning

1. pancreas a. (in the body) a whitish fiber or bundle of fibers

/ˈpæŋ.kri.əs/ that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain
or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the
muscles and organs

2. bone b. the part of the body containing the digestive

/bəʊn/ organs

3. muscle c. a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human

/ˈmʌs.əl/ that has the ability to contract, producing
movement in or maintaining the position of parts
of the body

4. brain d. a large gland behind the stomach which

/breɪn/ secretes digestive enzymes.

5. nerves e. any of the pieces of hard whitish tissue making

/nɜrvz/ up the skeleton in humans

6. abdomen f. an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the

/ˈæb.də.mən/ skull, functioning as the coordinating center of
sensation and intellectual and nervous activity

English for Nursing 1 - Page 50

4. Below is an image of the human body. With your partner, can you identify the 11 parts
of the body?

1. the brain 7. ……………………..

2. …………………….. 8. ……………………..
3. …………………….. 9. ……………………..
4. …………………….. 10. ……………………..
5. …………………….. 11. ……………………..
6. ……………………..

English for Nursing 1 - Page 51

5. Test your knowledge by matching the vocabulary with the meanings below. Check
your answers in pairs.

1. a large lobed glandular organ in the

a. heart
abdomen

2. organ that pumps the blood b. bone

3. an organ of soft nervous tissue contained c. liver

in the skull

4. digestive organs; the belly d. brain

5. the pair of organs situated within the rib e. abdomen

cage

6. the pieces of hard whitish tissue f. lungs

English for Nursing 1 - Page 52

3.2 Language for Talking about Allergies

1. With another student, discuss the following prompts

a. Have you ever experienced an allergic reaction?

b. What causes allergic reactions?

2. Match the common questions and their answers about allergies and allergic
reactions below. Was any information surprising? Discuss with your group.

1. Do you think all allergies are a. There is no cure for food allergies. The
harmless? only prevention is to avoid the food.

2. What are some of the b. The top nine allergens that trigger 90% of
common symptoms of an food allergies are peanuts, eggs, cow’s
allergic reaction? milk, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy,
sesame and wheat.

3. Most people believe c. Yes, food allergies are much more

peanuts are one of the most common in infants aged 12 months and 2
common triggers for than adults.
reactions. Is this true?

4. Tree nuts can commonly d. Some of the signs of an allergic reaction

cause an allergic reaction. are vomiting, swelling around the mouth,
What are some examples of red and itchy skin, difficulty breathing,
tree nuts? sneezing and/or watery eyes.

5. Can doctors cure food e. Tree nuts include pistachios,

allergies? macadamias, walnuts, brazil nuts,
almonds and hazelnuts.

6. Can someone get f. Allergies are certainly not harmless.

anaphylaxis reaction just Some allergies can lead to anaphylaxis
from touching food? and are potentially life threatening.

7. Who are allergies more g. It is rare that touching a food causes a

common in -children or life-threatening reaction, but contact
adults? should still be avoided. 1

1 Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia. (2020). The allergy awareness quiz. Retrieved from https://allergyfacts.org.au/resources

English for Nursing 1 - Page 53

3. Read the following conversation between friends Alice and Sam.

What is Alice allergic to? What are some of her symptoms?

Alice: Ahhchooo!

Sam: You've been sneezing a lot lately. Are you sick or something?

Alice: No. Every rainy season, I'm stricken with allergies.

Sam: Oh really? I’ve never had any seasonal allergies.

Alice: Consider yourself lucky.

Sam: What are all the symptoms?

Alice: Well, as you just saw, I sneeze a lot. Also, my nose becomes very runny,
my throat sometimes itches and my eyes start to water.

Sam: That doesn't sound good.

Alice: No it's not. So, you don't have any type of allergies?

Sam: Well, I have a severe allergy to seafood. It runs in the family.

Alice: Everyone to some extent is allergic to seafood, aren’t they?

Sam: Well, I get it pretty bad. My whole face turns red, including my ears. My
eyes become bloodshot, and I start to itch all over my body.

Alice: That's pretty bad.

Sam: That doesn't stop me from eating seafood! Hahaha.

4. Listen to your teacher pronounce the following words. Repeat after your teacher.
Practise again with your partner and add another word below with the same sound.

/u:/ you soon

/e/ well …………….
/aʊ/ now …………….
/ai/ fine …………….
/θ/ thanks …………….
/eɪ/ great …………….

English for Nursing 1 - Page 54

5. Listen to your instructor pronouncing the words in the conversation below and repeat.
What do you notice about the intonation?

Questions Statements

1. Are you sick? a. I have a fever.

2. What’s wrong with you? b. I am sneezing.

3. Is she sick? c. She often gets headaches.

4. Is he sick? d. He is not very healthy.

English for Nursing 1 - Page 55

6. Use words below to complete the dialogue between a doctor and a patient.

a. problem b. unwell c. you d. now

e. symptoms f. swollen g. see h. allergies

Doctor Good afternoon. How are ……..? What seems to be the …………..?
Patient I'm feeling ………..l. I ate some seafood for lunch and ……. I have
tingling in my mouth and my lips feel ………………..

Doctor How long have you had these ……………………?

Patient Oh, I have been feeling ill for about 2 hours.

Doctor Do you often eat seafood? Do ……… usually get these symptoms
when you eat seafood?

Patient Sometimes, but it depends on what I eat.

Doctor Do you have any other ……….….?

Patient Not that I'm aware of.

Doctor: Do you also feel dizzy? Or is your tongue swollen too?

Patient Not that I know of.

Doctor: OK. Could you please open your mouth and say 'ah'? 2

2 Beare, K. (2019) English for Medical Purposes - Troubling Symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/english-for-medical-purposes-

troubling-symptoms-1211330

English for Nursing 1 - Page 56

7. Read the dialogue again. What questions were asked to find out more information
from the patient?

With your partner, choose a common allergy. Write a short dialogue between 2 people
discussing allergies or an allergic reaction.

This should involve 1 person asking questions to find out information.

What symptoms do you….?

How long have you…?

How often do you…?

Do you usually….? Do you feel…? Do you have any other…?

Is it common for you to….?

English for Nursing 1 - Page 57

3.3 Grammar for Past Simple and Past Continuous

1. There are three different ways to pronounce the 'ed' ending of regular verbs in the
simple past tense: / Id /, / t / or / d /.

Read through the explanation below with your partner and practise the example past
tense verbs together.

Past Tense Pronunciation for Regular Verbs (-ed)

-ed sounds like ‘t’ -ed sounds like ‘d’ -ed sounds like ‘id’

When a verb ends in a When a verb ends in a When a verb ends in

voiceless sound, the – voiced sound, the –ed a “t” or “d” sound
ed ending sounds like ending sounds like “d”. already, the –ed
“t”. ending sounds like
“id” or “ud”.

A voiceless sound is A voiced sound means

when your vocal your vocal chords vibrate.
chords don’t vibrate.

Voiced consonant
Voiceless consonant sounds
sounds

b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m, n, r
p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th

All vowel sounds are

voiced.

worked moved started

dropped returned visited 3

3 Stonebrink, D. (2010). Past Tense Pronunciation for Regular Verbs Retrieved from http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/stonebrink/Esl021

English for Nursing 1 - Page 58

2. The past tense verbs below are commonly used in a hospital environment.

Working with a partner, decide how the -ed ending is pronounced. Check your
answers with another pair and ask your teacher if you are unsure.

finished stayed engaged stopped transmitted

studied coughed watched worsened attended

wiped dissolved infected leaked inserted

-ed sounds like ‘t’ -ed sounds like ‘d’ -ed sounds like ‘id’

3. Match the verbs to their phonemic transcription. Check the -ed endings and practice
with your partner.

1. finished a. /ɪnˈfɛktɪd/

2. transmitted b. /drɒpt/

3. attended c. /ˈfɪn.ɪʃt/

4. infected d. /əˈtɛndɪd/

5. coughed e. /kɒft/

6. inserted f. /trænzˈmɪtɪd/

7. dropped g. /ɪnˈsɜːtɪd/

English for Nursing 1 - Page 59

4. Review your understanding of the Past Simple and Past Continuous.

The past simple and past continuous tenses are used to talk about the past

Past simple
We use the past simple to describe a situation (an action, an event or a state)
which was true, or which happened at a particular time in the past. It describes a
situation which is not happening or not true now.
I checked Salam just before handover.
(= this action is now finished)
I had chemotherapy in 1998.
(= the patient had chemo more in that year, but it is finished now)
He was in quite a lot of pain when he first arrived.
(= it was true at that particular time; perhaps it is not true now)

+ statement He needed an X-ray.

- statement I did not need an X-ray

? question Did he need an X-ray?

Past Continuous
We use the past continuous to talk about a past activity that was in progress at
a particular time in the past:
At 8 am, I was eating breakfast.
`Where were you last night?' `I was sleeping.'

We use the past simple and past continuous together to talk about a
completed past event that happened when another activity was in progress.
It started to rain while I was walking in the park.
I was watching TV when the phone rang.
What were you doing when he arrived?

These sentences are often joined with while, when or as.

English for Nursing 1 - Page 60

5. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the past continuous. Check your
answers together with a partner.

a. Joanne …………………….. (make) a phone call to a patient when Cristina

arrived at work.

b. While he…………………….. (sterilize) the tubes, he ran out of sanitizer.

c. They decided to go for a walk in the hospital gardens while the sun

…………………….. (still/shine)

d. I called the doctot this morning, but he didn't answer the phone.

…………………….. (He/see) another patient?

e. At 10pm last night, Manny…………………….. (not/sleep).

He…………………….. (talk) to his sister on the phone.

f. John had a car accident while he…………………….. (drive) to work. He

………………….. talk) on his mobile when he crashed into another car.

6. You are going to interview your partner. Ask your partner what he or she was doing at
the specific times mentioned. Swap roles so you are both asking and answering
questions.

8am this morning 9:30 am yesterday 12 noon yesterday 3pm on Tuesday

5:30pm last night 7pm last night 10 pm on Saturday 12 midnight

Example: What were you doing at 8am yesterday?

I was eating breakfast while I was getting ready for work.

English for Nursing 1 - Page 61

3.4 Read about Alternative Treatments for Depression

1. With a partner, discuss the following questions.

a. What are the symptoms of depression?

b. What are treatments for depression?

c. What advice would you give a friend who is suffering from depression?

2. Read the introduction to a text on alternative treatments for depression. Which

treatments that you discussed with your partner are mentioned in the text?

Depression: Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapy for depression encompasses a variety of disciplines that

includes everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle
changes.

A health treatment that is not classified as standard Western medical practice is

referred to as "alternative," or "complementary” or “integrative.” Integrative therapy
encompasses a variety of disciplines that includes everything from diet and
exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes. Examples of integrative
therapies include acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic treatments, yoga,
hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation, herbal remedies, massage and
many others.

There is some evidence that holistic treatment is effective for depression. Using
holistic psychotherapies can help patients go back to the source of the depression
in their lives and learn effective ways of using tools to manage the symptoms and in
many cases improve their overall functioning. 4

4Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Depression: Alternative Therapies. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/ health/treatments/9303-depression-

alternative-therapies

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3. Listen to your teacher and pronounce the following words.

alternative / ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv / acupuncture /ˈakjʊˌpʌŋ(k)tʃə/

holistic /həˈlɪs.tɪk / yoga /ˈjəʊɡə/

therapy /ˈθer.ə.pi / chiropractic /ˌkʌɪrə(ʊ)ˈpraktɪk/

relaxation /riːlakˈseɪʃ(ə)n/ massage /ˈmasɑː(d)ʒ,məˈsɑː(d)ʒ/

integrative /ˈɪntɪɡrətɪv/ complementary /kɒmplɪˈmɛnt(ə)ri/

4. Match the words on the left to the correct definition on the right.

1. alternative (adj) a. a treatment that helps someone feel better, grow

stronger, especially after an illness

2. holistic (adj) b. the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of

the body with the hands, especially to relieve tension
or pain
3. therapy (n) c. dealing with or treating the whole of something or
someone and not just a part

4. relaxation (n) d. a thing that you can choose to do or have out of two
or more possibilities

5. acupuncture (n) e. based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment

of the joints which are believed to cause other
disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and
organs
6. yoga (n) f. the state of being free from tension and anxiety

7. chiropractic (n) g. originating in India, this practice including breath

control, meditation and body postures, and is widely
practised for health and relaxation
8. massage (v, n) h. a system in which fine needles are inserted in the
skin at specific points which is used in the treatment
of various physical and mental conditions
.

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5. Re-read the introduction. Highlight the words learned in the previous activity and
answer the questions below.

a. An alternative therapy is not classified as which standard medical practice?

b. What two synonyms for alternative are used in the text?

c. How are holistic treatments effective for depression?

6. Read the rest of the text and discuss these questions with a partner

a. What is integrative therapy?

b. What are some integrative therapies used to treat depression?
c. Herbal remedies

Before recommending any substance to treat reported depression or mood

imbalance, providers will take detailed medical history to look for biochemical causes
that may contribute to mood imbalance. The blood tests may check levels of certain
substances, such as Vitamin D and folate, which may play a role in mood imbalance.

Of the wide variety of available herbal therapies, St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba
are the products most often used for treating depression.

St. John's wort has been used for medical purposes in other parts of the world for
thousands of years, despite the fact that it has not been scientifically proven to treat
moderate to severe depression. Ginkgo biloba is thought to improve memory and
other intellectual functions, although the evidence is not consistent.

Any herbal supplement requires caution and should be taken only after consulting
your doctor. Your doctor can help you weigh the risks and potential benefits so you
can make an informed decision.

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Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing that prevents and cures
specific diseases and conditions by sticking very fine, solid needles into specific
points on the body. Acupuncture stimulates the body's ability to resist or overcome
illness by correcting imbalances. It also prompts the body to produce chemicals that
decrease or eliminate painful sensations.

In a recent clinical study, acupuncture has been shown effective in decreasing

depression at three months, compared to usual care. For people who suffer from both
pain and depression, acupuncture is better than counselling and standard of care at
reducing both symptoms. Acupuncture is highly effective at treating pain, such as
headaches; menstrual cramps; and low back, neck, or muscle pain. It also can be
used to treat menopausal symptoms, allergy symptoms, and side effects due to
radiation and chemotherapy.

Massage
Massage uses touch to promote relaxation while decreasing tension and stress. The
release of serotonin and dopamine, and the decrease of cortisol during a massage
may help improve the symptoms of depression, lessen pain and improve sleep.
Massage supports the mind-body connection, allowing for a better awareness of what
is happening in our bodies. Some variations of massage that can support the mind-
body connection and general relaxation are Swedish massage techniques, Reiki,
aromatherapy, and craniosacral therapies.

Guided imagery and relaxation

Guided imagery is a form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between
the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images
in your mind—a "mental escape" for therapeutic purposes. It can be a powerful
psychological strategy to enhance a person's coping skills. It can help people cope
with—and possibly overcome—stress, anger, pain, depression, and insomnia with
or without associated physical illness.

English for Nursing 1 - Page 65

 Yoga
Yoga “meets you where you are,” even when you are depressed. Practicing yoga
teaches you breathing techniques that can help to energize you when you are
feeling down or to help calm you at the times you may be feeling anxiety. The
breath is the link between your mind and your body. Changing your breath can help
you feel better mentally and physically. The postures and movements in yoga teach
you how to hold your body in a way that can make you feel stronger, better
able to breathe and function, and to create an improved sense of overall well-
being.5

7. According to the information in the article, are the following statements True or False?
Circle T or F next to the statements below.

a. Herbal remedies may contribute to mood imbalance.

T F
b. St John’s wort has been widely used for medical purposes
historically.
T F
c. Consulting a doctor before taking a herbal remedy is
unnecessary.
T F
d. Acupuncture is a better treatment for pain and depression
symptoms than counselling and standard care.
T F
e. Acupuncture is ineffective in treating the side effects of
radiation and chemotherapy.
T F
f. The increase in cortisol levels during a massage improves the
symptoms of depression.
T F

g. Guided imagery is a strategy that can help improve sleep. T F

h. People with anxiety cannot practice yoga. T F

5 Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Depression: Alternative Therapies. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/ health/treatments/9303-depression-

alternative-therapies

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8. Write a dialogue with a partner based on the following situation.

You are having a conversation with a friend who you know has depression. He/she has
seen a doctor and had blood tests, but also wants to find out other things that people do
to reduce the symptoms. He/she asks you what you know about alternative therapies,
trusting you because you are a nurse. In the dialogue describe two alternative therapies
and how they can be useful for treating depression and other conditions.

You: Hi……..… How are you feeling at the moment?

Friend: Oh….ok, I suppose. I saw the doctor like you suggested and told
her I’ve been depressed. We talked about taking medication and
counselling, and she did some blood tests.

You: That’s good. When will you get the results?

Friend: In a day or so. Hey… I was wondering… I don’t know if I want to

take medication or see a psychologist yet. What can you tell me
about other treatments?

You: Well,…

Friend:

You:

Friend:

You:

Friend:

You:

English for Nursing 1 - Page 67

4.1 Language for Assessing a Patient’s Condition

1. Match the equipment to the picture.

digital thermometer blood pressure cuff and monitor

scales pulse oximeter

1. ………………………... 2. ………………………...

3.. ………………………... 4. ………………………...

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2. Match the equipment with the correct function.

1. blood pressure cuff a. weigh a patient

2. blood pressure
b. records blood oxygen saturation
monitor

c. wraps around a patient’s arm to take

3. digital thermometer
blood pressure

4. pulse oximeter d. takes a patient’s blood pressure

5. scales e. takes a patient’s temperature

3. Listen to your teacher pronounce these words and repeat.

cuff /kʌf/ monitor /ˈmɒnɪtə/

thermometer /θəˈmɒmɪtə/ pulse /pʌls/
oximeter /ɒkˈsɪmɪtə/ scales /skeɪlz/

4. Quickly read the following dialogue between a nurse and patient.

Which of the equipment from the previous activity did the nurse use to check the
patient’s condition?

Nurse: Hello, Mrs Yulia. I’m Dewi. I’m on duty tonight and I’ll be taking care of
you. How have you been feeling?

Patient: Well, I have a sore throat and difficulty breathing. Could you give me
some medicine?

Nurse: Of course, but first I’ll need to assess your condition. Is that ok?

Patient: Sure.

Nurse: First, I’ll take your blood pressure. Can you put your arm out straight so I
can put the blood pressure cuff on, please?

Patient: OK (patient straightens arm, nurse adjusts cuff and looks at monitor)

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 Nurse: (Machine beeps and the nurse records information on the chart). That’s
done. Now, can you hold out your hand? I’m going to clip this lead onto
your finger.

Patient: (Holds out hand) What’s that for?

Nurse: This will give me a reading of your oxygen saturation.

Patient: So, how’s it looking, nurse?

Nurse: Well, your blood pressure and oxygen saturation are normal, but your
respiratory rate is 26 times per minute.

Patient: What does that mean?

Nurse: It’s faster than normal which means that a doctor will need to come and
check you out. Then we can give you the right medication to bring that
down.

Patient: Ok, when can I get the medication?

Nurse: After the doctor’s seen you. Don’t worry, it won’t be long.

Patient: Thanks for your help.

Nurse: My pleasure. Don’t forget, if you need anything, just press the call
button.

Patient: Yes, sure.

5. Answer the following questions.

a. What symptoms does the patient have?

b. What does the nurse check?

c. Which readings are normal?

d. Why does the doctor need to check the patient’s condition?

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6. Re-read the dialogue. Who says the following, Nurse (N) or Patient (P)?

a. How have you been feeling? (N)

b. Could you give me some medicine?
c. Of course.
d. Is that OK?
e. Can you put your arm out straight?
f. Can you hold out your hand?
g. How’s it looking?
h. What does that mean?
i. When can I get the medication?
j. Don’t worry, it won’t be long.
k. Thanks for your help.
l. My pleasure.
m. If you need anything, just press the call button.

7. Which of the expressions above are requests for something and which are
reassurances? Complete the table below.

Request Reassurance

Could you give me some medicine? Of course.

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8. Match the statement on the left with the most appropriate response on the right.
Practise saying them with a partner.

1. How are you feeling right a. She’ll be here shortly.

now?

2. How long have you been b. An hour or so.

feeling like this?

3. Can you give me c. I will. Thank you, nurse.

something for the pain?

4. Is the doctor coming soon? d. I’m a little dizzy.

5. Can you roll up your e. Before I do that, I’ll just need to

sleeve, please? check your condition.

6. What does that mean? f. Thanks.

7. I’ll check in with you again g. Ok. Like this?

in 30 minutes.

8. If you need anything, h. Your blood pressure is a little low.

please use the buzzer.

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9. With a partner, write a dialogue between a patient and a nurse. The patient has new
symptoms and is feeling stressed. The nurse has just commenced duty and
introduces herself/himself, asks how the patient is feeling and checks at least two vital
signs. The nurse reassures the patient. The first line has been written for you.

Nurse: Hello, ………………... I’m ……………... I’m on duty tonight and I’ll be
taking care of you. How have you been feeling?

Patient: Well, …

Nurse:

Patient:

Nurse:

Patient:

Nurse:

Patient:

Nurse:

Patient:

Nurse:

Patient:

Nurse:

Patient:

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4.2 Grammar for the Present Perfect
1. With a partner, talk about things patients should or should not do before they have
surgery. Make a list in the space below.

For example: Don’t eat before surgery

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2. Now, read the descriptions of how we use Present Perfect.

Present Perfect Regular Verbs

We use the present perfect tense to ask questions or to talk about any time in the
past up to now.

To make a question
have/has + pronoun or noun + ever + past participle

“Have you ever visited a friend in the hospital?”

To answer a question
have/has + never + past participle (negative)
have/has + past participle (positive)

“No, I haven’t. I have never visited a friend in the hospital.”

“Yes, I have. I have visited a friend in the hospital.”

With regular verbs, to form the past participle, add –ed to the main verb.

call  called

ask  asked

help  helped

talk  talked

walk  walked

visit  visited

Present Perfect Irregular Verbs

Some past participles do not end in –ed. Some past participles are spelled differently
in past tense. These past participles are irregular (not regular).

“Have you ever broken your arm?“

“Have you ever had surgery? “

Study the list below.

be was/were been  Have you ever been to the hospital?

break broke broken  She has never broken her leg.

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 cut cut cut  Have you ever cut your finger?

fall fell fallen  They have never fallen down the steps.

go went gone  I haven’t gone to the doctor in two weeks.

have had had  Have you had your appointment yet?

see saw seen  She hasn’t seen the doctor yet.

sit sat sat  Have you ever sat in a doctor’s office for a long
time?

take took taken  Have you ever taken medicine?

3. With a partner, choose three of the questions from above to ask your partner. Practice
using the present perfect with irregular past participles to ask and answer questions.

Read the following dialogue between Nur and Nurse Aman. Nur has taken her sister to
hospital as she needs to have an operation. Nur discusses her sister’s medical
background with the nurse. Fill the gaps with the correct form of the verb in Present
Perfect.

Nurse: Good morning. I need to ask you questions about your sister’s
condition.
Has she had (have) any health problems in the past?
Nur: Yes. She has high blood pressure and heart disease. For the past 10
years she (have) _______________ some problems with asthma.
Nurse: How many years has she had these problems?
Nur: She ________________ (manage) high blood pressure for 20 years
now.
Nurse: Oh ok. When was the last time she saw a doctor about her medication?
Nur: I know she ____________(visit) her doctor recently.
Nurse: And has she had any heart attacks or strokes?
Nur: Yes. Since she turned 40, she ____________(suffer) 3 minor heart
attacks.
Nurse: Can you tell me if she had any operations for her heart or any other
problems?

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 Nur: Yes. She (have) _________ two operations for her heart. She had one
bypass surgery in 2000 and one in 2002.
Nurse: Has she been in the hospital for anything else?
Nur: No. She (have not be) ___________ in hospital for any other issues.
Nurse: Does she smoke?
Nur: No. She smoked before she had a heart attack, but she quit recently.
Nurse: That’s good to know. Do you know if she has eaten anything today?
Nur: Yes. I’m pretty sure she _________________ (eat) breakfast already.

4. Read the following descriptions of how we use Present Perfect for finding out
information about a patient’s past.

Present Perfect Questions

Present Perfect can also be used for asking questions about a patient’s biography or
medical history.

We cannot see the present result of this action or experience, but we are interested in
it now.

For example, use ever and/or before to mean at some time in the past.

Nurse: Have you ever had an X-ray before?

(= do you have this experience in your medical history?)

Patient: Yes, I have.

Nurse: Have you ever had asthma before?

(= was there a time in the past when you had asthma?)

Patient: Yes. I have had asthma all my life.

(= I had asthma when I was born and I have asthma now)

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5. Work with a partner. Practice asking and answering questions. Ask follow up
questions to find out more information.

Begin your questions with “Have you ever …before?”

a. ….break a bone?

b. ….help a sick person?

c. ….sprain your ankle or wrist?

d. ….go to your GP more than once a year?

e. ….try alternative health therapy?

f. ….have an allergic reaction?

g. ….travel out of your home country?

h. ….administer medicine in an emergency?

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4.3 Read about Eating Well

1. Identify the foods below. With a partner, decide if they are a healthy food choice, and
why.

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2. Scan the text below for understanding. Circle the best title from the three choices
below. Write the correct title in the space provided.

a. The effect of beverages on people.

b. The impacts of an unbalanced diet
c. How to lose weight

……………………………………………………

Nutritionists classify food by groups. They say that the human body requires a
balanced mixture of food from all the main food groups: carbohydrates, protein, fats,
vitamins, fibre and minerals. The secret of good health is to eat a balanced diet,
with the right amount of food, and to take plenty of physical exercise. When there is
an imbalance – for example if you eat too little or too much, or when one of the food
groups is missing from your diet - this can cause vitamin deficiency, illness, and
even death. If there is no treatment and the diet does not change, death is a
possibility. One example of this is the problem of obesity – this is when a person is
dangerously overweight. Obesity is most common in developed countries. The
imbalance comes from eating a diet which is high in fat, sugar and salt, and in not
eating enough fruit, vegetables and fibre, and not burning the extra calories through
physical exercise. In the case of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and
bulimia, the imbalance leads to weight loss, when a person eats less than they
need. Sufferers are mostly teenage girls – they either starve themselves in order to
lose weight, or eat a lot of food at once (binge-eating) and vomit up all the food later.
They often end up in hospital, and after emergency life-saving treatment they
receive psychiatric help and counselling. 6

6 Grice, T. (2011). Oxford English for Careers Nursing 1 Practice File. Oxford University Press

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3. Choose the correct meaning of the following words based on their use in the text.

1. obesity (n) /əʊˈbiːsəti/

a. the state of being very fat, in a way that is not healthy.

b. the state of being malnourished.

2. anorexia (n) /ˌænəˈreksiə/

a. an emotional disorder, especially affecting young women, in which there is

an abnormal fear of being fat.

b. a short coat with a hood that is worn as protection against rain, wind and
cold.

3. bulimia (n) /buˈlɪmiə/, /buˈliːmiə/

a. an emotional disorder in which a person repeatedly eats too much and then
forces him or herself to vomit.

b. an object which out from something in a round shape.

4. Based on your information in the text, are the following statements True or False?
Circle T or F next to the statements below.

a. Food is classified by nutritionists into three groups. T F

b. Eating too much of some types of food can lead to T F

c. health issues.
d. Anorexia and bulimia lead to weight loss. T F

e. The secret of good health is to eat healthy foods. T F

f. Obesity is most common in developing countries. T F

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5. Answer these questions below in the space provided.

a. What combination of foods do people need for a balanced diet?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

b. What are the 2 key factors in maintaining good health?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

c. What are 3 possible outcomes of an unbalanced diet?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

d. What are 3 types of food we should be eating a lot of?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

e. What are 3 types of food we should limit in our diets?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Match the meanings of the words below as the words are used in the text.

a. something that is done to cure an illness or injury, or to

make somebody look and feel good
1. mixture
b. a person who suffers from a disease
2. imbalance

3. overweight c. a combination of different things

4. treatment d. too heavy in a way that may be unhealthy

5. sufferer e. a situation in which two or more things are not the same
size or are not treated the same in a way

f. that is unfair or causes problems

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7. Work with a partner to categorise the foods listed under the table into the correct food
group. Note some of the options may be dairy, but also contain a lot of sugar and fat.
This food should appear in 2 columns. An example is shown below.

Sugars,
Grains Vegetables Fruits Dairy Protein
fat, salt

ice cream ice cream

avocado lemonade muffin muesli wholemeal bagel smoothie

peanut butter milk chocolate bar zucchini grapes

ice cream pasta pumpkin cabbage brown rice

broccoli oats cheese mayonnaise cream cheese

croissant eggs watermelon canned tuna avocado

steak apple baked beans tofu curry lamb kebab

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4.4 Vocabulary to Talk about the Circulatory System

1. With a partner, complete the following facts about the heart with the most appropriate
answer from the box below.

fastest 1893 115,000 smallest 1958

7,200 3,500 a minute 100,000 Monday

a. Your heart will beat about _________________ times each day.

b. Your heart pumps about __________ litres of blood every day.

c. The first open-heart surgery occurred in the USA in ___________.

d. The first implantable pacemaker was used in ____________.

e. The youngest person to receive heart surgery was __________ old.

f. The earliest known case of heart disease was identified in the remains of a
____________-year-old Egyptian mummy.

g. The fairy fly, which is a kind of wasp, has the ___________ heart of any living
creature.

h. The American pygmy shrew is the smallest mammal, but it has the
____________ heartbeat at 1,200 beats per minute.

i. Most heart attacks happen on _____________.

j. If you were to stretch out your blood vessel system, it would extend over
____________ kilometres. 7

7
Healthline Media. (2020). Fun facts about the heart you didn’t know. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/fun-facts-about-the-heart

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2. Match the word on the left with the correct pronunciation on the right. Listen to your
teacher pronounce the words and repeat.

1. capillary a. /səːkjʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

2. vein b. /ˈeɪtrɪəm/

3. mitral c. /kəˈpɪləri/

4. circulation d. /veɪn/

5. tricuspid e. /ˈmʌɪtr(ə)l/

6. atrium f. /trʌɪˈkʌspɪd/

7. artery g. /eɪˈɔːtə/ /eɪˈɔːtɪk/

8. aorta, aortic h. /ˈɑːtəri/

9. ventricle i. /ˈsɛptəm/

10. septum j. /valv/

11. pulmonary k. /ˈvɛntrɪk(ə)l/

12. valve l. /ˈpʌlmən(ə)ri/

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3. Match the anatomical feature of the heart on the left with its correct meaning on the
right.

1. aorta a. a partition separating two chambers of the heart

b. the continuous motion by which the blood travels

2. atrium (pl. atria) through all parts of the body under the action of
the heart.

c. the main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated

blood to the circulatory system. In humans it
3. artery
passes over the heart from the left ventricle and
runs down in front of the backbone.

d. any of the tubes forming part of the blood

4. capillary circulation system of the body, carrying in most
cases oxygen-depleted blood towards the heart.

e. any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a

5. septum
network between the arterioles and venules.

f. any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of

6. valve the circulation system by which blood is conveyed
from the heart to all parts of the body

g. the valve between the left atrium and the left

7. vein ventricle of the heart, which has two tapered
cusps.

h. each of the two upper cavities of the heart from

which blood is passed to the ventricles. The right
8. ventricle atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the
veins of the body, the left atrium oxygenated blood
from the pulmonary vein.

i. a membranous fold in a hollow organ, such as a

blood vessel which maintains the flow of the
9. mitral (valve)
contents in one direction by closing in response to
any pressure from reverse flow.

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 j. denoting or relating to a valve formed of three
10. tricuspid (valve) triangular segments, particularly that between the
right atrium and ventricle of the heart.

11. pulmonary k. a hollow part or cavity in an organ; each of the two

(valve) main chambers of the heart, left and right.

l. the semilunar valve between the left ventricle and

12. aortic (valve)
the aorta.

m. the semilunar valve of the heart that lies between

13. circulation the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery and
has three cusps

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4. In pairs, match the names of heart parts with their location.

mitral valve right atrium septum tricuspid valve right ventricle

left ventricle left atrium aortic valve pulmonary valve

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5. Read the text below ‘Parts of the Heart’. Find 8 mistakes and correct them. The first
one has been done for you. Check your answers with a partner.

Parts of the Heart

four

The heart is made up of six different blood-filled areas, and each of these areas is
called a chamber. There are two chambers on each side of the heart. One chamber
is on the top and one chamber is on the bottom. The two chambers on top are called
the capillaries. These are the chambers that fill with the blood returning to the heart
from the body and lungs.

The two chambers on the bottom are called the inferior vena cava. Their job is to
pump out the blood to the body and lungs. Running down the middle of the heart is a
thick wall of muscle called the aorta, which separates the left side and the right side
of the heart.

The atria and ventricles work as a team. The atria fill with oxygen, then dump it into
the ventricles. The ventricles then squeeze, pumping blood out of the heart. While
the ventricles are squeezing, the atria refill and get ready for the next contraction. So
when the blood gets pumped, how does it know which way to go?

Well, your blood relies on four special veins inside the heart. Two of the heart
valves are the tricuspid valve and the aortic valve. They let blood flow from the atria
to the ventricles. The other two are called the mitral valve and pulmonary valve, and
they're in charge of controlling the flow as the blood leaves the heart. These valves
all work to keep the blood flowing forward. They open up to let the blood move
ahead, then they close quickly to keep the blood from flowing backward. 8

8 The Nemours Foundation. (2020). Your heart and circulatory system. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/heart.html

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6. Read the text below ‘How blood circulates’ and fill in the gaps with words from the box
below (NOTE: two of the words are not needed in the text). Check your answers with
a partner.

How Blood Circulates

The blood moves through many tubes called arteries and veins, which together are
called blood vessels. These blood vessels are attached to the heart. The blood
vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called (1)……………. The ones that
carry blood back to the heart are called (2)…………….

The movement of the blood through the heart and around the body is
called (3)……………, and your heart is really good at it — it takes less than 60
(4)…………… to pump blood to every cell in your body. Your body needs this steady
supply of blood to keep it working right. Blood delivers (5)…………… to all the body's
cells.

The left side of your heart sends that oxygen-rich blood out to the body. The body
takes the oxygen out of the blood and uses it in your body's cells. When the cells
use the oxygen, they make (6)…………… and other stuff that gets carried away by
the blood.

The returning blood enters the right side of the heart. The right ventricle pumps the
blood to the (7)…………… for a little freshening up. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is
removed from the blood and sent out of the body when we (8)……………. What's
next? An inhale, of course, and a fresh breath of oxygen that can enter the blood to
start the process again. And remember, it all happens in about a minute! 9

circulation oxygen arteries minute exhale

inhale veins lungs seconds carbon dioxide

9 The Nemours Foundation. (2020). Your heart and circulatory system. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/heart.html

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8. With your partner, write eight True or False statements about the parts of the heart the
circulatory system. Do not copy directly from the texts; use your own words.
Remember to write the correct answers below in the Answer Key.

When you have finished, test another group’s knowledge of the heart and circulation.
Test your knowledge by answering their questions.

Example The aortic valve is a valve in the human heart between the left ventricle and
the aorta.

1. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

2. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

3. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

4. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

5. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

6. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

7. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

8. .....................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

Answer Key

1. ..................... 5. .......................
2. ..................... 6. .......................
3. ..................... 7. .......................
4. ..................... 8. .......................

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4.5 Writing a Process

1. In pairs, write as many words as you can about the topic of digestion. Remember to
write the part of speech (PoS) of each word (noun, verb, adjective and adverb).

DIGESTION

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2. With a partner, discuss the words in the table below and without using a dictionary,
write the meaning of the words in Bahasa Indonesian.

Word Phonemic transcript PoS Bahasa

Indonesian

/dʌɪˈdʒɛstʃ(ə)n/
a. digestion (n)

/dʌɪˈdʒɛstɪ/
b. digestive (adj)

/ˈnjuːtrɪənt/
c. nutrient (n)

/ˈɔːɡ(ə)n/
d. organ (n)

/əbˈzɔːb
e. absorb (v)

/səˈlʌɪv(ə)ri ɡland/
f. salivary gland (n)

/ˈstʌmək/
g. stomach (n)

/bʌɪl/
h. bile (n)

/sɪˈkriːt/
i. secrete (v)

/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/
j. eliminate (v)

3. Listen to your teacher say each word and repeat each word after your teacher.

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4. Digestion is the way your body gets nutrients and energy from the food you eat. Many
organs help in digestion. Read the diagram below.

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5. Match the word for an organ on the left with the correct definition on the right. Then,
check your answers with a partner and practise pronouncing the words.

1. oesophagus /ɪˈsɒfəɡəs/ a. a long tube where nutrients are taken from

food

2. stomach /ˈstʌmək/ b. a tube where food goes down to your

stomach

3. small intestine /ɪnˈtɛstɪn/ c. the organ that helps get rid of harmful
matter

4. large intestine /ɪnˈtɛstɪn/ d. a bag-like organ that helps dissolve food

5. liver /ˈlɪvə/ e. the last tube where water is taken out of

eaten food

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6. In pairs, complete the chart below with the name of the correct digestive organ.

7. With your partner, write 20 verbs in the present tense that are used in describing the
digestive process. The first one has been done for you.

1. chew 11.

2. 12.

3. 13.

4. 14.

5. 15.

6. 16.

7. 17.

8. 18.

9. 19.

10. 20.

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