English for Healthcare

Tell me about your patient

Nurse: Before we start, can I confirm your date of birth?

Patient: The 29th of September 1983.

Nurse: OK. How are you feeling today?

Patient: I have a pain.

Nurse: Where do you feel the pain?

Patient: In my back.

Nurse: And when did the pain start?

Patient: Seven days ago.

Nurse: What does the pain feel like?

Patient: It is a sharp pain.

Nurse: How much does it hurt on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the worst
pain?

Patient: Hmm… about six.

Nurse: How often do you feel the pain? Is it constant or does it come
and go?
Patient: It’s constant.

Nurse: What makes the pain better?

Patient: When I rest in bed.

Nurse: And what makes the pain worse?

Patient: Coughing makes it worse.

Nurse: What medicines have you tried?

Patient: Herbal remedies.

Nurse: And what effect have they had?

Patient: They’ve had no effect.