English for Healthcare

Tell me about your patient

Doctor: Tell me about your patient.

Nurse: My patient is a 36 year-old man. He has severe pain in his back.

The pain is continuous but lying down makes it better. Coughing makes it
worse. He has taken herbal remedies at home but they have had no
effect.

Doctor: Did you ask him about his other symptoms?

Nurse: No. Which follow up questions should I ask?

Doctor: When you see the patient again, you need to check the following
symptoms.

- Check if there are any skin changes.

- Ask the patient if he has experienced other sensations such as

numbness.

- Check if the patient has experienced nausea.

- Check if the patient has experienced any problems with going to the
toilet.

- Check whether the patient is sleeping well.

- Take the patient’s temperature.

- Listen to the patient’s chest to check for respiratory problems.

Nurse: Which is the best method for taking the patient’s temperature?

Doctor: I suggest you use a digital thermometer. It’s more accurate than
an ear thermometer and less dangerous than a glass thermometer. Your
patient is an adult, so it will be fine to take the temperature from the
mouth. A normal temperature is thirty seven point two Celsius for an
adult, so if his temperature is thirty seven point eight degrees Celsius or
higher, it’s likely the patient has a fever.

Nurse: Can the patient take something to relieve the pain before his next
appointment?

Doctor: For now, I’ll write a prescription for 500mg of paracetamol. The
patient will need to take one 500mg tablet every four-six hours for two
days. If the patient has a fever, this should also help bring the
temperature back to normal.

Nurse: Should I check if he is allergic to any medication?

Doctor: No, this will be checked by the pharmacist when the patient
collects the medication.

Nurse: When will the patient meet with you?

Doctor: Ask the patient to make another appointment at reception. I can

then check whether the paracetamol has been effective in helping to
relieve the pain and whether the back pain is related to any other
problems.