Admitting Patients
Admitting Patients
Listening 1
Listen to the patients describe their problem, and
decide which one is speaking.
Listening transcript 1
Listening for Patient Admission
• I was at a party, and one of my friends gave me a little white tablet. I'd had a few drinks and I was feeling
good, and I took it, even though I didn't know what it was. It made me feel, like, really weird. I could see and
hear really strange things, and it scared me. I still don't feel normal today, and I'm very worried.
• It's not due until next month, but when I was washing up this morning there was a little blood. It worried
me. Then I got these pains.
• I was working high up on a ladder. My foot slipped and I fell. I hit my head but there's no blood and I don't
feel too bad.
• I was walking by the river, and I think I stepped on it and it bit me. I don't know what type it was but it was
long and silver with a black head.
• I was looking in the mirror and I saw this big spot on my face. I checked it on the Internet and I'm sure I've
got cancer. Do you think I'm going to die?
Admitting Patients
Carmen Dornan
I'm a hospital receptionist. If you need to find somebody, or if you need to know anything about the
hospital - ask me. If you want new paper towels, or you need to speak to a surgeon - ask me.
I often meet people when they are frightened, angry, or drunk, so it's important to be diplomatic and
strong. I often need to reassure people, so it's important to be calm.
My normal work is to greet and assist patients when they arrive, make appointments for patient s, record
patients' information, and organize and file patient records. I also keep the accounts. You need to be very
organized to do this job.
Of course, I have to operate a computer, a fax machine, and other office equipment, but I also have to
know first aid, and understand medical terminology and abbreviations. My biggest problems are with the
handwriting of medical staff. It wastes a lot of time when I don't understand reports and forms because of
handwriting or abbreviations.
I believe that without me and the other receptionists the whole hospital would come to a stop.
Admitting Patients
Welcoming a patient on admission
1 a. In pairs, discuss which of the following things a nurse does when a patient arrives in
hospital.
• Shows the patient around the ward
• Puts on the patient’s identity (ID) bracelet
• Gets the patient lunch
• Checks the patient’s details
• Gets the patient a cup of tea
• Shows the patient how to use the nurse call
• Helps the patient change into pyjamas
• Takes the patient’s Observations
Admitting Patients
Vocabulary
The admissions procedure
1 Complete the sentences with the words below.
a triage nurse an initial assessment life-threatening
registration treatment a priority
waiting room cubicle
1 Take a seat in the _________
2 The first nurse you meet will be a specialist called
3 This nurse will make ________ of your problem.
4 This helps decide who is ________
5 A patient with a ________condition will see a doctor immediately.
6 A nurse will get personal details from you and fill in
a hospital form.
7 When there is a free ________ a doctor will see you.
8 The doctor will decide on the _________
Admitting Patients
PATIENT RECORD
Find words and abbreviations in the patient record with these
• Surname : Grady First name: Jim meanings.
1. job occupation
• DOB : 2.3.50 Gender : M/F 2 bad reactions, for example to __________
certain medications
• Occupation : retired 3 family doctor __________
4 closest relative __________
• Marital status : widowed 5 the amount of something you eat, __________
• Next of kin : son drink, etc. regularly
• Contact no.: 07765432178 6 date of birth __________
• Smoking intake : n/a 7 male / female __________
8 past illnesses and injuries __________
• Alcohol intake : 30 units per week 9 married / single / divorced / widowed__________
• Reason for admission : snake bite 10 not applicable (= not a question __________
• Medical history : high blood pressure for this patient)
11 in each (day, week, etc.) __________
• Allergies : none 12 number __________
• GP : Dr. Parkinson, Central Surgery
Admitting Patients Listening 2
PATIENT RECORD
• Surname : _______________
• First name : _______________ Mental illness:
• Gender : _______________ Diabetes :
Tuberculosis :
• DOB : _______________
HIV/AIDS :
• M/F : ______________
• Place of birth : _______________
• Occupation : _______________
• Marital status : _______________
• Next of kin : _______________
• Contact no. : _______________
• Smoking intake : _______________
• Alcohol intake : _______________
• Reason for admission : _______________
• Family history : _______________
Admitting Patients
Listening transcript 2
N Right. What's your date of birth?
M=Mustapha, N=nurse M First of the ninth, eighty-two.
N One, nine, eighty-two ... and where were you born?
N Mustapha, isn't it? M Karachi, Pakistan.
M Yes, that's right. N What's your marital status?
N So, what happened to you? M Sorry?
M I was working on a ladder. It was raining N Are you married?
and I slipped and fell M No, I'm single.
N And do you have a contact telephone number
N Did you hit your head?
for your next of kin?
M Yes. I saw stars and felt sick at first. But now it's OK.
M 07709-401229 - it's my brother, Yusuf.
N I see. You may have concussion. First, I'll take down N Do you smoke?
your details and fill in this form. M Yes.
So, what's your surname? N How many do you smoke a day?
M It's Hussein. M Twenty a day.
N Can you spell that for me? N Uh huh. Do you drink?
M H-U-double S-E-I-N. M No.
N What's your occupation? N Right. Are you allergic to anything?
M I'm a painter. M No.
N Now, family history. Do any of your
Admitting Patients
Listen again and complete these questions that the nurse asks.
1 What ______ you?
2 ________date of birth?
3 ________you born?
4 _________married?
5 _________smoke?
6 ______do you smoke a ______ ?
7 _______allergic to _____?
8 Do any of your ______family ______from any of the
following .. . ?
Admitting Patients
Conversation practice
PATIENT RECORD
• Surname
• First name
• Gender
• DOB
• Place of birth
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Next of kin
• Contact no.
• Smoking intake
• Alcohol intake
• Reason for admission
• Medical history
• Family history
•M/F
Admitting Patients
In pairs, practice welcoming a patient on admission. Student A, you are the nurse; Student B, you
are the patient. Use the following prompts to help
you. Swap roles and practice again.
Nurse Patient
• Check patient’s name Say name
• Introduce yourself Reply
• Explain nurse call Reply
• Say where bathroom is Reply
• Ask if patient needs help to go to bathroom Reply
• Ask if patient has any questions Reply
• Say you will see patient later Reply
