8.

1 Language for Giving Instructions and Commands

1. Look at the following pictures. With your partner, identify the items a nurse may use
when treating a patient.

a. .......................... b. ......................... c. ..........................

d. ......................... e. ......................... f. ..........................

What other equipment or instruments do nurses use when working? Make a list.

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2. Read the following dialogue between nurses.

Laura is a head nurse in a surgical ward. In every morning shift, she leads the morning
meeting with her teams (night shift and morning shift) at 07.00 AM. Today, they will be
discussing 3 patients.

Laura: Good morning team, how about our patients last night?
Sarah: In total, I am taking charge of 2 patients staying in room 1, but I am going
to report one specific patient that is Mr. June. He is in his post-surgery
period for his right leg or femur dextra. Today is his 3rd day in this ward, I
have reported his condition to Dr. Shinta and we have agreed on applying
a further activity treatment for him, so we will train him to sit on the bed
and any other possible mobility for the patient.
Laura: Thank you, Sarah, and how about your patient, Jack?
Jack: I have 2 patients last night, the patient Mr. Abraham in the 2nd room still
has fever 39.50C since last night and the patient Mr. Moore, being
diagnosed with lung cancer stage 3, he stays in the 3rd room, he told me
that he feels nauseated and couldn’t finish his meal.
Laura: OK, I please contact and discuss further with the physiotherapy to handle
the patient in room 1, Mr. June. And according to his medical record, he
should get wound care this morning. Ingrid, please take care of the
patient in the 1st room for the wound care and call the
physiotherapist.
Ingrid: OK Laura, I will handle patients in the 1st room. I plan to finish wound care
for him around 9 Am so I think the physiotherapist can work with him at 10
AM. How about that?
Laura: OK, that sounds good. For the 2nd room patient, is it the time for laboratory
check? Please ask laboratory staff to withdraw blood for the
routine hematology (blood) test. Rico, I hand over this patient to you.
For the last patient, Mr. Moore he is with lung cancer and hasn’t been
eating very well for the last 3 days after his chemotherapy, it’s time to get
his blood test as well and call the nutritionist for nutrition treatment. Later
we will observe and see whether or not he’s ready for the radiotherapy.
Vina, I hand over the last patient to you!

Vina: OK Sarah. I will ask the laboratory staff to withdraw these 2 patients’ blood
this morning. I will call the laboratory staff at 08.00 AM and the nutritionist,
too.

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 Laura: Thank you, team, for this morning’s meeting. Take a rest for the night
shift and do your best for your morning shift.

3. Discuss these questions in pairs.

a. Who leads the meeting?

b. Whose patient is the one in the first room?
c. Does Jack have a patient with an eating problem and wound?
d. What will Nurse Vina do?
e. What equipment does every nurse need?

4. Reread the text and match the nurse with the patients he/she takes care and their
recent health conditions as below

leg surgery nauseated could not finish the food

needs blood check wound care suggested physiotherapy

Nurse Patients Health Conditions

Sarah

Ingrid

Jack

Vina

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5. Study the language expressions below to give instructions and commands.

The following sentences taken from the above conversation among nurses are
examples of giving instructions and commands
a. Ingrid, please handle the patient in the 1st room and call the physiotherapist.
b. Please ask laboratory staff to handle it.

To give commands and instructions, we often use an imperative

a. Wash your hand before performing medical procedures.
b. Wear your mask well.
c. Do not forget to check her blood pressure before leaving the ward.

There are a number of ways to make instructions sound more polite.

We can add please at the end of what we say or before what we say.
a. Ask Max to sign this form and then send it off immediately please, Gwyn.
b. Please tell the patient’s family to observe how Devi eats her breakfast.
c. Please report her progress immediately.

We can use an introductory phrase to soften the order/command.

For example, using a phrase instead of using an imperative. Here are some common
ways of phrasing an order, in order of the most indirect to the most direct:
Would you mind possibly… (+ ing) (Most indirect)
Would you mind possibly moving the patient now? She is starting to look
uncomfortable.
I was hoping you could … (+ infinitive without to)
I was hoping you could spare me a few minutes this morning.
Do you think you could … (+ infinitive without to)
Do you think you could do this photocopying for me?
If you have a couple of minutes spare…
If you have a couple of minutes spare, the office needs tidying up.
I’d like you to…
I’d like you to file this correspondence for me.
I want you to…
I want you to finish this by tomorrow. (Most direct)

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6. Read the language expressions to give instructions and commands. Repeat and
check with your partner.

a. Would you mind possibly… (+ ing) (Most indirect)

Would you mind possibly moving the patient now? She looks uncomfortable.

b. I was hoping you could … (+ infinitive without to)

I was hoping you could spare me a few minutes this morning.

c. Do you think you could … (+ infinitive without to)

Do you think you could do this photocopying for me?

d. If you have a couple of minutes spare…

If you have a couple of minutes spare, the office needs tidying up.

e. I’d like you to…

I want you to finish this by tomorrow.

7. Read the short dialogues below. With a partner, choose instructions or commands for
each example.

Head Nurse Linda …………………………………………………………………………

Nurse Jackie Sure, I’ll check the vital signs of the patient in the 1st room now.

Nurse Ingrid …………………………………………………………………………

Patient 1 I have been feeling better this morning. Thank you.

Nurse Ingrid I want you to ………………………………………………………

Head Nurse Linda: I’m still waiting for another progress report by Dr Kennedy.
Can you wait for it?

Nurse Laura …………………………………………………………………………

Nurse Vina Sorry, I can’t do it right now because I’m going to assist the
patient in postpartum care. I’ll give you the list right after that.

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8. In pairs or small groups, write your own dialogues giving instructions and commands
in the contexts below.

a. In a patient ward
b. In a surgical ward
c. In a nurse station

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8.2 Grammar for the Zero and First Conditional

1. Think about the following questions. List what happens if each circumstance takes
place. Check your answer with a partner.

If people always consume healthy food, ……………….

they are healthy.

they will not spend much money at the hospital.

If patients suffer from diabetes type 1, ………………

they need insulin injections.

they will regularly check their condition at the hospital.

2. Read the following text between Nurse Anisa and a patient named Danar on your
own. Then read it out loud in pairs.

Danar: Nurse, I think I might have a fever. It's so cold in here!

Nurse: Here, let me check your forehead.
Danar: What do you think?
Nurse: You feel a bit warm, right?
Danar: Yes.
Nurse: If you feel a bit warm now, I need a thermometer to check.
Danar: How do I raise my bed? I can't find the controls.
Nurse: Here you are. Is that better?
Danar: Could I have another pillow?
Nurse: Certainly, here you are. Is there anything else I can do for you?

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 If you can’t rest well, I will definitely get you something
else.
Danar: No, thank you.
Nurse: OK, I'll be right back with the thermometer.
Danar: Oh, just a moment. Can you bring me another bottle of water,
too?
Nurse: Certainly, I'll be back in a moment.
Nurse: (coming in the room) I'm back. Here's your bottle of water. If
you feel very thirsty, you drink the water before I put the
thermometer under your tongue.
Danar: Yes. (drinking the water)
Nurse: Please put the thermometer under your tongue now.
Danar: Thank you. (puts the thermometer under the tongue)
Nurse: Yes, you have a slight fever. I think I'll take your blood pressure
as well.
Danar: Is there anything to worry about?
Nurse: No, no. Everything's fine. It's normal to have a bit of fever after
an operation like yours. The doctor will discharge you soon if
your condition improves gradually.
Danar: I'm so glad that everything went well, and I hope that I can be
discharged soon.
Nurse: You're in good hands here! If you need more assistance, we
are ready to help.

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3. Review the following explanations for the Zero and First Conditional Sentences.

Zero and First Conditional Sentence

Examples of conditional sentences from the above dialogues

1. If you feel a bit warm now, I need a thermometer to check.

2. If you can’t rest well, I will definitely get you something else.
3. If you feel very thirsty, you drink the water before I put the thermometer under
your tongue.
4. If you need more assistance, we are ready to help.
5. The doctor will discharge you soon if your condition improves gradually.

What number belong to zero conditional and what number belong to first conditional?

Use the following explanation to answer the above question.

All conditional sentences talk about a result that is dependent on a condition. The
sentences, therefore, have two parts, or clauses. In English, we use the word “if” to
determine the condition in the first clause, and the result (which depends on the
condition) in the other clause.

There are different types of conditionals, and in this unit zero conditionals, and first
conditionals are studied. We use these structures depending on how probable the
condition and its result are. See the table below for a rough guide.

Type Tenses in the two clauses Probability condition will happen

Zero conditional [If + present], + [present] 100% – will always happen.*

1st conditional [If + present], + [will] 50%-90%- will probably happen.

*For zero conditional, when can be used to replace if.

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4. In pairs, decide if the sentences below are written as zero conditional sentences or
first conditional sentences. Write Z for zero conditional sentences, write F for first
conditional sentences. Share your answers with other students.

Sentence Zero /First

Conditional
1. If it rains, we’ll get wet.

2. If it rains, I will not go to the clinic for my routine check-up.

3. If I eat more cheeseburgers, I will be sick.

4. If you don’t have money, you can’t buy anything.

5. If the temperature is below 0 Celsius, water freezes.

6. If I get sick, I will not attend my therapy session.

7. If today is Friday, tomorrow is Saturday.

8. If you come to my office, I will introduce you to my co-

workers.

9. They will give you herbal medicine if you don’t like the
medicine your doctor prescribed yesterday.

10. Your parents will see the family doctor if they have problems
with their health.

5. Continue the sentences below using correct zero conditional.

a. If you eat fast food, ……………………………………………..

b. If you work well with other nurses, ……………………………………………..

c. When I work in a morning shift, ……………………………………………..

d. I always wash my hands if……………………………………………..

e. When the patients show their improvement, ………………………………………

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6. Continue the sentences below using correct first conditional.

a. If I meet Nurse Melati this afternoon,

…………………..…………………………………………………………….

b. If my night shift ends early, ………………………………………………..

c. The doctors will prescribe you another asthma medicine if

……………………………………………………..………………………….

d. I will lend you my key if …………………………………………………….

e. She will not get better if…………………………………………………….

7. Read the following dialogues between a nurse and a patient. Complete the missing
information using the correct conditional form.

Conversation 1
Nurse Now, hold on. I’m sure you’ll be alright if you ……………....(listen)
to your mother
Kid I want to see my friends. I miss them.
Nurse I know. I’m sure they miss you too. But you need to stay for a
while here if you want …………..….(be) healthy again.. You can’t
rush, or you might break your leg again.
Kid How long will I use these crutches?
Nurse It ………..……..…(not be) long if you listen to my advice.
Kid Can I play with my ball again?
Nurse Sure. So, promise me?
Kid (no verbal response given)
Nurse Ok. goodbye.

Conversation 2
Mr.Sharma Good morning, nurse.
Nurse Good morning, Mr.Sharma. You look unwell again now.
What’s wrong with you? Did you sleep well last night?
Mr.Sharma I didn’t unfortunately. I have been suffering from fever since
last night.

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 Nurse If you have problems with your sleep again, you
……….…….(call) us. Okay? Do you have any other
symptoms?
Mr.Sharma Alright. I also feel headache and shivering.
Nurse Let me take your temperature. At this time, the fever is 102
degree. Don’t worry. There is nothing serious with you. I will
give you the medicine prescribed by the doctor, and you will
be all right.
Mr.Sharma Thank you, nurse.
Nurse If your condition has no improvement, the doctor
………………. (observe) your condition again
and…………..…..(prescribe) you different medication.

8. Use either zero or first conditional to give advice in each of the medical scenarios
below. An example has been done for you.

Scenario Advice

Dealing with patient’s vomiting If you vomit, contact your doctor.

Taking insulin injection If you take insulin, ……………………….

Delivering chemotherapy ……………………………………………...

Asking the patient to lie down on the gurney ……………………………………………...

Offering help ……………………………………………...

Transferring a patient to a new ward ……………………………………………...

Checking vital signs of a patient ……………………………………………...

After drawing patient’s blood ……………………………………………...

Dealing with patient with low vision ……………………………………………...

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 Explaining the medication taken by a patient ……………………………………………...

Informing the patient’s family about post- ……………………………………………...

treatment undertaken by the patient

9. In pairs, write a dialogue from one of the above scenarios using correct zero and/or
first conditional sentences. Act it out in front of the class.

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 8.3 Read about Medical Equipment

1. Talk with your partner. How many pieces of medical equipment – that you’ve had
experience using – can you name together?

2. Look at these pictures. Can you identify these items of medical equipment?

a. ………………………..… b. ………………………..…

c. ………………………..… d. ………………………..…

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3. Scan the text and underline the vocabulary related to medical equipment. How many
items are mentioned? Check your answers with your partner.

Medical Equipment

When hearing the term 'medical equipment', a typical layman, whose only
knowledge about health care comes from an annual check-up at a local surgery
and TV shows such as 'House, M.D.' or 'ER', might think of complex devices like a
defibrillator, the star of the show in every scene in which somebody's life is saved.

However, medical equipment might refer to both very complex devices used by
professionals as well as to simple instruments which you might even use yourself.
Let's see what equipment is used when you catch influenza.

Imagine you wake up in the morning with a terrible headache, feeling feverish. You
quickly phone the boss and say you need a day off, then grab a thermometer to
take your temperature. Gosh, it's 102 degrees Fahrenheit! You really need to go to
the doctor. After you arrive at your local clinic and wait some time in a queue, the
GP asks you in. She asks what is wrong and then puts a tongue depressor in your
mouth to see your throat. Then she asks you to take off your sweater and uses a
stethoscope to listen to your chest. Finally, she tells you that you have caught the
flu, prescribes you some medicine and says you must stay at home for a couple of
days.

As you can see, several pieces of equipment are used even in such a common
procedure like diagnosing flu, some of which you may even have at home. What
about other examples? Let's see what equipment might be used in case of a broken
bone.

It's mid-February and you are skiing in the Rockies. You are having an amazing
time, but you fall and feel terrible pain in both your shin and your arm. You have
probably broken your arm and your leg! It's so painful you can't move so you call
out mountain rescue. They come by chopper, put you on a stretcher, use a splint
to immobilize your limbs and take you to the hospital. You are told you have broken

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your leg and it's put in a cast. If you're lucky and your arm is not broken, it's only
wrapped in bandage and you have to wear a sling. As a result, walking on crutches
is out of the question, so you leave the hospital in a wheelchair. But how do the
doctors make sure your limb is broken or not? Well, you have an X-ray taken.

What other gear is used in hospitals? Let's study a case of a person brought to an
A&E department with a head injury. The person is brought by paramedics, who
have already put a brace on his or her neck in order to prevent further injury. Firstly,
diagnostic equipment is put to use in order to check the person's condition.

An MRI scan is taken to check for bleeding and swelling in the brain. If immediate
surgery is required, the patient is administered an anesthetic by means of a syringe.
Then a surgeon uses a scalpel to cut into his or her body and forceps to manipulate
the tissues. After the surgery is performed, a catheter is inserted for the time when
he or she is immobilized.

Various types of medical equipment, ranging from basic tools to highly advanced
cutting-edge devices, are used in very different situations. One thing is certain -
each piece has been developed to help us recover or even save our lives. And we
might need them at the very beginning of our lives - as is the case with an incubator,
which is used in neonatal units to help or treat prematurely born children.

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4. Match the following words from the text with their definitions. After checking with your
partner, your teacher will say each word. Repeat each word together.

Words Definition

1. thermometer a. a small piece of wood used by

/θəˈmɒm.ɪ.tər/ a doctor to hold someone's tongue down
in order to examine their mouth or throat

2. tongue b. a device used for measuring temperature, esp. of the air or

depressor in a person’s body
/ˈtʌŋ dɪˌpres.ər/

3. stethoscope c. a long, firm object used as a support for a broken bone so

/ˈsteθ.ə.skəʊp/ that the bone stays in a particular position while it heals:

4. stretcher / d. a piece of medical equipment that doctors use

/ˈstretʃ.ər/ to listen to your heart and lungs

5. splint e. a light frame made from two long poles with

/splɪnt/ a cover of soft material stretched between them, used
for carrying people who are ill, injured, or dead.

5. Read the text again and answer the following True/False questions according to the
text.

a. A thermometer is used for measuring your body temperature. T/F

b. The doctor listens to your chest by using a stethoscope. T/F

c. An MRI scan is taken to check for the function of the brain. T/F

d. A tongue depressor is used to see your tongue. T/F

e. When you have broken on your limbs, a splint is used to T/F

immobilize it.

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6. Answer the following questions.

a. What medical equipment is used when someone gets influenza?

b. How would a nurse help a patient with a broken leg?

7. Tell your partner about an experience you’ve had using medical equipment during
your clinical practice. Tell them what the situation was and why you had to use it.
Give as much detail as you can.

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8.4 Read about Items New Nurses Should Have in Their
Bag

1. In pairs, label each picture correctly. Use the given words in the box.

1…………………….. 1…………………….. 1……………………..

1…………………….. 1…………………….. 1……………………..

thermometer (n) reference book (n) micropore medical

tape (n)
/θəˈmɒm.ɪ.tər/ /ˈref.ər.əns ˌbʊk/
/ˈmed.ɪ.kəl teɪp/

blood pressure tongue depressor (n) torniquet (n)

apparatus (n) /ˈtʌŋ dɪˌpres.ər/ /ˈtʊə.nɪ.keɪ/
/ˈblʌd ˌpreʃ.ər
ˌæp.əˈreɪ.təs/

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2. Read the following text entitled “14 Items That New Nurses Should Have in Their
Bag”. What is the most frequently used equipment by new nurse?

14 Items That New Nurses Should Have in Their Bag

If you are a nursing student or new nurse, you are probably wondering what you
will need in your work bag. Aside from your personal stuff, what are the things you
bring that signifies you are a nurse?

These nursing supplies listed below are a must if you want to do your job efficiently.
The most common supplies nurses have in their bags are:

1. Stethoscope
This is one of the most important tools of the trade. Nurses use this tool to listen to things
such as the heart, veins, and intestines to make sure proper function. According to Best
Stethoscope Reviews, here are the 6 best stethoscopes to buy. As you surely know, it's
one of the most important tools for a patient's assessment.
One of today's leading stethoscope brands is Littmann. You can choose from the classic
style to the most advanced kind.

2. Books
A handy reference listing down common medicines and conditions. MIMS provides
information on prescription and generic drugs, clinical guidelines, and patient advice.
Nurses can also use Swearingen's Manual of Medical-Surgical Nursing, a complete guide
to providing optimal patient care.

3. Scissors and Micropore Medical Tape

Bandage scissors are used for cutting medical gauze, dressings, bandages and others.
Nurses need to have these in their pockets for emergency use, especially for wound care.
Micropore tape is also important and should be readily available, for example, when your
patient accidentally pulls his/her IV.

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4. Lotion and Hand Sanitizer
Nurses never forget to wash their hands several times throughout the day, leaving their
skin dry. That's why having lotion in their bags is important to keep the skin in good
condition. Meanwhile, the sanitizer helps nurses steer clear of germs, along with other
contagious agents.

a. Six saline flushes

b. Retractable pens
c. Sanitary items - gauze, sterilized mask and gloves, cotton balls
d. OTC pharmacy items (cold medicines, ibuprofen)
e. Small notebook - for taking notes from observations of your patients.
f. Thermometer
g. Tongue depressor
h. Tourniquet
i. BP apparatus
j. Watch with seconds hand

On Nurse Nacole’s website, she shares that she carries a drug handbook, intravenous
medications, makeup mirror, tape measure, towel, lotion, wipes, 4 in 1 pen and a
homemade cheat sheet for her patients. Also, in Miss D Makeup's What's In My Work
Bag Youtube video, she has a box of batteries, tapes, a pack of gum, toothbrush,
sanitizer, coupons, snacks, umbrella, stethoscope, pens, folder of her report sheet and
information sheet, tampons, charger, name tag, ID, makeup bag, eye drops, lotion, hair
clips, highlighter, pen light, and journal.

So, What's in My Bag?

In my bag, I have a 4-in-1 pen, a highlighter, IDs, bandage, journal to write some new
information when I surf the net, my phone with medical e-books and medical dictionary in
it, and other stuff like alcohol, sanitizer, over-the-counter meds (such as paracetamol,
cold medicine, pain killers, multivitamins), eye drops, handkerchiefs, floss, toothbrush,
nail file, band aids, and food.

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Aside from my knowledge in providing quality patient care, I also bring things that can
help me get through my shift. In an effort to make things more compact and easier for a
nurse to get access to, most common nursing supplies are available in a portable kit. The
size and styles are developing as new ways of making a nurse's shift easier.

These are just few of the essential nursing paraphernalia that a new nurse needs. 13

Posted by Erica Bettencourt, By Rena Gapasin

3. Write the meaning of these words. Use a dictionary if you need to.

a. efficiently (adv)

b. prescription (n)

c. guideline (n)

d. advice (v)

e. observation (n)

f. shift (n)

g. generic (adj

h. readily (adv)

i. essential (adj)

j. signify (v)

13
Diversity Nursing. (2020). 14 Items That New Nurses Should Have in Their Bag. Retrieved from
http://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/bid/185999/14-Items-That-New-Nurses-Should-Have-in-Their-Bag

English for Nursing 1 - Page 192

4. Read the text again and answer the following questions.

a. What is stethoscope used for?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

b. What does the word “leading” in paragraph 2-line 4 mean?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

c. What does MIMS provide?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

d. Why do nurses need to have scissors and micropore medical tape in their
pockets? Give example.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

e. Why are lotion and hand sanitizer important for nurses to have?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Work in a group of 3 and discuss the function and significance of each medical
equipment below for nurses. Write your answer in the given boxes.

Medical Equipment Function & Significance

1 Six saline flushes Function:

Significance for nurse:

2 Retractable pens Function:

Significance for nurse:

3 Sanitary items Function:

Significance for nurse:

4 OTC pharmacy items Function:

Significance for nurse:

5 Small notebook Function:

Significance for nurse:

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 6 Thermometer Function:
Significance for nurse:

7 Tongue depressor Function:

Significance for nurse:

8 Tourniquet Function:
Significance for nurse:

9 BP apparatus Function:
Significance for nurse:

10 Watch with seconds Function:

hand
Significance for nurse:

6. Work in pairs to read the following article. Answer the questions that follow the text
and discuss in groups.

Innovative Nursing Equipment

So, what do these new technological developments in nursing equipment consist

of? There are a range of devices available to nursing teams, and all of these are
important to know about.

Electronic patient records

Electronic patient records have been the norm in the healthcare sphere for some
time now. These online systems allow healthcare professionals to access patient
histories instantaneously, whilst tracking their progress and checking the results of
tests. Learning about EPRs is a central part of nurse training.

Smart phone apps

Nursing apps are become increasingly important for nurses who work in busy
healthcare settings. These can be put to a variety of uses, from contacting
colleagues to checking information about medications and conditions. Nursing apps
can act as alternatives to consulting books or senior members of staff every time a

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nurse is unsure of the next step. The Nursco App facilitates this with its senior nurse
adviser service, where nurses can contact a professional for advice.

Non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tools

One area of technology that is certainly improving patient experience is non-
invasive diagnostic tools. These tools are used to help nurses evaluate patients,
without having to use traditional methods such as probing and injecting. Not only
does this make patients more comfortable, it also lowers the risk of infection, and
often delivers more accurate results. Similarly, nurses can monitor their patients’
condition wirelessly using chips and sensors that are integrated into beds and
bedding. These chips are able to report on blood pressure, movement, weight and
more during sleep. This extra element of observation is intended to help patients
avoid things like bedsores and falls. Nurses will be alerted to changes in patients’
status and able to act quickly.

Medication trackers
A key aim of technology in nursing is to reduce the margin for human error. Today,
there are a range of medication trackers available, from ventilators that measure
the precise amount of medicine inhaled, to implantable devices that administer
medication depending on their prescribed dosages. This means that patients can
recover without being disturbed by nurses unnecessarily – particularly valuable
during sleep.

Patient lifts
For many nurses, the introduction of patient lifting machines to the ward will be a
huge relief. Many facilities are adopting these machines to aid nurses in lifting
patients from bed to bed – often a difficult task with heavier patients. This reduces
a nurse’s chance of injury, and also means that multiple nurses are not needed to
simply move a patient, freeing them up for other more pressing tasks.

Wireless Communication Systems

Some healthcare settings are now implementing wireless badges or headsets to
integrate the purposes of outdated technology such as phones and pagers into

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 one integrated piece of tech. These wireless devices may have ‘smart’
capabilities,

enabling them to automatically route calls about certain subjects or patients to

specific nurses or use data from sensors and medical equipment to report patients’
state. Not only do these devices reduce response times from colleagues,
but they also alert healthcare professionals in case of an emergency, allowing
nurses to act quickly. Often, this can have a dramatic effect on patient outcomes,
especially in acute care wards.

GPS location services

GPS location services are vital for many nurses. Whereas once, nurses had to
spend precious time searching for important nursing equipment, now, a chip or code
embedded in the equipment allows them to pinpoint the location of the equipment
via GPS. This also prevents equipment misuse, reducing funds being spent on
repairs and replacements of vital equipment. This technology can also be used to
protect patients suffering from mental illnesses or dementia. Integrated into a
wristband or badge, electronic tracking can help nurses see where the patient is,
and electronic borders can be set to alert caregivers if the patient goes outside a
set area where they may be at risk14.

a. What are electronic patient records used for?

b. What are the benefits that a nurse gets in using smartphone apps?

c. Why is it important for nurses to use noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tools?

d. What benefits do nurses get with chips installed in their patients’ bed and
bedding?

e. Mention two types of medication trackers and their functions?

14
Nursco Healthcare. (2020). How tech is revolutionising nursing equipment. Retrieved from https://www.nursco.com/revolutionising-nursing-
equipment/

English for Nursing 1 - Page 196

7. Based on the text “Innovative Nursing Equipment” in Exercise 6, answer these
questions with True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG)

a. Electronic Health Records access the patients’ history T / F / NG

immediately

b. Novice nurses can consult all nursing problems with the T / F / NG

senior nurse by using nursing app

c. Technology that can be used by patients to invasive T / F / NG

diagnoses tools

d. Machine precision is very useful for reducing human error T / F / NG

especially in nursing field such as ventilator measurement

e. Patients lifting machine very useful for patients with long T / F / NG

bed rest for the first mobilization

f. Wireless communication system important in acute and T / F / NG

chronic phase

g. GPS can be used for tracking schizophrenia patients T / F / NG

English for Nursing 1 - Page 197