Summary of English Language Skills for Nurses
English Language Skills for Nurses: Your Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
This material covers key English terminology used in healthcare (vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical structures), aimed at university students. The aim is to simplify terms, demonstrate examples of usage in a clinical context, and provide comparisons of similar expressions.
Material Structure
- Vocabulary and Definitions (English term + pronunciation + Czech equivalent)
- Consonant Pronunciation (Overview and Examples)
- Advanced Vocabulary (Clinical Terms and Phrases)
- Grammar: have to vs need to, need + -ing, Present Perfect vs Past Simple, using ever/never, for/since/yet
- Practical Examples and Real-Life Scenarios
Vocabulary and Definitions
gait /ɡeɪt/ n way of walking; "way of walking with short steps, with the feet not leaving the floor" – used, for example, when describing neurological or orthopedic conditions.
siblings /ˈsɪblɪŋz/ n brothers and sisters
side effects /ˈsaɪd ɪˌfektɪs/ n unwanted effects of a medicine
skip /skɪp/ v to miss (e.g., a meal, a dose of medicine)
slide /slaɪd/ n a glass plate for a microscope
slight /slaɪt/ adj small, not significant
snack /snæk/ n light meal, small amount of food
sore /sɔː(r)/ adj painful; n a wound or painful spot
source /sɔːs/ n origin, supply
specialize /ˈspeʃəlaɪz/ v to focus on a particular area of study or work
specimen /ˈspesɪmən/ n a sample (of blood, urine, tissue)
spillage /ˈspɪhɪdʒ/ n an amount of liquid that has been spilled
spot /spɒt/ n a pimple or mark on the skin
spotless /ˈspɒtɪls/ adj perfectly clean, without any marks
spread /spɪrd/ v to transmit (an infection)
sterile /ˈsterɪl/ adj free from bacteria or other living microorganisms
sterilize /ˈsterɪlaɪz/ v to make free from bacteria or other living microorganisms
stimulant /ˈstɪmjələnt/ n a substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body
stimulation /ˌstɪmjəˈleɪʃn/ n the action of arousing interest, enthusiasm, or activity
stitches /ˈstɪtʃɪz/ n surgical threads used to close a wound
stomach ulcer /ˈstʌmək ˌʌlsə(r)/ n a sore that develops on the lining of the stomach
stretcher /ˈstretʃə(r)/ n a device for carrying a sick or injured person
stroke /strəʊk/ n a sudden attack of illness in the brain
suicide /ˈsuːnəɪrd/ n the act of intentionally causing one's own death
superstition /ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃn/ n a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences
supplement /ˈsʌplɪmənt/ n something added to complete or enhance something else, often a dietary supplement
suppository /səˈpɒzɪtri/ n a solid medical preparation designed to melt within a body cavity
susceptible /səˈseptɪbl/ adj likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing
swab /swɒb/ v to clean a wound or body part with a piece of absorbent material
swear /sweə(r)/ v to use offensive language
swelling /ˈsweɪln/ n an abnormal enlargement of a part of the body
swollen /ˈswaʊlən/ adj (of a part of the body) abnormally enlarged, especially by an accumulation of fluid
sympathy /ˈsɪmpəθi/ n feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune
syringe /sɪˈrɪndʒ/ n a medical instrument used for injecting or withdrawing fluids
test tube /ˈtest tjuːb/ n a thin glass tube used in laboratories
therapy /ˈθɛrəpi/ n treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder
threat /θɛt/ n a statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action
tic /tɪk/ n a habitual spasmodic contraction of the muscles, most often in the face
transducer /trænzˈdjuːsə(r)/ n a device that converts energy from one form to another, e.g., an ultrasound probe
trauma /ˈtrɔːmə/ n a deeply distressing or disturbing experience
traumatic /trɔːˈmætɪk/ adj emotionally disturbing or distressing
treatment /ˈtrɪtɪmənt/ n the application of medical care for an illness or injury
triage nurse /ˌtriːnɜːŋnɜːs/ n a nurse who assesses patients to determine the urgency of their n
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English for Healthcare — Terminology
Klíčové pojmy: Memorize key terms, along with their pronunciation and usage context., "Gait" describes the manner of walking, useful in neurological examinations., Distinguish between "have to" (obligation) and "need to" (necessity) in clinical communication., Use "need + -ing" to describe tasks: The floor needs cleaning., The Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) describes events with an impact on the present., Ever in questions, never in negatives; 'for' for a period, 'since' for a point in time., Sterilize/sterile, specimen, swab, and syringe are fundamental laboratory terms., Vital signs include pulse, temperature, respiration, and blood pressure., Correct pronunciation of technical terms reduces the risk of misunderstanding., A triage nurse determines the priority of patient treatment., Use simple clinical phrases for safe communication., Practice terminology in real-life scenarios and examples.