MediEnglish B1 - Inglés para enfermeros
Learn how to introduce yourself, identify roles, and use essential hospital phrases.
Módulo 9: Giving & Receiving Reports
In this module, students will explore how nurses give and receive reports in a professional setting. They will learn vocabulary related to patient information, daily routines, and clinical updates. The grammar focus will be on reported speech, which helps nurses accurately share what patients, doctors, or colleagues have said. This is essential for effective communication during shift changes and patient care.
En este módulo, los estudiantes explorarán cómo los enfermeros dan y reciben reportes en un entorno profesional. Aprenderán vocabulario relacionado con la información del paciente, las rutinas diarias y las actualizaciones clínicas. El enfoque gramatical será el discurso indirecto (reported speech), lo que ayuda a los enfermeros a compartir con precisión lo que han dicho los pacientes, médicos o colegas. Esto es esencial para una comunicación efectiva durante los cambios de turno y la atención al paciente.
Learning Materials
Learn vocabulary, phrases, and grammar
Medical Vocabulary
Learn essential medical terms and their usage.
Clinical Phrases
Common expressions used in healthcare settings
The doctor said the patient’s condition was stable.
El doctor dijo que la condición del paciente estaba estable.
She reported that his blood pressure had improved.
Ella informó que su presión arterial había mejorado.
The night nurse told me the patient complained of chest pain.
La enfermera de noche me dijo que el paciente se quejaba de dolor en el pecho.
He said the test results were not ready yet.
Él dijo que los resultados de los exámenes no estaban listos todavía.
The doctor told us to check the patient’s vital signs every hour.
El doctor nos dijo que verificáramos los signos vitales del paciente cada hora.
The nurse reported that the dosage had been reduced.
La enfermera informó que la dosis había sido reducida.
The family said the patient hadn’t taken his medication.
La familia dijo que el paciente no había tomado su medicación.
She told me the observation period would last 24 hours.
Ella me dijo que el período de observación duraría 24 horas.
They reported that the patient’s heart rate was irregular.
Ellos informaron que la frecuencia cardíaca del paciente era irregular.
The doctor said there was no allergy to penicillin.
El doctor dijo que no había alergia a la penicilina.
The nurse mentioned that the file was incomplete.
La enfermera mencionó que el archivo estaba incompleto.
The patient told me he was still in pain
El paciente me dijo que todavía tenía dolor
She said the recommendation was to keep the patient resting.
Ella dijo que la recomendación era mantener al paciente en reposo.
The doctor asked if we had updated the patient’s chart.
El doctor preguntó si habíamos actualizado la historia clínica del paciente.
The nurse reported that the summary had been added to the record.
La enfermera informó que el resumen había sido agregado al registro.
Reported Speech
What is and what is the use:
Que es y como se usa
Reported Speech is a way of telling or reporting what someone else said, without using their exact words. Instead of repeating the exact sentence (Direct Speech), we change it into our own words, usually adjusting verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.
El discurso indirecto (Reported Speech) es una forma de contar o informar lo que otra persona dijo, sin usar sus palabras exactas. En lugar de repetir la oración exacta (discurso directo), lo cambiamos a nuestras propias palabras, normalmente ajustando los tiempos verbales, los pronombres y las expresiones de tiempo.
In nursing, reported speech is essential because nurses often give reports during handovers, share updates about a patient’s condition, or communicate doctors’ instructions. Accurate reporting ensures patient safety and continuity of care.
En enfermería, el discurso indirecto es esencial porque las enfermeras a menudo dan reportes durante los cambios de turno, comparten actualizaciones sobre la condición de un paciente o comunican las instrucciones de los médicos. Informar con precisión garantiza la seguridad del paciente y la continuidad del cuidado.
- How to use (structure)
Form | Structure (EN) | Estructura (ES) | Example (EN) | Ejemplo (ES) |
Affirmative | Subject + reporting verb (said/told/reported/mentioned) + that + clause | Sujeto + verbo de reporte (dijo/informó/mencionó) + que + oración | The nurse said that the patient’s condition was stable. | La enfermera dijo que la condición del paciente estaba estable. |
Negative | Subject + reporting verb + that + clause (negative form) | Sujeto + verbo de reporte + que + oración (en forma negativa) | The doctor reported that the patient didn’t have an allergy. | El doctor informó que el paciente no tenía alergia. |
Interrogative (Yes/No) | Reporting verb (asked/wanted to know) + if/whether + clause | Verbo de reporte (preguntó/quería saber) + si + oración | The nurse asked if the dosage had been adjusted. | La enfermera preguntó si la dosis había sido ajustada. |
Interrogative (Wh-) | Reporting verb (asked/asked about) + question word + clause | Verbo de reporte (preguntó/preguntó sobre) + palabra interrogativa + oración | She asked what the patient’s temperature was. | Ella preguntó cuál era la temperatura del paciente. |
2.1 Tense Change
Direct Speech (Tense) | Reported Speech (Tense) | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
Present Simple | Past Simple | “The patient is stable.” | The doctor said the patient was stable. |
Present Continuous | Past Continuous | “The patient is breathing normally.” | The nurse reported the patient was breathing normally. |
Past Simple | Past Perfect | “The patient complained of pain.” | The nurse said the patient had complained of pain. |
Present Perfect | Past Perfect | “The condition has improved.” | The doctor said the condition had improved. |
Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | “The patient was taking medication.” | She said the patient had been taking medication. |
Future (will) | Would | “The patient will need treatment.” | The doctor said the patient would need treatment. |
Can | Could | “The patient can walk now.” | The nurse said the patient could walk now. |
May | Might | “The patient may have an allergy.” | The doctor said the patient might have an allergy. |
Must | Had to | “The patient must stay in observation.” | The nurse said the patient had to stay in observation. |
2.2 Time and Place Expressions
Direct Speech (Expression) | Reported Speech (Expression) | Example (Direct) | Example (Reported) |
today | that day | “The patient is stable today.” | The nurse said the patient was stable that day. |
tomorrow | the next day / the following day | “The doctor will visit tomorrow.” | The nurse said the doctor would visit the next day. |
yesterday | the day before / the previous day | “The patient had pain yesterday.” | The doctor said the patient had pain the day before. |
now | then / at that time | “The patient is resting now.” | The nurse said the patient was resting then. |
here | there | “The test results are here.” | The doctor said the test results were there. |
this (morning, week) | that (morning, week) | “The patient had fever this morning.” | The nurse said the patient had fever that morning. |
these (notes, files) | those (notes, files) | “These notes are important.” | The doctor said those notes were important. |
next week | the following week | “The operation is scheduled for next week.” | The doctor said the operation was scheduled for the following week. |
last night | the night before | “The patient had pain last night.” | The nurse said the patient had pain the night before. |
ago | before | “The patient came two days ago.” | The doctor said the patient had come two days before. |
- Do not use (Common Errors)
❌ Mantener el mismo tiempo verbal del discurso directo.
Ejemplo incorrecto: The doctor said the patient is stable.
✔ Correcto: The doctor said the patient was stable.
❌ Olvidar cambiar los pronombres.
Ejemplo incorrecto: She said I had a fever. (si está reportando sobre otro paciente)
✔Correcto: She said he had a fever.
❌ Olvidar cambiar expresiones de tiempo y lugar.
Ejemplo incorrecto: The nurse said the patient would return tomorrow.
✔ Correcto: The nurse said the patient would return the next day.
Errores comunes en español:
- No cambiar los tiempos verbales al pasar de directo a indirecto.
- Mantener los pronombres originales en lugar de ajustarlos.
- No adaptar expresiones de tiempo/lugar (today → that day, tomorrow → the next day).
- Examples in Context (EN)
- The nurse reported that the patient’s vital signs were stable.
- The doctor said that the treatment had improved the patient’s condition.
- The night nurse told me that the patient had complained of pain during her shift.
- The head nurse asked if we had updated the patient’s chart with the new test results.
- The doctor mentioned that the patient’s breathing had deteriorated since the morning observation.
- Traducción de Ejemplos en Contexto (ES)
- La enfermera informó que los signos vitales del paciente estaban estables.
- El doctor dijo que el tratamiento había mejorado la condición del paciente.
- La enfermera de noche me dijo que el paciente se había quejado de dolor durante su turno.
- La jefe de enfermería preguntó si habíamos actualizado la historia clínica del paciente con los nuevos resultados de los exámenes.
El doctor mencionó que la respiración del paciente se había deteriorado desde la observación de la mañana.
Dialogue:
Nurse A: Good morning! Let’s start the handover. How was the patient’s night?
Nurse B: The night nurse reported that the patient’s condition was stable, but he complained of too much pain.
Nurse A: Did she give any update about his vital signs?
Nurse B: Yes, she said his temperature was 38°C and his heart rate was irregular.
Translate:
Enfermera A: ¡Buenos días! Empecemos el cambio de turno. ¿Cómo fue la noche del paciente?
Enfermera B: La enfermera de noche informó que la condición del paciente estaba estable, pero se quejaba de demasiado dolor.
Enfermera A: ¿Dio alguna actualización sobre sus signos vitales?
Enfermera B: Sí, ella dijo que su temperatura era de 38°C y que su frecuencia cardíaca estaba irregular.
Key Vocabulary: handover, condition, stable, pain, vital signs, temperature, heart rate, report.
Dialogue:
Doctor: Please write in the notes that the dosage is too high.
Nurse: Understood. I will adjust it.
Later during the shift change →
Nurse A: The doctor said that the dosage was too high and the treatment had to be modified.
Nurse B: Okay, I’ll follow the instructions and check the patient’s chart.
Translate:
- Doctor: Por favor escriba en las notas que la dosis es demasiado alta.
Enfermera: Entendido. Lo ajustaré.
Más tarde en el cambio de turno →
Enfermera A: El doctor dijo que la dosis era demasiado alta y que el tratamiento debía modificarse.
Enfermera B: De acuerdo, seguiré las instrucciones y revisaré la historia clínica del paciente.
Key Vocabulary: dosage, treatment, notes, chart, instruction, shift.
Dialogue:
urse A: Can you give me an update on the patient in room 5?
Nurse B: Yes. The observation showed that his breathing had improved, but he isn’t drinking enough water.
Nurse A: Did the doctor mention anything during the morning round?
Nurse B: Yes, he said that the patient would need more tests and a new diagnosis.
Translate:
- Enfermera A: ¿Puede darme una actualización sobre el paciente de la habitación 5?
Enfermera B: Sí. La observación mostró que su respiración había mejorado, pero no está bebiendo suficiente agua.
Enfermera A: ¿El doctor mencionó algo durante la ronda de la mañana?
Enfermera B: Sí, él dijo que el paciente necesitaría más exámenes y un nuevo diagnóstico.
Key Vocabulary: update, observation, breathing, improve, enough, test results, diagnosis.
Dialogue:
- Nurse: The lab reported that the test results were negative.
Doctor: Good, that means no infection.
During handover →
Nurse A: The doctor said that the test results were negative and the patient’s condition was improving.
Nurse B: Perfect. That’s important information for the summary and final record.
Translate:
Enfermera: El laboratorio informó que los resultados de los exámenes fueron negativos.
Doctor: Bien, eso significa que no hay infección.
Durante el cambio de turno →
Enfermera A: El doctor dijo que los resultados de los exámenes fueron negativos y que la condición del paciente estaba mejorando.
Enfermera B: Perfecto. Esa es información importante para el resumen y el registro final.
Key Vocabulary: report, test results, condition, improve, summary, record, information.
Learning