MediEnglish B2 - Inglés para enfermeros
Learn how to introduce yourself, identify roles, and use essential hospital phrases.
Módulo 7: Infectious Diseases & Protocols
I
Descripción breve (EN/ES):
- In this module, students learn how to describe infectious diseases, explain safety protocols, and report medical processes using the passive voice. Grammar focus: passive for processes (be + past participle + by).
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 patient is being kept in isolation.
El paciente está siendo mantenido en aislamiento.
Masks must be worn at all times.
Se deben usar mascarillas en todo momento.
This protocol was established last year.
Este protocolo fue establecido el año pasado.
Samples are analyzed daily in the laboratory.
Las muestras se analizan a diario en el laboratorio.
The room is disinfected after each patient.
La habitación se desinfecta después de cada paciente.
The outbreak was controlled by the medical team.
El brote fue controlado por el equipo médico.
Gloves are provided before the procedure.
Se proporcionan guantes antes del procedimiento
The patient was vaccinated yesterday.
El paciente fue vacunado ayer.
New guidelines are being followed.
Se están siguiendo nuevas pautas.
The infection is transmitted through contact
La infección se transmite por contacto.
The protocol is explained to all staff members.
El protocolo se explica a todo el personal.
All instruments are sterilized after use.
Todos los instrumentos se esterilizan después de usarse.
The patient’s condition is being monitored.
La condición del paciente está siendo monitoreada.
Quarantine rules were changed recently
Las reglas de cuarentena fueron cambiadas recientemente.
The samples are stored in the laboratory fridge.
Las muestras se almacenan en el refrigerador del laboratorio.
Passive for Processes (be + past participle + by)
What is and what is the use:
Que es y como se usa
The passive voice is a grammatical structure used when the focus is on the action or the process rather than on the person performing it.
- Active: The nurse cleans the wound. (Focus on the nurse).
- Passive: The wound is cleaned by the nurse. (Focus on the wound and the process).
In medical and hospital contexts, the passive is very common because the emphasis is usually placed on procedures, results, and protocols, not on the individual performing them. For example:
- The samples are analyzed by the lab.
- The instruments are sterilized after each use.
Structure of the Passive
The passive voice is formed with:
Subject (receiver of the action) + verb to be (in the correct tense) + past participle (+ by + agent, optional)
Tense | Passive Form | Example (Healthcare) | Traducción (ES) |
|---|---|---|---|
Present Simple | am / is / are + past participle | Masks are worn in this area. | Las mascarillas se usan en esta área. |
Past Simple | was / were + past participle | The patient was admitted yesterday. | El paciente fue admitido ayer. |
Future Simple | will be + past participle | The samples will be tested tomorrow. | Las muestras serán analizadas mañana. |
Present Continuous | am / is / are + being + past participle | The room is being disinfected now. | La habitación está siendo desinfectada ahora. |
Present Perfect | has / have + been + past participle | The protocol has been updated recently. | El protocolo ha sido actualizado recientemente. |
Why is Passive Voice Important in Healthcare?
- To describe processes and procedures
The wound is cleaned before it is covered. - To state rules and protocols
Gloves must be worn at all times. - To sound neutral and professional (avoiding blame or responsibility)
A mistake was reported. - When the agent is unknown or irrelevant
The infection was detected early.
Passive vs. Active in Hospital English
Active Sentence | Passive Sentence |
|---|---|
The doctor prescribed the medicine. | The medicine was prescribed by the doctor. |
The nurse is checking the patient’s chart. | The patient’s chart is being checked by the nurse. |
They will analyze the samples tomorrow. | The samples will be analyzed tomorrow. |
The staff have updated the guidelines. | The guidelines have been updated. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ The medicine given by the nurse.
✅ The medicine was given by the nurse. (Always include the verb to be).
❌ The samples are testing in the lab.
✅ The samples are tested in the lab. (Use past participle, not gerund).
❌ Gloves are wear before surgery.
✅ Gloves are worn before surgery. (Correct past participle form).
Examples in Context (Healthcare English)
- The blood samples are analyzed daily.
→ Las muestras de sangre se analizan diariamente. - The patient was transferred to another ward.
→ El paciente fue trasladado a otra sala. - The instruments are sterilized after each use.
→ Los instrumentos se esterilizan después de cada uso. - New guidelines have been introduced.
→ Se han introducido nuevas pautas. - The infection is being monitored closely.
→ La infección está siendo monitoreada de cerca. - The vaccine will be distributed next week.
→ La vacuna será distribuida la próxima semana.
Dialogue:
- Nurse: Good morning, Mr. Davis. Your blood sample is being taken by the lab technician.
- Patient: Who analyzes it?
- Nurse: It is analyzed by the laboratory team. The results will be ready in two hours.
- Patient: Thank you for explaining.
Translate:
- Enfermera: Buenos días, Sr. Davis. Su muestra de sangre está siendo tomada por el técnico de laboratorio.
- Paciente: ¿Quién la analiza?
- Enfermera: Es analizada por el equipo de laboratorio. Los resultados estarán listos en dos horas.
- Paciente: Gracias por explicarlo.
Keywords: sample, analyzed, results, technician, laboratory.
Dialogue:
- Nu
- Doctor: The patient must be isolated.
- Nurse: Understood. The isolation room is prepared by the staff every morning.
- Doctor: And the protective equipment?
- Nurse: It is disinfected by the cleaning team after every use.
Translate:
- Enfermera: ¿Puede
- Doctor: El paciente debe ser aislado.
- Enfermera: Entendido. La sala de aislamiento es preparada por el personal cada mañana.
- Doctor: ¿Y el equipo de protección?
- Enfermera: Es desinfectado por el equipo de limpieza después de cada uso.
Keywords: isolated, prepared, disinfected, protective equipment, staff.
Dialogue:
- Supervisor: Can you update me on the tests?
- Nurse: Yes, the blood samples are stored by the nurses in the refrigerator.
- Supervisor: And the cultures?
- Nurse: They are checked by the microbiology department twice a day.
Translate:
- Supervisora: ¿Puede actualizarme sobre las pruebas?
- Enfermera: Sí, las muestras de sangre son almacenadas por las enfermeras en el refrigerador.
- Supervisora: ¿Y los cultivos?
- Enfermera: Son revisados por el departamento de microbiología dos veces al día.
Keywords: stored, checked, department, refrigerator, cultures.
Dialogue:
- Patient: Why do you always wash your hands before touching me?
- Nurse: Because infection control protocols must be followed.
- Patient: Who enforces them?
- Nurse: They are enforced by the hospital administration. This ensures your safety.
Translate:
- Paciente: ¿Por qué siempre se lava las manos antes de tocarme?
- Enfermera: Porque los protocolos de control de infecciones deben cumplirse.
- Paciente: ¿Quién los hace cumplir?
- Enfermera: Son aplicados por la administración del hospital. Esto garantiza su seguridad.
Keywords: enforced, followed, administration, infection control, safety
Learning