UNIT 1 EVENTS IN THE PAST Nightmares at Work: how to deal with difficult patients E.T.E. Karim Juárez Cortés

Nightmares at Work: how to deal with difficult patients Instructions: Read the next text to learn more vocabulary, look at the words in black and look at them in the dictionary to know the meaning of them and pay attention to the words in blue, red and green. Instrucciones: Lee el siguiente texto para aprender mas vocabulario, localiza las palabras en negritas y búscalas en el diccionario para saber el significado de estas y pon atención en las palabras en azul.

Nightmares at Work: how to deal with difficult patients Dear Diary, I had a really challenging day today. I love my Job, but on days like today, being a nurse in a busy hospital seems like a real nightmare. My shift began with Carl James, a 55-year-old man who has cancer. He rang his buzzer three times in a row. First to ask for water, then for his medicine, then for an extra blanket. On my third trip, I wanted to wring his neck, but instead, I took the time to spend a few minutes with him. "My kids didn't come and see me at all yesterday," he told me. "And my wife has been so busy at work that she only stopped in for a little while."

Then I understood: Carl was lonely. I made small efforts for the rest of my shift to stop into his room and visit with him, which was probably all he wanted in the first place. I had a similar incident later in the morning with an older woman recovering from a mild stroke. She's a real grouch, and I never seem to be able to do anything right in her eyes. She's always too hot or too cold or hungry or thirsty. She always seems confused about everything. She doesn't seem to remember that she's actually already eaten lunch or that someone has given her her meds. She's a tricky one. Sometimes the best way to deal with her is to just agree with her, "Yes, Mrs. Stevenson. OK, Mrs. Stevenson. As if this wasn't enough, I had to prepare 27-year-old Sidney Turner for surgery. He was having his appendix out. I've done lots of OR prep, and it isn't usually a problem.

However, I think Sidney is a heroin addict, and he's been in the hospital for almost a week and is going through some form of withdrawal. He's really moody and angry. He yelled at me today because I dropped an empty bedpan, which made a loud noise that startled him. "What kind of nurse are you anyway?" he asked. I think the best way to deal with these kinds of situations is just to ignore the comment. If I had engaged in a conversation with Sidney, I would have become emotional and lost my cool.

After my interaction with Sidney, things slowed down a little, and I had time during my break to talk with Sandra. She, too, has had days like I had today, dealing with difficult patients. She reminded me that we all need to be treated with respect - patients, doctors and nurses alike - and that this was something that I should expect. She said that sometimes it's necessary to read patients the riot act - gently, of course. All in all, I suppose that my day wasn't too bad. Talking with Sandra reminded me that I'm not alone and that we all have days like this.

Now read again the previous text and look at the words in black and read the next definitions of each one, if it is necessary look at them in the bilingual dictionary to look for the correct meaning in Spanish. (Lee nuevamente el texto previo y busca las palabras en negritas y lee las siguientes definiciones de cada una, si es necesario búscalas en el diccionario bilingüe para su significado correcto en español.) Hello! My name is Charles! Now it is time to analyze some questions and answers to comprehend the previous reading and practice our reading skill.

All in all: phrase, all things considered, as a whole. Appendix: noun. An appendage, especially the vermiform appendix, a small tube about the size of a goose quill opening into the cecum and closed at its other end. Bedpan: noun a receptacle for urine and feces used by a bedridden patient. Buzzer: noun a device that produces a buzzing (vibrating) noise and is used for signaling. Grouch: noun. a grumbler, a complainer, a n irritable person.

OR prep: idiom. Common abbreviation for the act of preparing the patient for the operating room. Such preparation would vary depending upon the type of surgery planned. Riot act: idiom. A strong warming. Startle: verb. To cause sudden shock or alarm, to surprise. Withdrawal: noun. The process of ceasing to take a drug to which one is addicted, often with unpleasant reactions (withdrawal symptoms).

Read again the text to get specific information and read the next statements, click the correct answer to identify the correct meaning. ( Lee nuevamente el texto para obtener información especifica y lee las siguientes oraciones, haz Click en la respuesta correcta para identificar el significado correcto) 1)He rang his buzzer three times in a row. One time after the other Every 10 minutes In one day 2) I made small efforts for the rest of my shift. tried to work harder Continue to do nice things Became more thoughtful. 3) Someone has given her her meds. Her share of medicines Her routine meditation Her medium meditation

Incorrect !!! Come back to the exercise ( Regresar al ejercicio) Come back to the exercise ( Regresar al ejercicio)

Correct !!!!

REFERENCES: (Referencias) Material taken from: ( Material tomado de:) Charles Melanie, (2002), Nursing in a New Language. Taiwan: Lynx Publishing. (page 67) Images taken from: ( Imágenes tomadas de:) Nurse1: Nurse2: Nurse3: on-the-job-pictures/