Explaining Procedures and Giving Instructions in Spanish

00:00 There may be situations where you are going to give a little procedure.

00:06 This could be a physical examination, drawing blood or an operation.

00:11 With all of these explanations, you are going to start the sentence with "Le voy a" - this means, (I am going to.) Giving the patient insight into your actions and behaviors can tremendously mitigate nerves and hesitations.

00:31 Explain to the patient what you are doing to help build trust and understanding.

00:39 Here's the first example of a “Le voy a” statement.

00:44 "Le voy a hacer un examen físico." This means (I am going to give you a physical examination.) "Examen" is exam, and "fisico" is physical.

01:01 So "Le voy a hacer un examen físico." You might say, "Le voy a hacer un análisis de sangre." Now, we learned "Sangre" earlier.

01:21 Do you remember what that means? Blood! So, (I am going to draw your blood.) Let’s consider another situation.

01:32 "Le voy a colocar una inyección." This means (I am going to give you an injection.) "Le voy a colocar una inyección." (I am going to give you an injection.) This phrase can be a little tricky, so it goes like this, "Le voy a colocar una inyección." Last but not least, let's consider an actual operation.

02:07 You would say, "Lo voy a operar." This means (I am going to operate on you.) Operate and "operar" sound very similar.

02:19 So, here's what I want you to do.

02:22 Practice describing what you are doing with the patient.

02:26 There may be specific instructions that you need to give to your patients.

02:32 Here are a few simple instructions and guidance for you to consider.

02:37 You might request the patient to stand up or sit down.

02:43 "Siéntate" and "Levántate." "Sientate" is to sit down. "Levantate" is levitating up.

02:54 Let's say it, "sientate" sit down, "levantate" stand up.

03:02 You might also ask the patient to "Respire hondo" which is (to breathe deeply.) then "Exhale." (to exhale.) In all of these instructions, complementing your phrases with action steps like what I just did is a great complement to the communication.

03:26 Remember, communication is more than just verbal words.

03:31 These actions and gesticulations can be a powerful aid in your connection with the patient.

03:39 The last phrase you might use is "Abra la boca" which is (Open your mouth) "Abra" is a conjugation of "abrir" which means to open.

03:52 Think "Abracadabra" and then boom! Your mouth opens! "Abra" means open.

04:00 Next, "la boca" means mouth. "La boca." So, "abra la boca" means (Open your mouth.) So, here's what I want you to do.

04:13 "Levantate" and go speak with someone with these instructions today! There are additional special instructions you might have to say, like "No coma nada después de la medianoche." This means (Do not eat anything after midnight.) Say this again. "No coma" which means no eating, "nada" which means nothing. Remember, this means nothing.

04:52 Which we remember as a possible answer to our questions.

04:56 Remember "nunca" and "nada" means never and nothing.

05:00 Then we can say "después" means after and "de la medianoche" means midnight. (Do not eat anything after midnight.) You might give "la medicina" from "la farmacia" - or the medicine from the pharmacy but there are special instructions. You might say, "Tome sus medicamentos como se lo recetó su doctor.

05:36 This means, (Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.) Remember "Medicamentos" and "doctor" from earlier.

05:49 Now it’s a sentence, "Tome" (to take) "sus medicamentos" (your medicine) "como se lo recetó" (as prescrbed) "su doctor" (doctor).

06:03 "Tome sus medicamentos como se lo recetó su doctor." Let's say that you've given care and you need them to come back for a follow up appointment.

06:18 You might say, "Regrese a verme en una semana." this means (Come back to see me in a week.) Let's break this down so that you can edit it for the patient needs.

06:33 "Regrese" means come back. Think regress which means to return and then "a verme" is two words put together.

06:44 So "ver" means to see and "me" means me! So, "regrese" come back "verme" – to see me.

06:56 You might end the sentence there.

06:58 If there is a specific time and place then you can add "en una semana" - "en" means in and "una" means one - remember "uno" means one from our Spanish numbers - "uno, dos tres, cuatro, cinco." And then "semana" means week.