Simple Spanish Phrases?

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2005

Thanks GingerSue! :)

mom2twinboys, thank you! I just say,

"Por favor, ¡No habla rapido!" lol Now I know better. hahaha :)

For those times when the answer you get is in Spanish and you know a few words, but can't "hear" that fast...
habla mas despacio, por favor
or even, if desperate:
escriba, por favor
?

suzanne4, RN · Aug 22, 2005

Again, be very careful when trying to ask questions..............you could cause more harm than good. If you miss one word of what they are saying, the entire meaning can be different.

If you are asking if they have pain, do you know the body parts when they describe what it feels like? How would you ask them to describe it? You are much, much better off getting a translator.................it will save you much grief later on.

smk1, LPN · Aug 22, 2005

What are some simple phrases that are beneficial for everyone to know in the medical field? I am making a quiz for my site, and suggestions would be helpful! :)
You don't need to translate, unless you absolutely want to. lol
Here are the ones I have already.
1 How old are you?
2 What is your name?
3 How are you feeling?
4 Do you have pain?
5 I will be your nurse.
6 Where do you have pain?
7 Do you need something for pain?
8 Do you want to walk to the bathroom?
9 May I help you?
10 Is your ride here?
11 When was your last menstruation?
12 On a scale from one to ten, how bad is the pain?
http://www.nursingjourney.com/medical_spanish_quiz.html
Any help is appreciated. :)

1) cuantos anos tienes?

2) como se llama?

3) como se siente?

4)Tiene dolor ( i think?)

5) soy su enfermera.

6)donde esta su duele? ( i think?)

7) necessita la medicina por el dolor?

9)puedo ayudarle?

10) Es la persona que le conduce aqui?

11) Cuando fue su menstruacion ultimo?

12) A uno de diez, cuanto cuenta su dolor?

it's been awhile since i have taken and practiced spanish, but this may help some. Any fluent speakers out there to correct this?

fozzie · Aug 22, 2005

My college was going to offer a Medical Spanish course, but apparently there just weren't enough students signing up for it, so they had to drop it at the last minute. I was really sad about that. We definitely need more Spanish speakers, the Hispanic population in my area is skyrocketing!

Again, be very careful when trying to ask questions..............you could cause more harm than good. If you miss one word of what they are saying, the entire meaning can be different.
If you are asking if they have pain, do you know the body parts when they describe what it feels like? How would you ask them to describe it? You are much, much better off getting a translator.................it will save you much grief later on.

I understand what you're saying, but I guess my concern is what if the hospital doesn't have a translator available? And I always figured it would be better to at least try to speak their language, maybe to help calm them down, but what you say has given me pause. I actually went out and bought a Medical Spanish book the other day, but now I'm wondering if I did the right thing...

(Actually, what I really need is some Spanish slang, because I know that the textbook Spanish I speak might be different from the kind of Spanish I may be hearing from any potential patients...)

not now, RN · Aug 22, 2005

Nessisito sacar sangre.

I need to draw blood. Ah, my days as a phlebotomist.

Euskadi1946 · Aug 22, 2005

You're all absolutely wonderful in trying to learn Spanish to help Hispanic patients. I'm one of the lucky ones who grew up speaking Spanish as it was spoken in my home and I really love taking care of Hispanic patients, especially the new moms and their babies. :)

enfermeraSG · Aug 22, 2005

1) cuantos anos tienes?
2) como se llama?
3) como se siente?
4)Tiene dolor ( i think?)
5) soy su enfermera.
6)donde esta su duele? ( i think?)
7) necessita la medicina por el dolor?
9)puedo ayudarle?
10) Es la persona que le conduce aqui?
11) Cuando fue su menstruacion ultimo?
12) A uno de diez, cuanto cuenta su dolor?
it's been awhile since i have taken and practiced spanish, but this may help some. Any fluent speakers out there to correct this?

First of all, I don't want to bash people who mean well and are trying to help. I think it is admirable, but Suzanne4 is absolutely correct. Memorizing a handful of phrases can be hazardous. Also, using online phrase translators generally do not translate properly because many things don't translate directly. I translate at both hospitals that I work in and I have come across several mishaps that I had to untangle. Pts think that you understand more than you do, and you may be missing key info. Example: we had a pregnant women who had fell down her stairs and the nurse understood the pt saying she was hurting - but not the history as to why. She didn't think to get a translator because she thought it was under control. Anyway, corrections..

5) Soy enfermera/o (don't need su)

6)¿Dónde duele? (or) ¿Dónde está el dolor?

7)¿Desea medicina para el dolor?

8)¿Quíere levantorifice al baño?

10) ¿Es la persona que le lleve aquí?

11) ¿Cuándo fue la ultima regla?

12) En una escala de uno a diez, ¿cuánto dolor siente? (of course this gets complicated as you must explain how pain scale works, so the easier way is to hold up the pain scale and say....) ¿Cuánto dolor tiene? Toque la escala. how much pain do you have? touch the scale.

The best thing to do is learn questions that have yes/no answers along with the phrase "I only speak a little Spanish" ("Solamente hablo poquito español")and "Sorry, I don't understand" (Lo siento, no entiendo) and "Show me" (Muéstreme). Buena suerte! (good luck) SG

suzanne4, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Thank you.............. :)

suzanne4, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Another way to look at it.....how often have you bought a phrase book to use when you have gone to a foreign country, only to have someone reply to your question and you could not understand them?

Also be aware, that many of the patients that you will deal with will use more slang then formal grammar, so you need to know that, as well.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Most facilities will subscribe to a 24 hour translator service either thru AT&T or another company. They are available 24/7 and for any spoken language in the world. Family members should never be used for translating for a consent, procedure, etc. Unless you are able to understand everything that they are saying, they may be leaving out something that is very important because they do not want mom to know, etc.

fozzie · Aug 23, 2005

Most facilities will subscribe to a 24 hour translator service either thru AT&T or another company. They are available 24/7 and for any spoken language in the world. Family members should never be used for translating for a consent, procedure, etc. Unless you are able to understand everything that they are saying, they may be leaving out something that is very important because they do not want mom to know, etc.

Oh, okay. Well then, I guess I shouldn't worry too much. Thanks for addressing my concerns. :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2005

You're all absolutely wonderful in trying to learn Spanish to help Hispanic patients. I'm one of the lucky ones who grew up speaking Spanish as it was spoken in my home and I really love taking care of Hispanic patients, especially the new moms and their babies. :)

Es la verdad que pienso si personas vivan aquí ellos nececitan aprendar inglés. Si vivo en el otro país, entonces necesitaría aprendar la lengua.

Pero todos los personas necesitan ayuda a mismo de sus enfermeras. Esto es porque aprendé español y porque estudiar español ahora.

Gracias. :)

BTW....I did this w/o the help of a translator, other than helping with correct conjugation. :) It may not be perfect, but I think I know enough to get a point made. I just think I should brush up on key phrases, or words. :)

BUT......I have to drop this for a while anyway. I'm taking Chemistry this semester, so I won't have time to deal with español quizzes. :)