Want to make a Spanish Cheat Sheet

[JemJ]

Hi guys, I need your help: For my RN III project I am making a Spanish "cheat sheet" for the non-Spanish speakers on my unit (we're in Texas) and I need some extra words! I have words like pillow, itch, blanket, pain, hot, cold, scared, dressing change, bath, urine - but what are words that you wish you knew how to say? Or that you wish you understood when you patients said them? I just need the English words (I'll find the Spanish ones). Any and all words are welcome and needed!

Thank you!

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Great idea. I've actually benefitted from a similar reference tool that a coworker made when I was working med/surg.

Some other topics and words that come to mind:

nausea

vomiting

diarrhea

shortness of breath/trouble breathing

hungry

thirsty

medicine (pills)

medicine (IV)

bathroom

sleep

door

light

phone

table

walk

interpreter

Body parts: head,chest,back, arms,legs, hands,feet etc (helps with pain assessment)

We had a great little sheet like this with common phrases and words. But we also used interpreters. It's a huge help.:heartbeat

[mazy]

This is a really good resource:

http://www.medicalspanish.com/dictionary/english-spanish.html

[ninjago]

When I was working in OB before, I made a cheat sheet, too (couldn't find it right now) because most of my patients are Spanish speaking. I speak a little Spanish so these were some of the tough ones for me:

Please save the soiled sanitary pads so I can see how much blood in it.

How many sanitary pads have you used since this morning?

was there little, some or a lot of blood in it?

have you passed gas/flatus yet? (for c-section)

After asking the patient about their pain....

Are you ready for a walk now? We are going to do it slowly. Please let me know if you are in pain or feel dizzy during the walk.

how many times did the baby poop? pee?

breastfed? bottle-fed? how many ounces?

Please make sure to burp baby after every feeding.

I'll write more when I find my cheat sheet. :)

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

We had a binder on our unit, that included both words and phrases (are you including phrases as well?). That would be more helpful than just the words....

Are you too hot/too cold? (rather than just the words for hot and cold)....that sort of thing.

I need to take....temperature/blood pressure, etc.

incision

doctor

nurse

various family members (mom, dad, sister, husband, etc)

specific pain (headache, stomachache.....dolor de cabeza, dolor de estomago)

cough and deep breathe

Do you have any questions? (probably would be used in conjuction with, "I will call an interpreter")

use the call light if you need help

call for help if: you need to get up, you need medicine, etc

are you comfortable?

nothing to eat or drink

xray

number (for pain....once you have gone over the pain scale with the patient with the help of an interpreter, you can ask them for their "pain number," to help when you medicate them and reassess afterwards)

I know the list may get too long, and that there are only so many things you can address without calling an interpreter....so if I am adding too much, just disregard. :) If I think of anything else pertinent, I will let you know! Good luck (and good idea....our binders came in very handy!)!

[JemJ]

You guys are great! Thank you so much! Other replies are always welcome!

:)