Exercise 1

Instruction: Match the following sentence with the sentence choices below

1. The technical term for difficulty in breathing a. dyspnoea

is A b. oedema
2. The technical term for fluid in the tissues is B c. cyanosis
3. Blue lips or nails are a sign of C d. jaundice
4. A patient whose face looks yellow has D, e. laceration
5. The technical term for a cut is a E f. irregular
6. A pulse which is not regular is F g.
7. The technical term for blood in the vomit is G. haematemesi
8. A pulse which is difficult to feel is H s
9. A patient who does not want to eat anything h. shallow
has I pulse
10. If a patient has an injury which leaves a mark i. anorexia
on the skin, but the skin is not broken, he has J j. bruising

Exercise 2

Now answer these questions:

Who does a nurse write down information about a patient for?

She gives information about the patient's health to other members of the medical staff.

Why must the notes she writes be clear and brief?

Because it must be easy for other nurses and doctors to read it quickly, for example : If a patient has
been vomiting a lot, but then he drinks some water and does not vomit, she writes ' Pt. tolerated
water.'

Now write a brief note on each of the following situations:

c) The patient says he has a headache.

Pt. had headache.

Pt. c (C) headache.

d) I held an ice-bag to his swollen elbow.

Pt. c (C) swelling elbow needed ice-bag.

Pt. needed ice-bag.

e) He said 'Nurse, I'm not going to eat this food,' when I gave him his lunch.

Pt. refused food.

f) His pulse is strong and regular.

Pt. P is strong and regular.

Pt. P is normal

g) He drank some water and he didn't vomit.

Pt. tolerated water.

h) He says his bowels haven't opened for two days.

Pt. c (C) constipation.

i) His lips and fingernails look blue.

Pt. c (C) cyanosis.

j) He was walking about this morning, but at three o'clock this afternoon he went to bed.

Pt. Had been Tired

Exercise 3:

Now complete these sentences:

a) The most suitable temperature for a patient’s room ranges from 20 0C to 23.30C.
b) A temperture of 370C is normal.
c) A pulse rate of 100 beats per minute for an adult at rest is above normal
d) the normal blood pressure in a young adult is about 120/80 mm/Hg.
e) The diameter size of a hypodermic needle range normal 13 to 27.
f) A pulse rate of 65 beats per minute is below normal