English for nursing
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CONTENTS
No NAME OF THE LESSON PAGE
INTRODUCTION 2
UNIT 1 STRESS 4
UNIT 2 DRUG INSTRUCTIONS 13
REVISION UNIT 1 & UNIT 2 21
UNIT 3 CANCER 24
STOP AND CHECK 1 32
UNIT 4 HEALTH PROBLEMS 38
UNIT 5 MEDICINES 46
UNIT 6 STAYING HEALTHY 53
STOP AND CHECK 2 62
GLOSSARY 66
REFERENCES 82
INTRODUCTION
Contrary to popular belief, pharmacy is not limited to counting and dispensing pills. Pharmacy is a
rewarding profession in the health care system that involves working closely with doctors and patients. No
matter what health field you step into, there will always be a need for pharmacists. They provide their
expertise on the composition, use, and manufacturing of a drug, as well as its physiological and chemical
interactions. Pharmacy offers flexible work schedules, a broad spectrum of opportunities, direct patient
contact, and top salaries right out of college!
Pharmacists not only educate consumers on medication use, but also monitor their patient's health
to ensure that the patient is getting the full benefits of the drug. Pharmacists also advise doctors and other
health care professionals on making wise medication decisions. In fact, pharmacists are consistently
ranked as one of the most trusted professions for the services they render.
Due to the rapid growth of the health care system, the increasing elderly population, and the
burgeoning pharmaceutical and biotech industry, there is unprecedented demand for pharmacists today.
Although most of us are familiar with our neighborhood retail pharmacy chains such as Walgreens,
Long's, or RiteAid, many are unaware of the other exciting opportunities in the pharmacy field such as:

thirteen-year-old son. At work, she sits in front of a computer for most of the day. While sitting at
work, her lower back often hurts and her eyes get tired from looking at the computer for long
periods.
During her lunch break, she enjoys taking a walk with a couple of friends. She enjoys the
fresh air and talking with her friends. For lunch, she usually eats something light like a salad and
fruit. At work, she drinks water instead of coffee or soda.
She worries about her son since she cannot be there when he arrives home from school.
She also worries about not having enough money to pay the bills.
Maria suffers from migraine headaches. When this happens, she feels severe pain on both
sides of her head, loses her appetite, feels nauseous, and sometimes even vomits. She can feel this
way of three or four days.
Maria has high blood pressure. High blood pressure is when the heart works harder to
pump blood through the arteries. Maria watches her weight and takes medicine for this disease.
She realizes she must be concerned about her high blood pressure otherwise, she could have a
heart attack, stroke, or suffer from kidney disorders.
Maria realizes that she needs to manage her stress. Therefore, she walks with her friends
during the week. On weekends, she often goes riding with her son. She knows she needs to eat a
sensible diet to maintain the energy needed to cope with her stress.
She sets her priorities to avoid unnecessary time pressures. In the evenings, she does stretching
exercises. Then she relaxes in a warm bath before going to bed. Maria tries to get eight hours of
sleep a night.
Questions and Answers:
Use the story on Stress to answer the following questions:
1. What does Maria drink at work?
………………………………………………………………………………
2. Name two reasons why Maria feels stressed.
………………………………………………………………………………
3. How does Maria feel when she has a migraine headache?
………………………………………………………………………………
4. What is high blood pressure?

Patients in hospital are usually anxious and fearful. It is important that staff put them at
their ease, by being polite and pleasant. The following drills teach you polite forms in English.
Drill : Change these commands to polite requests. Be careful to make your voice rise and fall
correctly:
Command: Sit down/Turn over/Bend down/Turn round/Lie down.
Move your head/Lift your leg/Put out your tongue
Arch your back/ Bend your knees/Wriggle your fingers
Take your shirt off /Keep your mouth open/Keep your eyes shut
C. Our bodies give us signs to show us that we are sick.
These signs are called symptoms. Here are some common symptoms
Class discussion:
I have got
I get + a/an + noun
I can’t + verb
I feel + adjective
Ex: I get chest pains after running.
I’ve got a sore throat.
I feel nauseous.
I can’t breathe properly.
Practice: How can you say when you get sick?
allergy backache sneeze red eyes
cough dizzy sore throat runny nose
earache flu stiff neck diarrhea
headache indigestion stomachache toothache
laryngitis nauseous cold fever
SECTION 4: PRACTICE
I/ Choose “my, your, his, her, its, our, or their” to complete the sentences:
1. Ann has three children. ………….children like to read books.
2. I have a sister. ………….sister is younger than I am.
3. The children have new toys. ………… toys are nearby.

5. She feels nauseous 
6. She has got a rash 
B. Peter’s doctor says he has food poisoning. What could his symptoms be? Tick them
1. He has got a sore throat 
2. He feels nauseous 
3. He has diarrhea 
4. He cannot breathe properly 
5. He has itchy skin 
6. He has a pain in his stomach 
C. Match the names of the diseases with their symptoms:
1. A fever a. You have a pain in your head.
2. Stomachache b. You sneeze frequently, have a sore throat and cough.
3. Nausea c. The body temperature is higher than normal.
4. Toothache . You feel like vomiting.
5. A cold e. You have a pain in or near your stomach.
6. Headache f. You have a pain in your teeth or one tooth.
V/ Write the plural form for each noun:
1.baby 11.child
2.tomato 12.man
3.dish 13.woman
4.box 14.tooth
5.knife 15.foot
6.body 16. mouse
7.key 17.goose
8.radio 18. fish
9.match 19. sheep
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10. hobby 20. deer
VI/ Put the verbs in brackets into the simple present tense:
1. She (not/work) in the X – ray department.

3. Jose……………………………………. his children about fire safety.
4. Jim……………………………about his mother who is in the hospital.
5. She………………………………her math everyday.
6. The baby……………………………… when he is hungry.
7. Silvia …………………………………………fruit for a snack.
8. Armando……………………………………his weight.
9. Marta ………………………… her grandmother in the wheelchair.
10. Jack…………………………his children before they go to school.
IX/ Choose have, has, do, does, go or goes to complete the sentences:
1. Mark…………………………………….high blood pressure.
2. Nancy………………………………… to work at eight o’clock.
3. Tom…………………………………… his homework in the evening.
4. She…………………………………… to the grocery store on Mondays.
5. Jay and Kim……………………………their exercises in the morning.
6. Luis and I…………………………to high school.
7. I……………a pain in my chest.
X/ Choose at, in or on to complete the sentences:
1. I was born…………….1948.
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2. I live ………….Quang Trung street.
3 ……………… Wednesday I go to the dentist.
4. She was born……………August 7, 1952.
5. The baby sleeps……………night.
6. My class begins………….9.30 a.m.
7. We live ……… 21 Hung Vuong street.
8. They live ………….Quang Ngai city.
XI/ Put in the correct word from this list: off, to, back, in, on, down, by, up, round, from,
with, in, to, of:
1. Ask the patient to come……………… and sit………………
2. Ask the patient to stand……………….and turn……………

doctor is doing a ward round and a physiotherapist is helping a pneumonia-patient to do deep-
breathing exercises.
Questions:
1. What does Jane do?

2. Where does she work?

3. Does she go to work at the same time every day?

4. Where is she training?

5. Whom is she learning to nurse?

6. What is she doing at the moment?

7. What are the other nurses doing?

8. Is there a doctor in the ward?

9. What is a pneumonia-patient doing?

SECTION 2: GRAMMAR: Review: + Genitive cases.
+ The present continuous tense.
A. Find examples of the present simple and present continuous tenses in the passage.
B. Which tense describes:
. something that happens regularly or every day?
. something that is happening now or at the moment?
C. Can you make -ING forms of verbs?
Column A Column B
THI ITING

Philip: (2)………………………………………………………………………
Chris: And is your brother still working in Hong Kong?
Philip: (3)……………………………………………………………………
Chris: And how about your parents? Are they still living in Florida?
Philip: (4)…………………………………………………………………
How about you and your family, Chris? Are you still living here?
Chris: (5)…………………………………………………………………
SECTION 3: SPEAKING:
1. Number the instructions in order from 1 to 5:
A. Follow the instructions.
B. Check that you’re taking the right dosage.
C. Take three times daily.
D. Keep out of reach of children.
E. Remember to shake the bottle first.
2. Read the leaflet on taking medicine and circle the instruction words:
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN TAKING MEDICINE
Medicine improves the lives of thousands of Australians every day, but they can be harmful if
not used as intended. To avoid this, talk to your doctor and pharmacist about your health and
about your medicine will work.
A. Make sure you understand how to take your medicine.
B. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible – effects.
C. Check, whether there are any precautions, you should take when using medicine, such as
not drinking alcohol.
D. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any problems you have had with taking the
medicine, and any adverse effects it has caused.
SECTION 4: PRACTICE:
I/ Write the correct possessive word in the blank:
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Article Possessor +‘s Thing possessed
The doctor’s room

1. Mr. Green always (go) to work by bus.
………………………………………………………………………
2. It (not/ rain) in the dry season.
…………………………………………………………………………
3. They (have) lunch in the cafeteria now.
……………………………………………………………………….
4. My little sister (drink) milk every day.
………………………………………………………………………….
5. The doctor sometimes (return) home late.
………………………………………………………………………….
6. He (write) a long novel at present?
…………………………………………………………………………….
7. Look! The bus (come)
…………………………………………………………………………………
8. The earth (move) around the sun.
………………………………………………………………………………….
9. I (feel) hungry now.
………………………………………………………………………………….
10. They often (thank) me for what I do for them.
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………………………………………………………………………………
IV/ Choose the best answer:
1. Pharmacists are………………………….at a college of pharmacy.
A. studied B. trained C. learned D. done
2. We should have a ………………………examination every 6 months.
A. medicine B. medicate C. medical D. medicinal
3. I want to buy some aspirins. Let’s go to the pharmacy.
A. department store B. drugstore C. clothing store D. bookstore
4. You have…………… sore throat. Take……… three tablets……… day.
A. - / - / a B. a / - / a C. a / the / a D. a /a / -

For stomachache
Take the tablets every 4 hours. They can cure
your stomachache in a few hours.
Adults: two tablets each time
Children from 6 to 12 years old: one tablet each
time.
Chew the tablets and swallow them with water.
Do this for 12 hours after your stomachache
has disappeared. This prevents your
stomachache from returning. If your
stomachache does not improve, see your
doctor.
Warning:
Do not take more than the dose stated above.
Anti – Sting
For insect bites and stings. Help to prevent pain
and itching
Important: Used on the skin only. Rub gently
on the skin two or three times daily for up to
three days. Keep out of the reach of the
children.
If there is no improvement within three days,
see your doctor
Paratecil tablets
For headaches, colds and influenza
Dose:
Adults and children over 12 years: one to two
tablets, three or four times daily. Don’t
continue to take the tablets for more than three
days. If you do not get better after this time, see

3. (that/ those) Where are…………………………keys?
4. (This/ These) ………………………………shoes are too tight.
5. (That/ Those) ……………………………….house is big.
III/Choose have, has, do, does, go or goes to complete the sentences:
1. She…………………………… a new dress.
2. What………………………the doctor say?
3. I……………………………… a cold.
4. When……………….we eat?
5. Doris and Jim…………………………… a new baby.
6. My mother……………………………….to school at night.
7. You shift work.
8. He usually a late shift.
9. They on duty at 2 p.m.
10. The nurse her best to help the sick.
IV/Choose at, in or on to complete the sentences:
1. I have an appointment…………one o’clock.
2. My sister takes a nap…………….the afternoon.
3. School starts………………… September 7
th
.
4. Steven does his homework……………………… the evening.
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5. I was born ………………… 1948.
V/Choose a, an, some to complete the sentences:
1. The girls are eating……………………………bananas for a snack.
2. She has ………….twelve year old son.
3. Sandra eats………………….apple for lunch.
4. The children found………….matches on the table.
5. Maria is…………single mother.
VI/ Use each verb once to fill in the blank:

chills which usually accompany upper respiratory infections. It is most useful in controlling
allergic manifestations such as sneezing, and runny nose, and nasopharyngeal inflammation.
Recommended dosage (3 – 4 times a day)
Infants: 2, 5 – 5ml (1/2 – 1 teaspoonful)
2 – 6 years: 5 – 10ml (1 – 2 teaspoonful)
7 to 12 years: 15ml (1 tablespoonful)
Adults: 30ml (2 tablespoonfuls)
Or as prescribed by the physician.
1. What is Delcolgen used for?
2. Can it be useful to release sneezing, runny nose and nasopharyngeal inflammation?
3. How many times should we use Delcolgen a day?
4. How much of Delcolgen should we give to a 2 – 6 child?
5. 10ml is equivalent to:………………………….teaspoonfuls
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UNIT 3: CANCER
SECTION 1: READING COMPREHENSION
Kathy is on her way to the hospital. She had a mammogram last week and the film
showed some lumps in her breast that had not been there before. A mammogram is not painful. A
machine takes a picture of your breast. Kathy’s doctor recommends that she have a mammogram
every two years.
Kathy is 48 years old. Her mother at the age of 56 died of breast cancer. As with all
cancers, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are very important. Her mother never went to
doctor. Finally, when she was feeling so poorly she went to the hospital and they told her she had
breast cancer. By then it had spread to her bones and several months later, she died. Today, they
are going to take more pictures of Kathy’s breast. If the lumps are malignant (or cancerous), they
will need to be removed before the cancer spreads to other parts of her body.
Kathy knows she is at high risk for breast cancer since her mother died of it. Kathy
watches her weight, eats a low fat diet, and exercises. She does a monthly breast self –
examination and knows that most lumps found in the breast are not cancerous but women need to
see their physicians to find out for sure.

2. Woman: What’s the matter, Lee? Are you OK?
Man: No, not really. I‘ve got this awful toothache.
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Woman: Oh, that’s terrible! You know you really should go to the dentist if it’s that bad.
Man: Yeah, I suppose I should.
3. Woman: You look a bit pale. Are you all right?
Man: No, not really. I’ve got such a sore throat I can hardly talk.
Woman: Well, that’s no good. Maybe you shouldn’t be at work. Why don’t you go home?
Man: I’d love to but I can’t. I’ve got too much to do.
4. Woman: That cough doesn’t sound very good, Carl.
Man: Yeah, I know. I’ve had it for ages. I just can’t get rid of it.
Woman:Well, I think you should stop smoking.
Man: Oh, I don’t think it’s that.
5. Woman: Silvia, hi. Are you OK?
Silvia: No, I’ve still got this cold.
Woman:Oh, you poor thing. You’ve had it for weeks now. You should take some Vitamin C.
Silvia: Yes, lots of people have told me vitamin C is good.
Practice 1: Work in pairs
What sympathy do these people get from their friends? What advice do they get?
1. She has got a headache. 4. He has got a cold
2. He has got a toothache. 5. He has a sore throat.
3. He has got a cough.
Sympathy: Advice:
A. That cough doesn’t sound very good.  F. Lie down for a while 
B. Oh, that’s terrible.  G: Go to the dentist 
C. Oh, you poor thing.  H: Take Vitamin C 
D. Well, that’s no good.  I: stop smoking 
E. Oh, you poor thing.  J: Go home 
Practice 2: Match the cause “flu; passive smoking; allergy; stress; diabetes” to the following
symptoms:

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• poor concentration
Cause:

SECTION 4: PRACTICE:
I/ Write the sentences in the past tense. The first one has been done for you.
Marta is at school today.
Marta was at school yesterday.
1. Today I am tired. ………………………………………………
2. He is busy today. ………………………………………………
3. They are ill today. ………………………………………………
4. You are sick today. ………………………………………………
5. It is hot today. ………………………………………………
II/ Complete the conversation using the correct form of the verbs in brackets (simple
present or simple past):
A: Where you (live)………… ?
B: In Dublin.
A: …………you….… (like) Dublin?
B: Yes, we do. We………(like) the Irish people, too. My wife……… (not/ like) the rain
very much. She…………. (prefer) sunny weather.
A: When…………you ………… (move) here?
B: We……………… (move) here about four years ago.
III/ Match the words with similar meanings:
1……………………. ccasionally understand
2……………… … start occurs
3…………………… couple begin
4……………………. everal some
5……………………… realize dash
6……………………… accept sometimes
7……………………… attends hefty

1. when / in / 84 / died / he /he / 1980 / was
…………………………………………………………………
2. to / she / ago / moved / years / Spain / three.
………………………………………………………………………….
3. of / didn’t / out / he / the / but / he / slipped / fall / tree.
…………………………………………………………………………………
4. feet / begin / swell / when / your / did / to?
…………………………………………………………………………………
5. stood / rain / two / for / hours / she / the / in
…………………………………………………………………………………
VI/ Choose the best answer:
1. Your tonsils can get swollen when you have a sore……………………
A. eye B. throat C. toe D. lips
2. The……………….is located in the middle of the arm.
A. elbow B. ankle C. shoulder D. knee
3. You shouldn’t drive because this medicine might make you feel…………
A. swollen B. pain C. sleepy D. insomnia
4. She may never walk again because her…………was so badly injured.
A. spine B. finger C. eye D. ear
5. Discontinue using this cream immediately if it makes you feel…………
A. sleepy B. itchy C. sprain D. bandage
SECTION 5: FURTHER PRACTICE:
I/ Rearrange the sentences to make a dialogue between a doctor and a patient:
Turn up your trousers so that I can have a look at it.
I’m worried as I am catching a plane this evening.
How did you manage to do that?
You should have it X – rayed immediately.
You can go to the X – ray Department this afternoon at 2.30 p.m.
-I fell and sprained my ankle.
It seems to be swollen, compared to my other ankle.

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2/ Match the words with similar meanings:
1……………………dangerous remedy
2……………………defect combine
3……………………twice two
4……………………cure blemish
5……………………mix risky
B/ GRAMMAR FOCUS:
I/Choose the best answer:
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1. The patient lost so much weight that his …………….were sunken in.
A. toes B. mouth C. nose D. cheeks
2. We’ll put a cool cloth on your ………………to get your fever down.
A. teeth B. tongue C. forehead D. knees
3. The doctor wrote me a……………….for a new type of pain reliever.
A. prescription B. examination C. description D. radiation
4. ……………….from this medication include nausea and depression.
A. stress B. symptoms C. side effects D. signs
5. Your grandfather will be able to walk better after his ……………surgery.
A. chin B. hip C. waist D. arm
II/Put these words in the correct order to make sentences:
1. fell / stairs / broke / neck / he / down / the / and / his
…………………………………………………………………………………

cheeks nose tongue neck mouth ears
brain hair face upper body throat teeth
jaw forehead eyes lips chin scalp
Inside the head is the (1)……………, which is responsible for thinking. The top of a person’s
(2)………………is covered with (3)…………… Beneath the hairline at the front of the (4)
…………….is the (5)………… Underneath the forehead are the (6)…………….for seeing,
the (7)………… for smelling, and the (8) ……………for eating. On the outside of the mouth
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are the (9)… ……., and on the inside of the mouth are the (10)………… for biting and the
(11)………….for tasting. Food is swallowed down the (12)…………At the sides of the face
are the (13)………… and at the sides of the head are the (14)………… for hearing. At the
bottom of a person’s face is the (15)……………….The (16)……………… is located on the
inside of the cheeks and chin. The (17)……………is what attaches the head to the (18)
……………
V/ Read the following passage and answer the following questions:
Teeth do lots of things. They help you eat by chewing food. It’s the first step in the
process of digestion. Teeth also help you talk. Say the word thirsty and the little. Did you feel
your tongue touch your upper front teeth? You should have felt it on the th- and the –tle. You
need your teeth to create certain sounds in speech. Teeth help determine how you look. They
support muscles in your face. If you didn’t have teeth, your lips would go inward.
Teeth are the hardest parts of the human body. They often survive long after the bones
have decayed. Although they are hard, teeth can decay. Have you ever had a hole in a tooth? It
develops when tiny bacteria eat away at the enamel. Luckily, a dentist can fill the holes that
bacteria make. Once a tooth decays, it can more easily break. That’s why it’s so important to
keep clean. Brushing your teeth helps get rid of bacteria and the bits of food that bacteria feed on.
1/ Human teeth are
A. an important part of the digestive system.
B. beautiful when you smile and talk.
C. to make your lips full.
D. what lucky dentists look after.

There are many ways to treat them. We can use medicine but sometimes the doctor must
analyze patient’s daily living patterns. The doctor can advise us to change in diet, in the way of
working and to decrease the tension when we are working.
Everyone has headaches from time to time. In Vietnam, there are over 50 percent students
in hostels have headaches. We must know how to cure for headaches.
UNIT 4: HEALTH PROBLEMS
SECTION 1: Read and practice three dialogues between Craig and his co – workers:
A: Joan: Hi, Craig! How are you?
Craig: Not so good. I have a terrible cold.
Joan: Really? That’s too bad! You should be at home in bed. It’s really important
to get a lot of rest.
Craig: Yeah, you’re right.
Joan: And have you taken anything for it?
Craig: No, I haven’t.
Joan: Well, it’s helpful to chop up some garlic and cook it in chicken stock.
Craig: Ugh!
B: Dan: That cold sounds pretty bad, Craig!
Craig: Yeah, it is. Don’t get too close.
Dan: Well, you know, it’s important to drink a lot of liquids. I’ve got some
herbal tea. Let me make you a cup.
Craig: Gee, that’s nice of you! What kind of herbal tea is it?
Dan: I think it’s ginseng.
Craig: Oh, Ok. That sounds good.
C: Kim: How’s that cold, Craig.
Craig: Not so good. I’ve still got it.
Kim: Oh, too bad. Well, listen, it’s a good idea to take some cold medicine. And
you should go home and take a long, warm bath.
Craig: You’re right. Maybe I should. Thanks for the advice.
In what dialogues are these pieces of advice given:
1. drink a lot of liquids 4. take a long, warm bath

…………………………………………………………………………………
5. For a fever, don’t get out of bed.
…………………………………………………………………………………
6. For stress, go to bed.
…………………………………………………………………………………
7. For a sore throat, don’t talk too much.
…………………………………………………………………………………
8. For a pain in your arm, use a heating pad.
…………………………………………………………………………………
9. For insomnia, don’t drink coffee at night.
…………………………………………………………………………………
10. For a sunburn, use some lotion.
…………………………………………………………………………………
SECTION 3: PRACTICE
1/ Any suggestions?
A. Check the best advice for each health problem:
1. a backache  use a heating pad
 get some exercise
 take some vitamin C
2. a headache  take some vitamin C
 take some aspirins
 take some good advice
3. a bad cold  see a dentist
 go to bed and rest
 take some good advice
 put anti-itch cream on it
4. an insect bite  take some aspirins
 drink lots of liquids
5. the hiccups  drink lots of hot water
 take some cold medicine

……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
3/ Read the four conversations:
1. A: Were you here last week, Maria?
B: No, I wasn’t. I didn’t feel very well.
A: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What was wrong?
B: I had a sore throat and a headache.
A: Did you go to the doctor’s?
B: No, I didn’t. I just stayed in bed.
A: Do you feel better now?
B: Yes, I’m fine now, thanks.
2. A: Were you away yesterday, Pedro?
B: Yes, I was at the hospital.
A: Why? What was up?
B: I fell downstairs and hurt my wrist.
A: Oh, dear! Is it all right?
B: Yes, it isn’t broken.
A: That’s good. Does it still hurt?
B: Well, it’s better today, but it hurts when I
move it.
3. A: Where were you yesterday, Anne?
B: I was at the dentist’s. I had terrible toothache.
A: Oh, dear. That doesn’t sound very nice.
4. A: Were you away last week, Sanjit?
B: Yes, I was. I was ill.
A: Oh, what was the matter?
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B: No, it wasn’t. It really hurt. I couldn’t sleep on

Sanjit:
………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
UNIT 5: MEDICINES
SECTION 1:
1. Read and practice the conversations between a pharmacist and a customer:
A: Pharmacist: Hi. Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, please. Could I have something
for a cough?
Pharmacist: Well, I suggest a box of these cough
drops. And you should get a bottle of vitamin C,
too.
Customer: Thank you. And what do you have for
dry skin?
Pharmacist: Try some of this new lotion. It’s very
good.
Customer: Ok. Thanks a lot.
B: Customer: Excuse me.
Pharmacist: Yes? How can I help you?
Customer: Um, What do you suggest for a
backache?
Pharmacist: Well, you should take some
aspirins. And it’s also a good idea to use a heating
pad.
Customer: Thanks. Oh, and where are the
aspirins?
Pharmacist: They are in aisle five. Right over
there.