ANDIKA AHDAN PRATAMA

1020031014
PSIK 2B

English for Nursing 1

Topic 14

EXPLAINING MEDICATION
Instructional objective
The students are expected to be able:
1. to pronunce well vocabularies relating to medicines, and
2. to act out the practice and therapeutic communication of explaining doctor’s
prescription and instructional labels.

Reading
Direction. Read the nursing note below and get some useful informations regarding explaining
medications. Then, answer the following questions.

NURSING NOTE
According to the American Medical Association, one of the reasons patients don’t
take their medication is due to a lack of understanding. This means they are not
reaching positive health outcomes because they may not understand the how’s and
the why’s of nurse’s orders.

Why is it important to explain medications to patients?

1. Preventing nurses from being sued for malpractice
2. Preventing medication errors
3. Giving patients more power and control over their health
4. Improving patients health

If you prescribe a medication:

1. Explain why you chose that specific medication;
2. Tell them how the medicine will improve their health.
3. Tell them what effects to notice and how long until they appear.
4. Explain to your patients what side effects are normal and which ones are
abnormal.
5. Instruct them on what to do if they have negative side effects, which ones need
emergency room help and which ones need a call to your office.
6. Explain exactly how the medicine works with your body.
7. Explain what can happen if they do not take their medicine.
(Source: proficientrx.com)

1
Questions:
1. Why do patients not take their medication?
Answer : lack of understanding
2. Why is it important to explain medications to patients?
Answer : Preventing nurses from being sued for malpractice, Preventing
medication errors, Giving patients more power and control over their health,
Improving patients health
3. How to explain a medication?
Answer :
 Explain why you choose that specific medication;
 Tell them how the medicine will improve their health.
 Tell them what effects to notice and how long until they appear.
 Explain to your patients what side effects are normal and which ones are
abnormal.
 Instruct them on what to do if they have negative side effects, which ones
need emergency room help and which ones need a call to your office.
 Explain exactly how the medicine works with your body.
 Explain what can happen if they do not take their medicine.
Related Vocabularies
Direction. The followings are the vocabularies related to medicines. Study the meaning and the
example in a sentence. Found and practice the proper pronunciation.
Word Meaning Example in a sentence
Drug (n) A medicine or other substance A new drug aimed at sufferers
which has a physiological effect from Parkinson’s disease.
when ingested or otherwise
introduced into the body

Capsule (n) A small container which has a Take these capsules three
measured amount of medicine times a day.
inside and which dissolves
when you swallow it

Pill (syn. Tablet) A small falt round piece of Here are some pills you are to
(n) medicine that you swallow take one of every eight hours.
without chewing it

Syrup (n) a liquid medicine containing a The doctor prescribed a cough

sugar solution for flavouring or syrup for my son.
preservation

Ampoule (n) A small container usually made An ampoule of epinephrine

2
 of glass containing a drug that was injected through the
will be used for an injection patient’s vein.

Drops (n) A liquid medicine which is given Eye-drops are the most
in the form of globules common medication for
treating infection in the eye.

Effervescent A tablet which dissolves in Effervescence tablets are one

tablet (np) water giving off small bubbles of the most popular forms of
vitamin supplement.

Generic (n) A product which is directly Generic drugs are usually

comparable to aa brand name much lower in cost than brand
without trademark name drugs.

Liniment (n) A liquid or semi-liquid Liniments are most commonly

preparation which is applied used in the treatment of
directly to the skin bruises or sprains.

Suppository (n) A solid mass of medicinal Suppositories are often used

substance which melts when to treat infants for whom
inserted into the rectum or orally administered treatment
vagina is not option.
Tincture (n) A solution of alcohol and animal, Most herbal extracts in the
vegetable, or chemical drugs form of liquids are tinctures.
Transdermal (adj) Applied to the skin for Nicotine patches are the most
absorption into the blood common transdermal patches
stream in the US.
Topical (adj) Local, applied externally to a Topical anesthetics are used
specific part of the body to relieve pain from sunburn,
burns and insect bites.
Dietary A product containing More and more people are
supplement (np) ingredients with nutritional taking dietary supplements to
value, designed to compensate ensure that they meet the
for a lack of this ingredient in a recommended daily allowance
person’s diet of vitamins and minerals.
Active ingredients The chemically active part of a Benadryl’s active ingredient is
(np) drug diphenhydramine.

Contraindications Something which makes a Most drugs contain a list of

(n) particular course of treatment contraindications on the
unadvisable instructions.
Side effects (np) A negative or detrimental effect Patients often feel quite
which accompanies a drugs concerned when they see a
intended effect long list of possible side
effects.
Over-the-counter Without a doctor’s prescription A lot of over-the-counter
(np) but within the law medicines can now be bought
online.

3
Medication Administration Routes and Abbreviations
Cara pemberian Obat dan Singkatan
1. Mouth
 P.O. (Per Os) means by mouth/through mouth.
 SL (Sublingual): Sub (under); lingual (tongue)
 BUCC (Buccal) means between cheek and gums.
 N.P.O (Nil Per Os) means nothing by mouth.
2. Vein
 IV (Intravenous)
 IVPB (Intravenous Piggyback)
 IVP (Intravenous Push)
3. Injection or Skin
 IM (Intramuscular)
 Subq (Subcutaneous)
 ID (Intradermal)
 TD (Transdermal)
4. Miscellaneous
Lain-Lain
 INH (Inhalation)
 IO (Intraosseous)
 ETT (Endotracheal Tube)
 Eye
 Ear
 RECT or PR (Rectum or Per Rectum)
 VAG or PV (Vaginally or Per Vagina)
 Nose: nasally
 NGT (Nasogastric Tube)
 PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy)

Useful Expressions
Direction. Study the communication procedure and the useful expressions of explaining medications to
patients.
A. Explaining what you are going to do
 I am here to ....
 I am going to ....
 It is time for me to ....
 I need to ....
 I just want to ....  I’d like to explain your medication
 I would like to ....
B. Assessment
 Are you allergic to ...?  Are you allergic to aspirin?

4
 C. Giving instructions
 Please take this ..........  Please take this one tablet three times
a day every eight hours before meal.
 Please take this syrup one spoonful
three times a day after meal.
 Here are .........  Here are some pills you are to take
one of every eight hours.

D. Explaining the use of medicine

 They are .........  They are used for your leg pain.
 They are used to reduce your
nausea.

E. Telling patiens the side effects

 Some potential side effects  Some potential side effects are
are ......... stomach pain, diarrhea,
constipation, and ringing in ears.
 Some urgent side effects  Some urgent side effects are chest-
are ......... pain, shortness of breath,
weaknesses, bleeding or coughing
of blood.

F. Instructing patients what to do if negative side effects appear

 You should ....... if negative side  You should go to emergency room

effects appear. if negative side effects appear.

G. Giving caution
 Take these .........  Take these antibiotics all up.
 Don’t take this .........  Don’t take this more than three
times in 24 hours.
 Don’t use it if .........  Don’t use it if it makes a skin rash.
 Discontinue if .........  Discontinue if an adverse reaction
occurs.
 In case ......... give you ..........,  In case the tablets give you
please ......... indigestion, please take them after
meals.

Listening Exercise
Direction. Accomplish the following conversation by listening to the audio file on UFLearn. Then, act out
the dialogue.

Nurse : Good morning, Mr. Jenkins.

Patient : Good morning, Nurse.
Nurse : Did you sleep well last night?

5
Patient : I’m afraid not.
Nurse : Have you had your breakfast?
Patient : Yes.
Nurse : Did you eat them all?
Patient : Yes, I did.
Nurse : That’s good.
Now, Mr. Jenkins (1) here are some tablets
Please take two every six hours.
(2) You should take the medicine after meals if possible to avoid
indigestion.
(3) You may also take them at night if you are experiencing pain.

(The conversations were taken from English for Professional Nurses 1 written by Leo A.
Pamudya.)
Nursing Communication Practice
Direction. Work in pair. Write a nurse-patient conversation of explaining medications. Submit your
conversation scenario on UFLearn. Then, practice the conversation together. You are not allowed to
read aloud the scenario.

N: good morning Mr.Na.

P: good morning nurse.
N:it is time for me to explain your medication.
P: sure nurse.
N: Please take this syrup one spoon full three times a day after meal. They are used to
reduce your nausea.
P: oke nurse
N: You should go to emergency room if negative side effects appear.
P: oke nurse. Thankyou.