ENGLISH FOR NURSING
DIAGNOSIS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Once you have completed the module, you’ll be able to:
Read aloud the reading text,
Identify the answer of reading comprehension questions,
Find and define the specific terms, and
Modify affirmative sentences into yes/no question.
VOCABULARIES AND PRONOUNCIATION
Direction. Practice the following pronunciation. Repeat each word for three times.
1. Symptom /ˈsim(p)təm/ (n) : gejala
2. Mistake /məˈstā k/ (n) : kesalahan
3. Examination /iɡˌzaməˈnā SH(ə)n/ (n) : pemeriksaan
4. Treatment /ˈtrētmənt/ (n) : perawatan
5. Recover /riˈkəvər/ (v) : memulihkan
6. Correct /kəˈrekt/ (adj) : benar
7. Appropriate (adj) : sesuai
READING ALOUD
Direction. Read aloud the dialogue below.
Diagnosis
Making a correct diagnosis is a very responsible task any time a patient
consults a physician, regardless of the supposed seriousness of the symptoms.
Forming the right one will allow the patient to recover quickly or might even
save his or her life, whereas making a mistake might lead to dramatic
consequences.
Centuries ago, when physicians had very primitive tools at their disposal or
had none at all, taking a patient's medical history was sometimes the only
way to identify diseases patients were suffering from. These days, however,
there are many modern diagnostic techniques that utilize cutting-edge devices
and tools, which help in diagnosis and keeping people healthy. Let's take a
closer look at some of them.
The choice of a diagnostic technique depends on the symptoms a patient
experiences. For example, if a female patient comes to consult a GP, concerned
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about a lump on her breast she discovered when she was performing self-
examination, the GP will suggest doing a mammogram, which will allow a
specialist to determine what the lump is exactly and if any further tests need to
be done. If the mammogram indicates the presence of a tumor, then
a biopsy is needed to determine whether the tumor is malignant or not.
Biopsy is not the only technique employed in case of a suspicion of cancer. The
use of a particular method or device is determined by the patient's symptoms,
results of the tests and the location of the tumor. For instance, if there is a
suspicion of a colon cancer, an endoscopy is performed, which involves
inserting a tool directly into the organ (in this case the colon). In the case of
women, a common screening method used in order to detect cancerous or
pre-cancerous changes in the female reproductive system is called a Pap test,
named after a Greek Doctor Georgios Papanikolaou, who invented it.
Some techniques are less invasive and do not require putting anything into
the body or removing anything from it. For example, if doctors suspect a brain
tumor, they will recommend tomography, performance of which will result
in a detailed scan of the brain. Tomography belongs to a group of non-invasive
techniques which use X-rays to produce images, called radiography, which
also includes taking an X-ray in the case of a bone fracture. Although images
produced through radiography are commonly referred to as 'X-rays', some
professionals argue that they should be called 'radiographs', as 'x-rays' are just
photons of energy and cannot be seen by the naked eye.
There are more non-invasive techniques used in case of various medical
conditions. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of them. It is a test,
which records the electrical activity of the heart, used to detect and study
such heart problems as a heart attack or arrhythmia. Another one is a blood
culture, performed to test for and find an infection in the blood caused by
bacteria or fungi. Such tests are invaluable tools , as they make it possible to
verify and confirm the doctor's diagnosis and thus assure the patient that the
treatment is appropriate before the patient gives their consent for further
treatment.
The vast majority of the aforementioned diagnostic methods are adopted in
case of a suspicion of a disease or disorder. Nevertheless, there are methods
employed in less depressing, more optimistic circumstances, such as the use
of ultrasound during pregnancy, to produce images of an unborn baby still in
its mother's womb.
Besides self-examination, all of the methods described in the article require
a visit to a specialist clinic or a hospital unit and are sometimes an unpleasant
or painful experience. Therefore, we should not forget to go for regular check-
ups at local surgeries so as not to lead to a situation when they will be
necessary. (Source: https://www.medicalenglish.com/module/core/unit/5/reading)
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READING COMPREHENSION
Direction. Decide whether the statement is true or false based on the text above.
1. Biopsies or endoscopies are quite common, yet invasive screening methods.
True
False
2. A mammogram can be done, in order to identify lumps.
True
False
3. Self-examination without your consent is part of your medical history.
True
False
4. Ultrasound is used to produce images of unborn babies.
True
False
5. Blood culture cannot be used to verify and confirm a diagnosis.
True
False
VOCABULARY
Direction. Find seven specific terms on the text above. Write the definition and the
sample sentence.
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1. Electrocardiogram (ECG): the tracing made by an electrocardiograph
2. Medical History: a record of a past medical problems and treatments that a person
has had
3. General Practitioner (GP): a physician or veterinarian whose practice is not
limited to a specialty
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