Medical Spanish for Nurses
Nursing Elective – 3 credit
hours
Sample Syllabus
M/W One and one-half hour classes
Instructor:
Office:
Office Phone:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
Internet:
A.
Text and Course Materials
Chase, Robert O &
Clarisa B. Medina. 1998. An Introduction to Spanish for Health Care
Workers: Communication and Culture. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Course
Packet, including CD-ROM, Essential
Tasks in Medical Spanish for Nurses.
B. Course Description
This
course is designed for students in nursing who want to learn basic phrases in
Spanish as related to their daily activities. The course activities are divided into two major sections:
First, basic language skills that are taught using the textbook, “An
Introduction to Spanish for Health Care Workers;” Second, the
memorization of dialogs related to specific nursing tasks (e.g., assessing
medical history, assessing health risks, teaching breast self exams, making
appointments, etc.). This course
is not a Spanish language class per se, but is designed to teach nursing
students how to do specific tasks in Spanish. As such, there is no specific Spanish prerequisite to be
enrolled in this course. All
non-native speakers of Spanish at
any level are encouraged to enroll in this course. Students who are interested in acquiring Spanish language in
general are invited to enroll in traditional Spanish courses.
C. Course Objectives
·
Student
will feel confident in brief, basic conversation in Spanish using medical and
health-care related expressions and terminology.
·
Students
will be able to articulate and respond to patient concerns.
·
Students will be able
to respond to patient's requests regarding care and comfort.
·
Students will be able
to conduct basic interviews (assessments) in Spanish, such as the registration
interview, health history, physical exam, breast exam, and the more detailed
situations of women's health.
·
Students
will understand cultural and social factors that influence the
practitioner-patient communication with Hispanic peoples and immigrants to the
U.S.
D.
Class Schedule
Week 1
Grammar Objectives:
The verb “ser.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Presentations, Professions and Specialties
Dialog
Objectives: Introduce the
Eligibility Assessment Interview
Monday
Introduction
to Course and Materials
Chase,
Chapter 1. “Hello, I Am the
Doctor.”
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 1. “Hello, I Am the
Doctor.”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 1
Week 2
Grammar Objectives:
What is your name? The verb “estar.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Adjectives with
“ser.” Adjectives with “estar.”
Dialog
Objectives: Eligibility Assessment
1 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 1. “Hello, I Am the
Doctor.”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 1
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 2. “How Are
You?”
Task
Pass-off
Week 3
Grammar Objectives:
The verb “tener.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Days of the week.
Dialog
Objectives: Eligibility Assessment
2 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 2. “How Are
You?”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 2
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 3. “What Is the
Matter?”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 2
Week 4
Grammar Objectives:
The verb “doler.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Cold and Flu Symptoms.
Parts of the Body. Injuries
Dialog
Objectives: Eligibility Assessment
3 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Portfolio #1 Due
Chase,
Chapter 3. “What Is the
Matter?”
Task
Pass-off
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 3. “What Is the
Matter?”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 3
Week 5
Grammar Objectives:
Numbers.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Numbers. Months.
Dialog Objectives: Eligibility Assessment 3 and Native
Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 4. “The
Receptionist”
Dialog,
Eligibility Assessment 3
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 4. “The
Receptionist”
Task
Pass-off
Week 6
Grammar Objectives:
Verbs in the Present Tense.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Family Members.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
1 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 4. “The
Receptionist”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 1
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 5. “The
Family”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 1
Grammar Objectives:
Verbs in the Present Tense.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Family Members.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
2 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday, Day 26
Portfolio #2 Due
Chase,
Chapter 5. “The
Family”
Task
Pass-off
Wednesday, Day 28
Chase,
Chapter 5. “The
Family”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 2
Week 8
Grammar
Objectives: The verb
“tomar.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Pharmacy.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
and Native Speaker Demonstrations 3
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 6. “The
Pharmacy”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 2
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 6. “The
Pharmacy”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 3
Week 9
Grammar
Objectives: The verb
“gustar” and “querer.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Side Effects.
Nutrition.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
3 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 6. “The
Pharmacy”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 3
Wednesday, Day 7
Chase,
Chapter 7. “Diet and
Nutrition”
Task
Pass-off
Week 10
Grammar
Objectives: How long has it
been?”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Six Food Groups. Tests and Procedures.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
4 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Portfolio #3 Due
Chase,
Chapter 7. “Diet and
Nutrition”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 4
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 8. “The
Doctor’s Office”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 4
Week 11
Grammar
Objectives: Speaking in the
Future. Verbs in the Past
Vocabulary
Objectives: Physical Exam.
Dialog
Objectives: Health Risk Assessment
5 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 8. “The
Doctor’s Office”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 5
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 9. “The Past
Tense”
Dialog,
Health Risk Assessment 5
Week 12
Grammar
Objectives: The verbs
“tener,” “estar,” “ser,”“ir,
””decir” in the
past.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Illnesses and
Diseases. General Symptoms
Dialog
Objectives: Needs Assessment
Interview 1 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 9. “The Past
Tense”
Task
Pass-off
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 10. “Taking Medical
History”
Dialog,
Needs Assessment Interview 1
Week 13
Grammar
Objectives: Review of Previous
Topics.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Internal Organs and
Glands. Surgical History
Dialog
Objectives: Needs Assessment
Interview 1 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Portfolio #4 Due
Chase,
Chapter 10. “Taking Medical
History”
Dialog,
Needs Assessment Interview 1
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 10. “Taking Medical
History”
Task
Pass-off
Week 14
Grammar
Objectives: Reflexive Verbs.
Vocabulary
Objectives: Mental Health
Dialog
Objectives: Needs Assessment
Interview 2 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 11. “Hospital
Admissions and Mental Health”
Dialog,
Needs Assessment Interview 2
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 11. “Hospital
Admissions and Mental Health”
Dialog,
Needs Assessment Interview 2
Week 15
Grammar
Objectives: Stem Changing Verbs.
The verb “poder.”
Vocabulary
Objectives: Mental Health. Maternity
Dialog
Objectives: Needs Assessment
Interview 2 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 11. “Hospital
Admissions and Mental Health”
Task
Pass-off
Wednesday
Chase,
Chapter 12. “Maternity and
Safe Sex”
Dialog,
Making An Appointment 1
Week 16
Grammar
Objectives: Command Forms.
Vocabulary Objectives: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Dialog
Objectives: Making An Appointment
1 and Native Speaker Demonstrations
Monday
Chase,
Chapter 12. “Maternity and
Safe Sex”
Dialog,
Making An Appointment 1
Wednesday
Portfolio #5 Due
Chase,
Chapter 12. “Maternity and
Safe Sex”
Task
Pass-off
There is a final exam for this course.
E. Vocabulary Quizzes
We
will be covering a large amount of vocabulary throughout the semester and there
will be various ‘pop’ quizzes pertaining to the vocabulary from
each chapter of the textbook. The
“Vocabulary Objectives” that are listed at the beginning of each week show which vocabulary
sections will be on the quizzes.
The quizzes may include writing from dictation, sentence completion,
writing , translation, or dictating patient directions/explanations, etc. Each quiz is worth 10 points and there
are 12 pop quizzes.
F. Task Pass-offs
The Task Pass-off
checklist contains dialogs,
grammar tasks, and vocabulary tasks that are to be mastered and passed-off
orally to partners in class and to your instructor. On the days that are designated “Task Pass-offs”
in the syllabus students will spend the bulk of their time practicing and
passing off the various tasks. On
those days, the instructor will sit with the students and listen to the
pass-offs. Each grammar task (20)
and vocabulary task (25) is worth a maximum of 5 points. The Dialogs (11) are to be memorized
and are worth 20 points each.
G. Portfolio
The purpose of this
project is to allow you to apply your learning to practical situations, as well
as allow you to demonstrate and practice proficiency in Spanish in a work-like
situation. Of the list of 25
vocabulary topics, choose the two that are of most relevance to your
specialization, or those two that would be of most use to you in your future
career. From these two lists,
formulate an appropriate dialog that might take place between a nurse and
patient. You may choose to use
your memorized dialogs as a model, or you may wish to use the native speaker
dialogs available online to assist you.
Your dialog should contain at least ten lines each for nurse and
patient. You may choose to follow
a question and answer format, but that would be boring. Try to create something that is
realistic as possible, as this will enhance your learning experience and
improve your ability to function in Spanish once in the workplace.
Once you have completed
your dialog, use the resource list contained in the syllabus to locate a native
speaker of Spanish with whom you will practice and record (audio or video) your
dialog. After recording your
dialog, allow it rest for at least 48 hours. Following, listen to, or view, your recording and create one
page “reflective summary” highlighting areas of strength and
weakness, along with suggestions for improvement. Ideally, you will use the reflective summary as a guide to
making your second dialog even better than the first.
There are five class days
where time is provided to helping you produce your portfolio. On each of these days, certain
components are due. The last
component is due on the day of the final.
Each dialog and summary is worth 150 points, for a total of 300
points. Following are the due dates:
H. Final Interview
Students will meet
individually with the instructor for 20 – 30 minutes and will be asked to
orally pass off any of the dialogs, grammar tasks, or vocabulary tasks that
were previously passed off during the semester. The final interview is worth 100 points.
I. Class Attendance
Due to the nature of the
class, the emphasis on oral presentations, class discussion and the pace of the
course, attendance is mandatory.
Each student starts with 35 points for attendance and loses 5 points for
each day missed. There is no
make-up for points lost.
J. Grading
The final grade is based
on the percentage of total points earned (A=90+, B=80+, C=70+, D=60+). No make up work is allowed. Points are distributed on the following
basis:
Chapter
Quizzes 12
x 10 pts = 120
Dialog
Memorization 11
x 20 pts = 220
Grammar
Tasks 20
x 5 pts = 100
Vocabulary
Tasks 25
x 5 pts = 125
Portfolio 2
x 150 pts = 300
Final
Interview 1
x 100 pts = 100
Attendance
35 pts - 2 = 35
TOTAL 1000
pts
*Note: At the beginning of the semester, students
with disabilities who need special accommodations should notify the instructor
by presenting a letter prepared by the Services for Students with Disabilities
(SSD) Office. To ensure that the
most appropriate accommodations can be provided, students should contact the
SSD Office at 571-6259 or 471-4641 TTY.
**Note: Students who violate University rules
on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University. Since such dishonesty harms the
individual, all the students, and the integrity of The University, policies on
scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.