French Nursing module 3: Nutrition, medication and wellbeing (Nutrition, medication and wellbeing)

This is learning module 3 of 6 of our French B1 syllabus. Each learning module contains 6 till 8 chapters.

Learning goals:

  • Assist with basic medication administration and dosage explanations
  • Support patients with diets, swallowing problems, and fluid balance (I/O)
  • Help residents choose meals, follow dietary restrictions, and maintain good nutrition
  • Assist with elimination, incontinence care, and promote daily activities

Word list (119)

Core vocabulary (0):
Context vocabulary: 119

French English
Accompagner Support/accompany
Adapter (adapter à) Adjust (adapt to)
Adequate hydration Adequate hydration
Administer a bolus Administer a bolus
Aider à se tourner / Se tourner sur le côté Help to turn / Turn onto the side
Annuler une réservation Cancel a booking
Appliquer Apply — Place locally (cream, patch); indicate frequency and duration.
Aspiration prophylaxis Aspiration prophylaxis
Aspiration risk Aspiration risk
Assess swallowing Assess swallowing
Assist with feeding Assist with feeding
Avaler Swallow — Action of passing through the throat (with water).
Changer la protection Change the pad/diaper
Clinical signs collection Collect clinical signs
Confirmer la participation Confirm attendance
Célébrer Celebrate
Daily charting Daily charting
Essuyer (de l'avant vers l'arrière) Wipe (front to back)
Faire caca / Défé cation To poo / Defecation
Faire la conversation Make small talk
Faire le point Review/provide an update
Faire pipi / Uriner To pee / To urinate
Feeding tube Feeding tube
Fluid balance Fluid balance
Fluid restriction Fluid restriction
Hygiène périnéale Perineal hygiene
Inhaler \/ Inspirer Inhale — Route of administration (aerosol, nebulizer) for respiratory tract.
Intake and output chart (I/O) Intake and output chart (I/O)
Jeter (se d Dispose of (get rid of) — Management of medical waste: pharmacy or specialized collection.
L'effet secondaire Side effect — Possible adverse reaction to a medication.
L'incontinence (urinaire/ fécale) Incontinence (urinary/ fecal)
L'ordonnance Prescription (document) — Medical document prescribing a treatment.
L'urinal (masculin)/ L'urinale (féminin) Urinal (male) / Female urinal
L'urètre The urethra
La collation Snack
La confidentialité Confidentiality
La conservation Storage — Conditions: temperature, refrigeration, protected from light.
La consistance (des selles) Stool consistency
La contre Contraindication — Situation where the medication should not be used.
La couche/ La protection absorbante Disposable diaper / Absorbent pad
La couleur (de l'urine/des selles) Color (of urine/stools)
La cérémonie Ceremony
La date de p Expiration date — Do not use after this date; dispose of accordingly.
La demi Half-life — Pharmacological concept useful to explain dosing frequency and gradual discontinuation.
La disponibilité (être disponible) Availability (to be available)
La dur Treatment duration — Period during which the medication should be taken (days, weeks).
La fête Party
La g Capsule — Capsule containing the medication in powder or liquid form.
La garde à domicile Home care
La notice Patient information leaflet — Information document included with the medicine (effects, contraindications).
La personne aidée Care recipient
La pharmacovigilance Pharmacovigilance — Reporting of adverse drug reactions to health authorities.
La portion Portion
La posologie (la dose) Dosage (dose) — Indicate the amount and frequency of a medication.
La posologie p Pediatric dosing — Dosage adapted for children (mg/kg).
La prescription Prescription (recommendation) — The doctor's recommendation; follow the duration and dosage.
La prise de médicament Medication administration
La purée Puree
La quantité / Le volume Quantity / Volume
La restriction (alimentaire) (Dietary) restriction
La réunion de famille Family gathering
La suspension Suspension — Liquid medication to shake before use (often for children).
La teneur en graisses Fat content
La teneur en sel Salt content
La texture modifiée Modified texture
La transmission d’informations Information handover
La vessie The bladder
La visite de suivi Follow-up visit
La voie d'administration Route of administration — Oral, topical, intravenous, intramuscular, sublingual routes.
Le bassin (pour le lit) Bedpan
Le bénévole Volunteer
Le comprim Tablet — Solid form to swallow; distinguish effervescent tablets.
Le conditionnement Packaging — The package: box, blister, bottle; check the expiration date.
Le congé Time off
Le consentement éclairé Informed consent
Le contrôle de la glycémie Blood glucose monitoring
Le déjeuner Lunch
Le dîner Dinner
Le faible en sucre Low in sugar
Le g Administer (give) — To give a medication to a patient; conjugate for instructions.
Le g Generic drug — Medication equivalent to the brand-name product, often cheaper.
Le goûter Afternoon snack
Le menu adapté Adapted menu
Le petit-déjeuner Breakfast
Le pictogramme Pictogram — Symbol on the package (do not swallow, flammable, keep out of reach of children).
Le plan de soins Care plan
Le proche aidant Informal caregiver
Le rassemblement Gathering
Le recueil d'urines / La collecte d'échantillon Urine collection / Sample collection
Le relais familial Family support/backup
Le repas convivial Shared meal
Le régime alimentaire Diet
Le régime pauvre en glucides Low-carbohydrate diet
Les selles Stools
Les vacances Holidays
List of fluid intake List of fluid intake
L’aménagement du domicile Home adaptation
Modified textures Modified textures
Monitor hydration Monitor hydration
Organiser une activité Organize an activity
Parler de la météo Talk about the weather
Prendre (se prendre) Take — Verb used to indicate oral consumption: "Take a tablet."
Proposer une sortie Suggest an outing
Protéger le drap / Mettre un alèse Protect the sheet / Put on a waterproof pad
Présenter des alternatives Offer alternatives
Présenter ses condoléances Offer condolences
Reporter un événement Postpone an event
Rincer Rinse — Clean the mouth or eye after application if the leaflet indicates so.
Rédiger le dossier de suivi Write the follow-up record
Signs of dehydration Signs of dehydration
Souhaiter bonne fête Wish someone a happy name day
Soutenir (moralement/pratiquement) Support (emotionally/practically)
Spout (pouring beak) Spout (pouring beak)
Surveiller (surveiller la consommation) Monitor (monitor intake)
Swallowing lesions Swallowing lesions
Thickener Thickener
Évaluer les besoins Assess needs
Éviter (éviter de) Avoid (avoid doing)
Évoquer des projets Discuss plans