logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
May 2, 2021 by Mar Z. Luna Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

A Vocabulary Guide in Spanish for Nursing Professionals

Knowing Spanish for nursing is highly beneficial if you’re a nurse, medical professional, interpreter or even a layperson looking to learn some Spanish medical vocabulary. Today, being able to read, write, and speak in Spanish is an increasingly desired skill for medical professionals—and everyone. 

Being bilingual makes you a valuable asset to any medical team. This is especially true in the U.S., where the non-English population continues to grow steadily. 

In fact, according to the BBC, the United States now has roughly 41 million native Spanish speakers and about 12 million people who speak Spanish as a second language. In fact, it’s the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, even ahead of Spain!

Why Learn Spanish for Nursing?

Learning Spanish for nursing is another wonderful way nurses can serve their patients. 

Hospitals and clinics are realizing the value of being a bilingual nurse or healthcare provider. A survey conducted by the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses estimated that bilingual registered nurses earn approximately 7% more in wages. So, Spanish for nursing not only gives you more job opportunities but it may also translate to a pay increase. 

As a translator myself who knows basic Spanish for nursing, I can say how rewarding it is to help a diverse population—and how useful knowing these terms has been. If you plan to work abroad in Spain or Latin America, this Spanish for nursing vocabulary is invaluable. A bilingual nurse is in a unique position to improve the quality of care for patients both in the U.S. and abroad.

Please note that this vocabulary guide is not meant to be a medical guide, but rather an educational tool for nurses who are interested in learning basic medical Spanish. Let’s get to it!

Spanish for Nursing Vocabulary 

As you can imagine, Spanish for nursing is a broad field, so I’ll cover general, basic medical terminology that you can start using now. These essential Spanish for nursing phrases give you a good idea of the kind of vocabulary you’ll need. If you need to review the body parts, check out this blog post. 

Spanish for Nursing

Basic Medical Terminology

Blood pressure – La presión sanguínea 

Bowel movement – La evacuación 

Constipation – El estreñimiento

Doctor – El doctor, la doctora, el médico, la médica

Disease – La enfermedad

Health – La salud 

Healthy – Sano/a

Medication – La medicina 

Nausea – La náusea 

Nurse – El enfermero, la enfermera 

Pain – El dolor 

Pharmacist – El farmacéutico, la farmacéutica 

Pharmacy – La farmacia 

Prescription – La receta

Sick– Enfermo/a 

Sneeze – El estornudo 

Surgery – La cirugía 

Urine – La orina

Wound – La herida

Emergency Spanish Phrases

Are you hurt? – ¿Está herido/a?

Are you pregnant? – ¿Está embarazada?

Are you allergic to any medications? – ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?

Can you see me? – ¿Puedes verme?

Can you hear me? – ¿Puedes oírme?

Can you talk? – ¿Puedes hablar?

Can you move? – ¿Puede moverse?

Can you breathe well? – ¿Puedes respirar bien?

Where is the injury? – ¿Dónde está el herido/a?

Where is the patient? – ¿Dónde está el paciente?

Where does it hurt? – ¿Dónde te duele?

Did you lose consciousness? – ¿Perdió el conocimiento?

Open your mouth – Abra la boca

Don’t move – No se mueva

We need to do a blood test – Necesitamos hacer una prueba de sangre

I need to see if you’re hurt – Necesito ver si está herido

Take a deep breath – Respire profundo

You must rest – Debe guardar reposo

Here is your prescription – Aquí está la receta médica 

Take a pill with meals – Tome una pastilla con cada comida

Additional Spanish for Nursing Vocabulary 

Medical history/medical record – El historial médico 

X-ray – La radiografía

MRI – La tomografía

Hospital admission – La admisión hospitalaria

Insurance forms – Formularios de Seguro

I don’t understand – No entiendo

I’ll be back in a moment – Regreso en un momento.

Allow me – Permítame

Just relax – Usted relájese 

Press this button if you need help – Use el botón si necesita ayuda.

Ask for help before you get up – Llame antes de levantarse

Do you want to use the restroom? – Quiere ir al baño?

Do you want to take a shower? – Quiere bañarse?

I am going to give you an injection – Le voy a poner una inyección

Do you have questions? – Tienes preguntas?

Call us if you have any more questions – Llámenos si tiene preguntas 

How to Talk to Your Patient in Spanish 

Here are some common questions and answers that are likely to come up when you’re helping someone with health problems.

¿Cuál es el problema? – Me duele la cabeza.
What’s the matter? I have a headache.

¿Cómo te sientes? – Terrible 
How do you feel? – Terrible 

¿Dónde te duele? – Aquí
Where does it hurt? – Here 

¿En qué puedo ayudarle? – Tengo fiebre.
How can I help you? – I have a fever. 

¿Qué puedo hacer por usted? – Tengo dolor de cuerpo.
What can I do for you? – My body hurts. 

¿Ha estado con gripe? – Sí, desde ayer.
Have you had the flu? – Yes, since yesterday.

¿Tiene dolor de garganta? – Si, no puedo hablar.
Do you have a sore throat? – Yes, I can’t speak.

¿Qué ha comido recientemente? – Comida callejera.
What have you eaten recently? – Street food.

¿Eres alérgico a algo? – Si, soy alérgico al gluten.
Are you allergic? – Yes, I’m allergic to gluten.

Helping Others 

Knowing basic medical vocabulary in Spanish has become more crucial than ever. To be able to effectively help a patient or someone in need in Spanish, make sure to review your Spanish for nursing vocabulary regularly. These words and phrases are a great way to be on your way to become a fluent Spanish speaker and assist others in the process. Nurses look out for their patients’ health and wellness, and we’re grateful for the valuable work you do. 

While we don’t offer Spanish medical courses at HSA, you can still sign up for a free class to practice Spanish conversation with certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers. 

For online medical courses we recommend, check out 9 Excellent Medical Spanish Courses Online for Healthcare Professionals.

sign up for a free spanish class
Sign up for your FREE TRIAL CLASS today!

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

  • 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
  • The 25 Most Useful Spanish Phrases You Need to Learn Today
  • Top 20 Guatemalan Words and Slang Expressions You Should Know
  • Bien vs Bueno: How Good is Your Spanish?
  • How to Talk About Learning a Language in Spanish
  • Señora vs Señorita: Who Is She?
  • Learn These 20 Types of Fish in Spanish [+ More Vocab]
  • 200+ Beginner Spanish Vocabulary Words PDF: Learn Spanish Fast!
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Mar Z. Luna
Mar Z. Luna
Freelance Writer at Learn Grow Travel
Mar Z. Luna is a published writer and communicator who loves to explore and educate. She majored in Communications and strives to help others improve their lives. She recently published a book, Inside, and has contributed to different publications such as Que Pasa Magazine. Communicating comes naturally to her and she hopes to simplify what seems complex by using reliable sources and her teaching experience. You can find her at www.learngrowtravel.com
Mar Z. Luna
Latest posts by Mar Z. Luna (see all)
  • Top 20 Guatemalan Words and Slang Expressions You Should Know - January 2, 2025
  • How to Immerse Yourself in Spanish While at Home - December 12, 2024
  • 13 Famous Hispanic Women in History Who Made Enormous Impact - January 23, 2023
spanish vocabulary vocabulary
0

Related Posts

mission trip Spanish

45+ Mission Trip Spanish Phrases You Need To Know

December 23, 2021
Read More
Spanish quotes

44 Essential Spanish Quotes and Proverbs to Fuel Your Motivation

October 21, 2021
Read More
Spanish body parts

Spanish Body Parts: Vocabulary, Idioms, and Culture

January 4, 2022
Read More
Spanish greetings

Spanish 101: Greetings and Farewells

May 2, 2022
Read More

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Enojarse Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Quiz, and PDFPrevious Post
The Ultimate Guide to Transitive Verbs in SpanishNext Post

About Us

With over 10 years of experience, HSA is where your goals merge with our teachers’ passion: to improve your Spanish fluency. Custom-tailored to fit your needs, you choose your program, schedule, favorite teachers, pace of learning, and more.. Learn More

Resources

  • About
  • Get a Transcript
  • FAQs
  • How it Works
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • What to Expect in Your Preschooler’s First Spanish Class
    What to Expect in Your Preschooler’s First Spanish Class
    April 25, 2025
    Nervous about starting Spanish? Here’s...
  • Spanish Songs Your Preschooler Will Love (and Learn From!)
    Spanish Songs Your Preschooler Will Love (and Learn From!)
    April 24, 2025
    Music makes Spanish stick. Here are the...

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact Us© 2022 HSA. All rights reserved.