ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP): NURSING IN THE U.S. HOSPITAL ____________ A Project Presented To the Faculty of California State University, Chico ____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages ____________ by © Laura Medlin 2009 Fall 2009 ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP): NURSING IN THE U.S. HOSPITAL A Project by Laura Medlin Fall 2009 APPROVED BY THE INTERIM DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE, INTERNATIONAL, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES: Mark J. Morlock, Ph.D. APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Hilda Hernández, Ph.D. Hilda Hernández, Ph.D., Chair Graduate Coordinator Paula Selvester, Ph.D. PUBLICATION RIGHTS No portion of this project may be reprinted or reproduced in any manner unacceptable to the usual copyright restrictions without the written permission of the author. iii DEDICATION To all my hard-working brothers and sisters, in hospitals everywhere. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dr. Hilda Hernandez and Dr. Paula Selvester. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Publication Rights ...................................................................................................... iii Dedication .................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments...................................................................................................... v List of Tables ............................................................................................................. ix Abstract ...................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER I. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Purpose ......................................................................................... 3 Scope ............................................................................................ 6 Significance.................................................................................. 8 Project Goals ................................................................................ 10 Limitations ................................................................................... 11 Definitions.................................................................................... 12 Acronyms Frequently Used ......................................................... 13 II. Review of the Literature .......................................................................... 16 English for Specific Purposes ...................................................... 18 Learner Motivation ...................................................................... 20 Needs Analysis............................................................................. 22 Classroom Application................................................................. 23 Hospital Language ....................................................................... 27 Idioms and Metaphor ................................................................... 29 Economy and Slang ..................................................................... 31 Grammar and ESL ....................................................................... 33 Description ................................................................................... 34 vi CHAPTER PAGE Cultural Considerations ............................................................... 36 Pain .................................................................................. 36 Privacy ............................................................................. 37 Time ................................................................................. 38 Personal Space ................................................................. 39 Non-verbal Communication............................................. 39 Blood and Illness.............................................................. 40 Food and Hygiene ............................................................ 40 Conclusion ................................................................................... 42 III. Methodology ............................................................................................ 44 Review of Six Medical English Texts ......................................... 45 Design Criteria ............................................................................. 54 Handbook Organizational Framework ......................................... 57 Preparing for Instruction .............................................................. 58 Chapter 1: Body Systems ............................................................. 58 Contents ........................................................................... 58 Rationale .......................................................................... 59 Chapter 2: Patient Care ................................................................ 59 Contents ........................................................................... 59 Rationale .......................................................................... 60 Chapter 3: Weights and Measures ............................................... 60 Contents ........................................................................... 61 Rationale .......................................................................... 61 Chapter 4: Glossary of Terms ...................................................... 61 Contents ........................................................................... 61 Rationale .......................................................................... 62 Chapter 5: Basic Life Support Lesson Plan ................................. 62 Contents ........................................................................... 62 Rationale .......................................................................... 62 Chapter 6: Medical Transcription Templates .............................. 63 Contents ........................................................................... 63 Rationale .......................................................................... 63 Chapter 7: Nursing Diagnosis ...................................................... 63 Contents ........................................................................... 63 Rationale .......................................................................... 64 Chapter 8: HIPAA, Patient Rights, and DPAHC ......................... 64 Contents ........................................................................... 64 Rationale .......................................................................... 64 vii CHAPTER PAGE Chapter 9: Recommended Books and Websites .......................... 65 Contents ........................................................................... 65 Rationale .......................................................................... 65 Chapter 10: Reader Questionnaire ............................................... 65 Contents ........................................................................... 65 Rationale .......................................................................... 65 IV. Discussion ................................................................................................ 67 Summary ...................................................................................... 67 Conclusions .................................................................................. 68 Recommendations ........................................................................ 69 Suggestions for Instructors .............................................. 70 Suggestions for Students .................................................. 71 References .................................................................................................................. 73 Appendix A. Nurse ESP Handbook for U.S. Hospitals: The Professional Language of Nursing............................................................................... 79 viii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Physical Characteristics of Six Hospital English Books............................. 46 2. Features of Six Hospital English Books ..................................................... 47 3. Useful Elements in Developing Nursing ESL/ESP Materials .................... 48 ix ABSTRACT ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP): NURSING IN THE U.S. HOSPITAL by © Laura Medlin 2009 Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages California State University, Chico Fall 2009 Advances in medical technology have increased the human life span, and as elderly populations increase, so will jobs in healthcare. Unable to find a book specifically targeting American English for nursing, this need has been met by designing material for nurses and language instructors. The project provides a general overview of the work- place setting and review of the literature organized around three areas: English for spe- cific purposes, hospital language, and cultural aspects of patient care. Within these three areas, the topics of content-based language instruction and learner motivation, medical terminology and abbreviations, and how cultural background can influence a person’s response to illness and hospitalization are addressed. There is a review of six books related to medical English and English for nurses and healthcare professionals. Most of these books are designed for physicians, and emphasize British English. x This project involves