English for Nursing 2

Topic 9

ORAL HYGIENE
Instructional objective
The students are expected:
1. to be able to pronounce well vocabularies relating to the topic;
2. to be able to understand reading and listening text relating to the topic;
3. to be able to act out a conversation of the topic; and
4. to be able to write a nursing documentation after assisting patient to do oral
hygiene.

Reading
Direction. Read the nursing note below and get some useful information about providing oral hygiene
for patients. Then, answer the following questions.

NURSING NOTE
Wherever possible, patients should be encouraged and supported to carry out their
own oral care. However, when they are unable to do this ( for example or example due
to stroke, arthritis, arm injury, head injury, and surgery) maintaining patients’ oral
hygiene is an essential nursing duty and is considered a fundamental aspect of care
(Department of Health, 2010). Cleaning patients’ oral cavity is a skill that requires
practice.
Providing effective mouthcare to patients has a range of benefits. For example, it
can:
 Promote self-esteem and comfort;
 Improve appetite and enjoyment of food and drink, as poor oral hygiene can
affect taste;
 Improve social acceptability and social interaction by preventing halitosis.
These benefits will all help patients to recover from illness.
After doing the intervention, nurse should write a nursing documentation. Why
should an oral assessment be carried out?
 To provide a baseline, initial information about the condition of your patient’s
oral cavity.
 To monitor progress of oral care/treatments.
 To identify any new problems (Dougherty and Lister, 2008).
(Source: nursingtimes.net)

Questions:
1. What should nurse do to patients before providing them oral hygiene?
2. What should nurse do when patients are unable to do their own oral care?
3. What are the benefits of providing effective mouthcare to patients?
4. Why should an oral assessment be carried out?

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Related Vocabularies
Direction. The followings are the vocabularies related to giving bathing patient. Practice the
pronunciation. Complete the blanks with the proper pronunciation.
A. Needed Equipment

Cup Disposable Gloves Receiver

/kəp/ /dəˈspō zəb(ə)l ɡləvz/ /rəˈsēvər/

Towels Toothbrush Toothpaste

/ˈtou(ə)ls/ /ˈto͞oTHˌbrəSH/ /ˈto͞oTHˌpā st/

Dental Floss Mouthwash Lip Balm

/ˈden(t)l flô s/ /ˈmouTHˌwô SH/ /lip bä (l)m/

B. Verbs
1. Prepare /prəˈper/ : mempersiapkan
2. Wash /wäSH/ : membasuh
3. Cover /ˈkəvər/ : menutup
4. Place /plās/ : meletakkan
5. Remove /rəˈmo͞ov/ : mengangkat, melepaskan
6. Apply /əˈplī/ : mengoles
7. Spit /spit/ : meludah

C. Adjective
1. Comfortable /ˈkəmfərdəb(ə)l/ : nyaman
2. Clean /klēn/ : bersih
3. Dirty /ˈdərdē/ : kotor
4. Fresh /freSH/ : segar

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Useful Expressions
Direction. Study the following useful expressions when helping patient do oral care. Then, practice
them.

Nurse, could you help

me take my toothbrush
and toothpaste in the Sure. Do you need
drawer, please? I need my assistance to
to brush my teeth. brush your teeth?

A. Greeting
 Hi. How are you?
 Good morning, Maam.

B. Self-Introduction
 My name is Marrie. I’m gonna be your aid today.
 Can you tell me your name?
 Can you state your birth date?

C. Explaining what you are going to do

 I am here to ....  I am here to help your oral care. Is
that okay?
 I am going to ....  I am going to get your bed head
up in 90 degree ankle.
 I would like to ....  I would like to brush your teeth.
 I need to ....  I need to take a piece of dental
floss.
 I just want to ....  I just want to offer a sip of water.
 Let me …  Let me apply lip balm on your lips
to keep them moist.
D. Giving questions
 Do you ...............?  Do you need my assistance for
brushing your teeth?
 Do you have any problems with
your gum or tooth?

E. Giving instructions
 Please (V1) ............  Please show me your teeth.
 Spit the mouth rinse in this
receiver.
 Will/Would/Could/Can  Would you like me to apply this
you ...............? lip balm?

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Integrated Listening and Speaking Exercise
Direction. Click the link http://bitly.ws/BzW5 and listen to the conversation. Find the missing expressions
and fill the blanks. Then, act out the dialogue.
Nurse : It is time to (1) …………………………
Do you need my assistance to brush your teeth?
Patient : Yes, thank you. Would you get my toothbrush for me?
Nurse : Sure. (2) …………………………
Patient : It is inside that drawer.
Nurse : Here you are.
Patient : Thank you.
Nurse : You’re welcome.
(3) …………………………
Patient : Thanks.
Nurse : No problem.
Communication Exercise
Direction. Click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqBFOX5YTo and watch the role play by a
professional nurse. To help you understand the communication practice, answer the following
questions.
1. How much was the angle of the lifting bed?
2. What did the nurse apply on the toothbrush?
3. What did the nurse offer to the patient for spitting?
4. What did the nurse offer after brushing the patient’s teeth?
5. What did the nurse say to confirm the patient’s condition after giving her oral
care?
Exercise
Direction. Choose a pair and write a complete conversation on the acts of helping patient do oral care.
You can use the useful expressions above. Then, practice and present your communication practice.

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Nursing Documentation
Direction. Write a nursing documentation after providing oral care for patient.
What to document?
1. Patient’s Identity (at least name and age)
2. Nurse’s name
3. Date and time
4. Significant observations and assessment findings
Example
Patient Identity
Name : Mrs. Laura jenkins Age : 40 y.o.

Results and Findings

Mouth care given. Mucous membranes and lips are moist, pink and intact. Client
unresponsive. No gag reflex elicited. Oral pharynx suctioned. No grimacing or
evidence of bleeding noted.

Time : 08.00 a.m.

Day, date: Saturday, March 03, 2021

Nurse : Marrie

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You can fill the following form after providing your patient oral hygiene.
NURSING DOCUMENTATION
Patient Identity

Name : Age : ……… y.o.

Results and Findings

Time : …………………………

Day, date : …………………………

Nurse : …………………………