Positioning patients, commands

Question

Hey, I'd like to know the best way to say some simple commands. I need to brush up on this! I can always make my point clear but I'm at the point now where I'm a lot more fluent than I used to be and speaking incorrectly makes my ears hurt....(and keep in mind I'm dealing with more Central Americans dialects)

*"Ok, you can sit on that bed and lie back."- I know acostarse would be understood, but is tumbarse, echarse sobre la espalda better here? And is a hospital bed/stretcher still a "cama" o algo más?

"Ok, puede sentarse sobre esa cama y acuéstase/túmbase/échase sobre la espalda."

*"Now I need you to turn onto/roll over onto your right/left side."

"Ahora necesito que le gire/le rode para su derecho/izquierdo lado." (I know that one isn't very good )

*"Alright, now lay back on your back/lay flat again." (As if they've been on their side and now I need them back flat)

"Ya puede volver a acostarse sobre su espalda/(I am lost as to lay flat, acuestese llano sound weird)"

Thanks, I know that's a lot. Any help I would appreciate, thanks.

Ash

Answer 1

This is a great question.

I would avoid the use of "acostarse" when instructing patients, based on an incident about a year ago with a patient from Ecuador (if I remeber correctly). Apparently, the word has acquired additional meanings in some latin american cultures. It could have been a problem with pronunciation, but the situation didn't go well at all.

Thanks for asking this question. I want to see what native speakers can contribute to the discussion.

I would be interested to know too, but it always seems like when I ask my questions the right people aren't online to answer.... - Ashlita, Nov 20, 2010