On the Ward: Working in a French Hospital
Get through handover, care for patients and organise your shifts as a nursing assistant in France.
French hospital wards run on shift handovers called les transmissions, where nurses (infirmiers) and nursing assistants (aides-soignants) pass on what happened to each patient, identified by room number. Staff say tu to each other but vous to patients, and the doctor's daily ward round is la visite. Foreign-trained health workers usually need their diploma recognised before working; for nurses this goes through the regional health agency (ARS) and registration with the Ordre des infirmiers.
- 1
On commence les transmissions.
Let's start the handover.
- 2
Le patient de la 12 a mal dormi.
The patient in 12 had a bad night.
- 3
Je vais prendre votre tension.
I'm going to take your blood pressure.
- 4
Vous avez mal ? Sur une échelle de 0 à 10 ?
Are you in pain? On a scale of 0 to 10?
- 5
Vous avez bien dormi ?
Did you sleep well?
- 6
Je vais vous aider à vous lever.
I'm going to help you get up.
- 7
Sonnez si vous avez besoin de quelque chose.
Ring if you need anything.
- 8
Ne vous levez pas tout seul.
Don't get up on your own.
- 9
Je préviens l'infirmière.
I'll let the nurse know.
- 10
Il n'a rien mangé depuis ce matin.
He hasn't eaten anything since this morning.
- 11
Tu peux le noter dans le dossier ?
Can you write it in the file?
- 12
Je suis de nuit cette semaine.
I'm on nights this week.
- 13
Tu peux échanger ton poste de samedi avec moi ?
Can you swap your Saturday shift with me?
- 14
Le médecin passera pendant la visite.
The doctor will come by during the ward round.
- 15
Les visites se terminent à 20 heures.
Visiting hours end at 8 pm.
- 16
Lavez-vous les mains avant d'entrer.
Wash your hands before going in.
- 17
Je vais changer vos draps.
I'm going to change your sheets.
- 18
Elle a pris son traitement ?
Has she had her medication?
- 19
Je suis aide-soignant.
I'm a nursing assistant.
- 20
Bon courage pour la nuit !
Good luck with the night!