Episode 09B1 — Beginner/Intermediate
Post-Op Care & Recovery
21 min · Pain score, mobilisation, wound site & discharge criteria · OET Speaking · Free PDF.
FREE TRANSCRIPT PDF
Episode 9 — Free transcript & study guide
- 10-term vocabulary table
- Full role-play transcript
- Language breakdown notes
- Quiz with full answers
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WATCH THE EPISODE
EPISODE STRUCTURE
Vocabulary Preview
~3 min
Role-play Dialogue
~8 min
Language Breakdown
~4 min
Comprehension Quiz
~2 min
Free Transcript PDF
Vocabulary Preview
~3 min
Role-play Dialogue
~8 min
Language Breakdown
~4 min
Comprehension Quiz
~2 min
Free Transcript PDF
YOUR HOSTS
Nadia
Nurse
Tom
PatientVOCABULARY - 10 TERMS
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Post-operative (post-op) | The period of care immediately after a surgical procedure — from the moment the patient leaves theatre until clinical recovery is complete. "Day-one post-op" means the first day after the operation. | "Mr. Davies is day-one post-op." |
| Surgical ward | The area of a hospital where patients recover after a planned operation — distinct from a medical ward or intensive care. In Ep. 04, "ward" was explained generally; in Ep. 09, narrowed to a specific kind. — recall from Episode 04, revisited in the post-operative context | "Mr. Davies was transferred from theatre to Whitfield Ward overnight." |
| Recovery | The process of returning to normal function after surgery — physical (pain, mobility, wound healing) and physiological (bowel function, eating, drinking). | "His recovery is on track for day one." |
| Pain score | A numeric rating on a 0–10 scale that the patient gives for the intensity of their pain. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is the standard tool in UK practice. Wording at the bedside: "out of ten." | "His pain score this morning is six out of ten." |
| Mobilisation | Getting the patient up and moving safely after surgery — sitting, standing, walking. Verb form: to mobilise. Early mobilisation reduces post-operative complications. | "We'll start mobilising him after breakfast." |
| Wound site | The specific area of the body where the surgical incision was made. For a laparoscopic procedure, several small keyhole sites rather than one long incision. Documented as "clean and dry" when normal. | "All three wound sites are clean and dry." |
| Analgesia | The clinical term for pain-relief medication — everything from paracetamol to stronger options. Patient-facing equivalents: pain relief, painkillers. Naming both registers is a core OET Speaking skill. | "He has regular analgesia written up." |
| Observations (obs) | Regular set of vital-sign checks — BP, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate — recorded on the post-op chart. In Ep. 05, these were "vital signs" in a triage context; in Ep. 09, "observations" or "obs" in ward register. — recall from Episode 05, revisited in the post-operative context | "A full set of obs is due at oh-eight-hundred." |
| Bowel function | The return of normal intestinal activity after abdominal surgery — passing wind, then opening the bowels. A standard discharge criterion and a normal bedside question, not a sensitive one. | "Bowel function is one of the things we ask about each round." |
| Discharge criteria | The conditions a patient must meet before being safely discharged home: pain controlled, observations stable, eating, drinking, passing urine, bowels working, mobile, transport arranged, follow-up understood. | "Going home depends on meeting the discharge criteria." |
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