危急时刻 Critical Moments: Hard News and Grief

By the end of this module you can…

• Support a family who stays during resuscitation, and explain a breathing tube in plain words.
• Ask about a living will and a health care proxy, and leave the CPR conversation to the doctor.
• Follow six steps for serious news, and be honest when the outcome is uncertain.
• Learn the words a doctor uses to tell a family that someone has died, and how to respond to their grief.
• Explain viewing and the next steps, and know when only a professional interpreter will do.

Key vocabulary

Sixteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.

In the resuscitation room

• 抢救qiǎng jiùResuscitation; emergency rescue
• 心肺复苏xīn fèi fù sūCPR
• 除颤器chú chàn qìDefibrillator
• 插管chā guǎnIntubation (a breathing tube)
• 呼吸机hū xī jīVentilator
• 监护仪jiān hù yíBedside monitor
• 心跳xīn tiàoHeartbeat
• 重症监护室zhòng zhèng jiān hù shìIntensive care unit (ICU)

Wishes, news and afterward

• 生前预嘱shēng qián yù zhǔLiving will, advance directive
• 医疗代理人yī liáo dài lǐ rénHealth care proxy
• 谈话室tán huà shìFamily room (for private talks)
• 纸巾zhǐ jīnTissues
• 社工shè gōngSocial worker
• 去世qù shìTo die, to pass away
• 随身物品suí shēn wù pǐnPersonal belongings
• 殡仪馆bìn yí guǎnFuneral home

Ten core phrases

The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.

1. 您想进去陪着他吗？我会一直在您旁边。Nín xiǎng jìn qu péi zhe tā ma? Wǒ huì yì zhí zài nín páng biān.Would you like to be with him? I’ll stay beside you.
2. 他自己呼吸太累了，医生要给他插管。Tā zì jǐ hū xī tài lèi le, yī shēng yào gěi tā chā guǎn.Breathing is too hard for him, so the doctor will put in a breathing tube.
3. 我们还不知道他能不能挺过来。Wǒ men hái bù zhī dao tā néng bu néng tǐng guò lai.We don’t know yet if he’ll pull through.
4. 您有没有生前预嘱？Nín yǒu méi yǒu shēng qián yù zhǔ?Do you have a living will?
5. 我们去谈话室坐下来说，好吗？Wǒ men qù tán huà shì zuò xià lai shuō, hǎo ma?Let’s sit down in the family room.
6. 我有一个很不好的消息要告诉您。Wǒ yǒu yí ge hěn bù hǎo de xiāo xi yào gào su nín.I have some very bad news.
7. 我很抱歉，您先生去世了。Wǒ hěn bào qiàn, nín xiān sheng qù shì le.I’m so sorry. Your husband has died.
8. 这对您来说太突然了。Zhè duì nín lái shuō tài tū rán le.This is so sudden for you.
9. 您想去看看他吗？Nín xiǎng qù kàn kan tā ma?Would you like to see him?
10. 我会一直在这儿陪着您。Wǒ huì yì zhí zài zhèr péi zhe nín.I’ll stay right here with you.

What’s in Module 12

1. Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: The Hardest Shifts
2. Part 2 · The Words for Critical MomentsReading the Pinyin · Saying 去世了 vs. Charting 死亡 · Vocabulary · Flash Cards · Six Steps for Serious News
3. Part 3 · During ResuscitationFamily in the Room · Explaining a Breathing Tube · Key Patterns · When We Don’t Know Yet
4. Part 4 · Wishes and Hard NewsWishes: Living Wills and CPR · Telling a Family Someone Has Died · Responding to Grief · Seeing Him
5. Part 5 · After a DeathWhat Happens Next · Your Mandarin, or an Interpreter? · What Families Say · Putting It Together
6. Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided Conversation · Round 2 · Controlled Practice · Rounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
7. Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 12 Knowledge Check
8. Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 12 Homework · Take-Home Phrase Sheet · Module 12 Wrap-Up · 下次见