Built for the bedside

Speak Spanish
at the bedside.
Not in a classroom.

Role-specific phrases, quizzes, and clinical modules for nurses, doctors, EMTs, and every healthcare professional who needs it now.

The Real Problem

Spanish classes teach travel.
You need clinical.

When your patient is in pain and there's no interpreter available, you need the right words immediately — not a year from now. That's why this exists.

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No interpreter on shift

Language access is required by ACA Section 1557 — but 3am doesn't wait for a phone interpreter to connect.

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Classroom Spanish doesn't translate

Textbook dialogues teach "the weather is nice." Clinical encounters need "rate your pain from zero to ten."

No time for a full course

12-hour shifts leave exactly zero hours for Duolingo. You need targeted, role-specific, and fast.

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Wrong specialty vocabulary

ICU nurses need different words than L&D nurses. EMTs need scene control. OT needs ADL language. It's not one-size-fits-all.

These tools buy you time in the critical moments before an interpreter arrives — while you build the long-term fluency that makes them unnecessary.


Sample Phrases

The Spanish that clinicians actually use

No filler vocabulary. Every phrase below is pulled from real clinical scenarios — the ones where language access matters most.

Rate your pain from 0 to 10
¿Del cero al diez, cuánto le duele?
Pain Assessment · Nursing
Are you having trouble breathing?
¿Tiene dificultad para respirar?
Respiratory · Emergency
I'm going to take your blood pressure
Le voy a tomar la presión arterial.
Vitals · Nursing
Do you have any allergies to medications?
¿Es alérgico(a) a algún medicamento?
Medication History · All Roles
When did the pain start?
¿Cuándo empezó el dolor?
Pain OPQRST · History Taking
You're going to feel a small prick
Va a sentir un pequeño pinchazo.
Procedures · Nursing / Lab
Can you tell me your date of birth?
¿Me puede decir su fecha de nacimiento?
Patient Identification · All
We need to do an emergency C-section
Necesitamos hacer una cesárea de emergencia.
Obstetrics · L&D
Do you feel safe at home?
¿Se siente seguro(a) en su casa?
Safety Screening · Mental Health

Practice All 600+ Phrases →


Training Modules

Role-specific. Clinically accurate.

Not all healthcare Spanish is the same. Each module is built for a specific clinical role and scenario — so you learn exactly what you need, nothing you don't.

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Nurses

Admission, vitals, medication admin, discharge

120 phrases → Read the guide
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Physicians

History taking, informed consent, diagnosis counseling

90 phrases → Read the guide
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EMS & First Responders

Scene safety, primary survey, triage, handoff

80 phrases → Read the guide
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Pediatrics

Child and parent communication, developmental history

70 phrases → Read the guide
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Labor & Delivery

Triage, labor, pushing, postpartum counseling

85 phrases → Read the guide
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Behavioral Health

PHQ-9, GAD-7, Columbia Protocol, safety planning

75 phrases → Read the guide
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Pharmacy & Medications

Instructions, dosing, side effects, refills

65 phrases → Read the guide
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Palliative & End-of-Life

Goals of care, code status, family meetings, comfort

60 phrases → Read the guide
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Discharge & Patient Safety

Discharge scripts, teach-back, follow-up instructions

55 phrases → Read the guide

All Specialties in the App →


The Clinical Spanish Trifold

Laminate-ready quick-reference card covering all 9 clinical modules. Clip it to your badge. Use it on shift. Download instantly — no payment required.

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📋PDF

Take this to your shift — printable pocket guide

Badge-card format PDF. Every phrase laminate-ready. Print, cut, clip to your badge. $29

Download →

Continuing Education

Earn CE/CME credit while learning medical Spanish

Language competency and cultural competency qualify as continuing education on several accredited platforms. Earn credit while building a skill you actually need at the bedside.

Accredited CE

Relias

Healthcare-specific CE/CME platform. Language and cultural competency courses for nurses, CNAs, and allied health professionals.

Free CME

Medscape Education

Free CME for licensed providers. Cultural competency and interpreter use qualify on multiple accredited pathways.

Certificate

Coursera for Healthcare

University-backed clinical language courses. Certificates recognized by many healthcare institutions for licensure renewal.


Recommended Reading

Best Medical Spanish Books

Reviewed and ranked for clinical use — not general travel Spanish

A
Medical Spanish: A Conversational Approach
Jose M. Mazariegos
Role-play dialogues for clinical scenarios — the closest to real bedside Spanish in print.
A
Spanish for Health Care Professionals
William C. Harvey
Practical phrase guide organized by department — ED, OB, peds, and outpatient.
A
Quick Medical Spanish
Pocket Reference Series
Badge-card format reference. Fits in a lab coat pocket. Ideal for shift use.
A
Spanish for Emergency Medicine
Wiley Clinical
ED-focused survival Spanish: triage, chest pain, trauma, and consent.
A
501 Spanish Verbs
Kendris & Kendris — Barron's
The gold standard verb conjugation reference. Every tense, every irregular form. Essential companion.

For Hospital L&D Teams
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Train your entire team — not just one nurse

Hospitals are required under ACA Section 1557 to provide language access services. Group licensing for Language Threshold gives your entire floor or department structured medical Spanish training with progress tracking and compliance reporting. Book a 20-minute call to see if it's a fit.

Book a 20-min call →

No commitment. Just a conversation.


Clinical Spanish Resources

Free guides for every specialty

In-depth articles covering the exact Spanish you need by role and clinical scenario — evidence-based phrases, cultural context, and real-world usage.

Nursing
100 Most Common Medical Spanish Phrases Every Nurse Should Know
EMS & First Responders
Medical Spanish for EMTs: 50 Critical Phrases for First Responders
Clinical Skills
How to Ask About Pain in Spanish: A Healthcare Professional's Guide
Pediatrics
Spanish for Pediatric Nurses: Phrases for Talking to Kids and Parents
Behavioral Health
Medical Spanish for Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety & Suicide Risk
Obstetrics
Spanish for Labor & Delivery Nurses: A 40-Phrase Cheat Sheet
Patient Safety
How to Discharge a Spanish-Speaking Patient Safely: A Nurse's Script
Chronic Disease
Medical Spanish Diabetes Education: A1C, Insulin & Diet Phrases
End-of-Life Care
Spanish for Hospice & Palliative Care: Difficult Bedside Conversations
Pharmacology
Medical Spanish Medication Names: Pronunciation Guide for Nurses
Cardiology
Spanish for Cardiac Nurses: Chest Pain, EKG, and Heart Failure
Oncology
Oncology Spanish: Chemotherapy Consent and Treatment Counseling
ICU / Critical Care
ICU Spanish: Ventilator, Sedation, and Family Communication
Surgical / OR
Surgical Spanish: Pre-op, Consent, and Post-op Instructions
Radiology
Radiology Spanish: MRI, CT, and Contrast Prep Instructions
Physical Therapy
PT Spanish: Range of Motion, Pain, and Exercise Instructions
Occupational Therapy
OT Spanish: ADL Assessments and Home Modification Counseling
Neurology
Neurology Spanish: Stroke, Seizure, and Cognitive Assessments
Orthopedics
Orthopedic Spanish: Fractures, Post-op, and Rehab Instructions
Gastroenterology
GI Spanish: Colonoscopy Prep, Endoscopy, and Bowel Habits
Pulmonology
Respiratory Spanish: Asthma, COPD, and Inhaler Technique
Nephrology
Dialysis Spanish: AV Fistula Care and Dietary Restrictions
Endocrinology
Thyroid and Adrenal Spanish: Hormone Counseling Phrases
Dermatology
Dermatology Spanish: Skin Conditions, Biopsy, and Wound Care
Rheumatology
Rheumatology Spanish: Arthritis, Lupus, and Infusion Therapy
Urology
Urology Spanish: Catheter Care, Kidney Stones, and Prostate
Respiratory Therapy
RT Spanish: Vent Weaning, Breathing Exercises, and Suctioning
Nutrition / Dietitian
Dietitian Spanish: Food Diaries, Meal Planning, and Cultural Foods
Social Work
Medical Social Work Spanish: Housing, Safety, and Benefits Screening
Case Management
Case Manager Spanish: Discharge Planning and Insurance Navigation
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology Spanish: Vision Testing and Eye Drop Instructions
Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease Spanish: HIV, TB, and Isolation Precautions
Wound Care
Wound Care Spanish: Dressing Changes and Pressure Injury Prevention
Home Health
Home Health Aide Spanish: ADLs, Safety, and Medication Reminders
Dental / Oral Surgery
Dental Spanish: Extraction Consent and Post-op Instructions
Ultrasound / Sonography
Ultrasound Tech Spanish: Positioning and Prep Instructions
Laboratory
Lab Tech Spanish: Blood Draw Instructions and Sample Collection
Allergy / Immunology
Allergy Spanish: Anaphylaxis Action Plans and Immunotherapy
Medical Interpreting
Bridging Spanish: When to Use an Interpreter and How to Work With One
Documentation
Medical Documentation Spanish: Charting Phrases and EHR Notes

Start with one module.
Use it on your next shift.

Language Threshold is free to start — no account required. Pick your specialty, run through 20 phrases, and see how fast clinical Spanish sticks when the context is right.

Start Learning Free → Download Trifold