englishmelon
Role Play Card 41
Interlocutor Role Play Card
Patient Setting: Community Health Centre
You are a 35-year-old vegetarian who does not cook owing to a hectic lifestyle, and mainly relies on ready meals for convenience. You drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day. Lately, you’ve been feeling exhausted. Your doctor has explained that you have anaemia (the number of red blood cells in your blood is low). You’ve flow been asked to speak to a nurse for dietary suggestions.
Task
- Explain to the nurse that you are confused by the diagnosis and how It relates to your diet (you choose vegetarian ready meals because you believe they are healthy).
- Answer the nurse questions regarding your dietary routine (coffee for breakfast, frozen meals for lunch, coffee and cake for afternoon tea, rarely eat dinner).
- Be resistant to the nurse’s suggestions as you dislike tofu and green leafy vegetables, coffee helps you cope with the stress of work.
- Finally agree to the recommendations but be adamant that you cannot reduce your coffee consumption.
Candidate Role Play Card
Nurse Setting: Community Health Centre
You are speaking with a 35-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with anaemia (haemoglobin is 8g/dl). Their doctor has referred him/her to your centre for further advice concerning their condition and necessary dietary adjustments.
Task
- Find out if the patient has any questions regarding the diagnosis.
- Explain that iron is only sourced from the diet and can be tow in vegetarians without planning. Reassure the patient it is treatable with dietary modification.
- Find out further details about the patient’s dietary habits.
- Suggest ways In which the patient can increase his/her Iron intake (e.g. beans, leafy green vegetables such as spinach/kale, tofu, iron fortified cereals, reduce consumption of coffee — inhibits absorption of iron). Discuss the importance of food combining as a compromise (allow one hour between consuming iron rich food and coffee to increase absorption; Vitamin C at the sometime as iron rich food).
Role Play
Nurse: “Hello, I’m Nurse [Your Name]. How are you today?”
Patient: “Hi, I’m feeling a bit tired and confused about this anaemia diagnosis.”
Nurse: “I understand. Your doctor has referred you to me for some dietary advice to help manage your anaemia. I’m here to explain how your diet might be affecting your condition and suggest some changes that could help.”
Patient: “Okay, but I thought my vegetarian ready meals were healthy.”
Nurse: “I can see why you might think that. Can you tell me more about your daily diet? For example, what do you usually have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”
Patient: “Well, I usually have coffee for breakfast, a frozen meal for lunch, coffee and cake in the afternoon, and I rarely eat dinner.”
Nurse: “I see. How many cups of coffee do you drink in a day?”
Patient: “I drink about 4-5 cups a day. It helps me cope with the stress of work.”
Nurse: “I understand that coffee can be a comfort. However, it’s important to know that coffee can inhibit the absorption of iron, which might be contributing to your anaemia. Since you’re a vegetarian, getting enough iron from your diet can be a bit challenging without careful planning.”
Patient: “So, you think my diet is causing this anaemia?”
Nurse: “It’s possible. Iron is sourced from the diet, and vegetarians need to be mindful of their iron intake. Let’s talk about how we can improve your iron levels.”
Patient: “Alright, but I don’t have much time to cook.”
Nurse: “That’s understandable. There are convenient ways to add iron-rich foods to your diet. Have you tried iron-fortified cereals?”
Patient: “Not really. I usually just grab whatever is quick.”
Nurse: “Iron-fortified cereals can be a quick and easy option for breakfast. Adding some fruits high in Vitamin C, like oranges or strawberries, can help with iron absorption.”
Patient: “I didn’t know that. What other foods are good for iron?”
Nurse: “Beans, lentils, and chickpeas are great sources of iron. You can add them to salads or soups. Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are also good.”
Patient: “I really don’t like tofu and green leafy vegetables.”
Nurse: “I understand they might not be your favorites. How about trying to include more beans and lentils instead? They can be very versatile in meals.”
Patient: “Maybe. But I really can’t cut down on my coffee.”
Nurse: “I see. Another important tip is to separate your coffee intake from iron-rich meals by at least an hour to help with absorption. Can you manage that?”
Patient: “I think I can try that. What about snacks?”
Nurse: “Nuts and seeds can be good snacks and also provide some iron. Almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds are all good choices.”
Patient: “That sounds doable. I just hope it works.”
Nurse: “It sounds like a lot, but small changes can make a big difference. If you can try to have your coffee away from your meals and add some iron-rich foods to your diet, it should help improve your iron levels.”
Patient: “Okay, I’ll give it a try. But I’m still not sure about all these changes.”
Nurse: “I understand that making these changes can be challenging, especially with a busy lifestyle. It’s important to take it one step at a time and see what works best for you.”
Patient: “Thanks for understanding. I guess I can start with the cereals and snacks.”
Nurse: “That sounds like a great start. Remember, it’s about finding a balance that works for you. If you need any more support or have any questions, feel free to reach out.”
Patient: “I appreciate that. I’ll try my best.”
Nurse: “You’re welcome. Take care, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need anything.”
Patient: “Thank you. I will.”
