Respiratory therapy Spanish

Spanish for respiratory therapists: inhaler technique, nebulizer, oxygen, and ventilator phrases

Respiratory therapy is one of the most instruction-heavy specialties in bedside care — and almost every critical instruction depends on the patient performing a precise action. For Spanish-speaking patients, an inhaler technique demonstration that ends with "¿entendió?" and a nod is not the same as one that ends with a verified teach-back. This page gives respiratory therapists the working Spanish vocabulary for their highest-stakes patient communication tasks: inhaler and nebulizer instruction, oxygen therapy delivery, pulmonary function testing, ventilator weaning, and discharge breathing exercises.

Inhaler technique instruction (MDI)

The metered-dose inhaler is the most commonly misused respiratory device in the US — studies consistently show more than 70% of patients use incorrect technique within one month of instruction. For Spanish-speaking patients who received instruction in English, that figure is almost certainly higher. These phrases walk through each step with the language patients need to do it correctly.

Shake and prime

• "¿Ya agitó el inhalador antes de usarlo? Hay que agitarlo bien — diez a quince sacudidas — porque el medicamento se asienta en el fondo." — Did you shake the inhaler before using it? You have to shake it well — ten to fifteen shakes — because the medication settles to the bottom.
• "Si es inhalador nuevo, o si no lo ha usado en más de dos semanas, hay que 'prepararlo' primero: oprima el botón cuatro veces al aire, no a la boca." — If it's a new inhaler, or if you haven't used it in more than two weeks, you need to "prime" it first: press the button four times into the air, not your mouth.

Exhale first

• "Antes de ponerse el inhalador en la boca, exhale todo el aire — saque todo hasta que sienta que los pulmones están vacíos. Eso abre espacio para el medicamento." — Before putting the inhaler in your mouth, exhale all the air — push it all out until you feel your lungs are empty. That opens space for the medication.

Seal, press, and inhale slowly

• "Encierre bien la boquilla con los labios — sin dejar escapar aire por los lados — y oprima el botón al mismo tiempo que empieza a inhalar. Inhale despacio, como si estuviera sorbiendo por un popote angosto." — Seal the mouthpiece tightly with your lips — without letting air escape from the sides — and press the button at the same time you start inhaling. Inhale slowly, as if you were sipping through a narrow straw.
• The most common error: pressing before inhaling. "El botón y la inhalación tienen que pasar al mismo tiempo — si oprime primero y luego inhala, el medicamento golpea la garganta en vez de llegar a los pulmones." — The button and the inhalation have to happen at the same time — if you press first and then inhale, the medication hits the throat instead of reaching the lungs.

Hold and breathe out

• "Aguante el aire diez segundos — cuente en su cabeza: uno, dos, tres... hasta diez. Eso le da tiempo al medicamento de depositarse en los bronquios." — Hold the air ten seconds — count in your head: one, two, three... to ten. That gives the medication time to deposit in the bronchi.
• "Después exhale despacio por la nariz, no por la boca." — Then exhale slowly through the nose, not the mouth.

Spacer recommendation

• "Este aparato se llama espaciador — se conecta al inhalador y hace que más medicamento llegue a los pulmones. Se lo recomiendo especialmente si a veces le cuesta trabajo coordinar el botón y la respiración al mismo tiempo." — This device is called a spacer — it connects to the inhaler and makes more medication reach the lungs. I especially recommend it if you sometimes have trouble coordinating the button and the breath at the same time.

Nebulizer treatment

Nebulizer compliance is higher when patients understand what the mist is, why it works, and what sensations are expected. The albuterol tachycardia and tremor are the two side effects most likely to cause a patient to remove the mask prematurely.

What is the nebulizer

• "Esta máquina convierte el medicamento líquido en un vapor muy fino — tan pequeño que puede entrar directamente a los bronquios. Es diferente a las pastillas porque va directo al lugar donde se necesita." — This machine converts the liquid medication into a very fine mist — so small that it can enter directly into the bronchi. It's different from pills because it goes directly to where it's needed.

How to use it

• Mask: "Sostenga la mascarilla sobre la nariz y la boca — o use la boquilla y encierrela con los labios. Respire normal — no tiene que respirar diferente ni más profundo de lo normal." — Hold the mask over your nose and mouth — or use the mouthpiece and seal it with your lips. Breathe normally — you don't have to breathe differently or deeper than normal.
• "El tratamiento termina solo cuando ya no sale más vapor — generalmente diez a quince minutos. Avíseme si siente que el corazón le late más rápido o si le tiemblan las manos — es normal con este medicamento pero quiero saberlo." — The treatment ends by itself when no more mist comes out — usually ten to fifteen minutes. Let me know if you feel your heart beating faster or if your hands tremble — that's normal with this medication but I want to know.

Oxygen therapy

Spanish-speaking patients frequently remove supplemental oxygen because no one explained why they need it or what the device does. The fear of "depending on oxygen forever" is a common cultural barrier — address it directly.

Why oxygen

• "El nivel de oxígeno en su sangre está bajo — en [X]%. Lo normal es 95% o más. Con el oxígeno extra, su corazón no tiene que trabajar tan fuerte para compensar y sus órganos reciben lo que necesitan." — The oxygen level in your blood is low — at [X]%. Normal is 95% or above. With the extra oxygen, your heart doesn't have to work as hard to compensate and your organs get what they need.
• Addressing the dependency fear: "El oxígeno no es adictivo — no se va a quedar dependiendo de él. Es solo un apoyo temporal mientras su [diagnóstico] mejora. Cuando el nivel suba y se mantenga solo, lo retiramos." — Oxygen is not addictive — you won't become dependent on it. It's just temporary support while your [diagnosis] improves. When the level rises and holds on its own, we remove it.

Nasal cannula

• "Estas puntitas van en los orificios de la nariz — no duelen. Puede respirar por la boca o por la nariz, el oxígeno entra igual." — These little prongs go in the nostrils — they don't hurt. You can breathe through your mouth or nose, the oxygen enters either way.
• "No se la quite cuando vaya al baño — lleve el tubo consigo. Tiene suficiente largo." — Don't take it off when you go to the bathroom — take the tubing with you. It's long enough.

Non-rebreather mask

• "Esta mascarilla da el nivel más alto de oxígeno — necesitamos que se la deje puesta. La bolsita al costado debe verse inflada — si la ve desinflarse completamente, avíseme de inmediato." — This mask delivers the highest level of oxygen — we need you to keep it on. The small bag on the side should look inflated — if you see it deflate completely, let me know right away.

Ventilator weaning communication

Ventilated patients who are awake and attempting to communicate face enormous anxiety, especially when they cannot speak. Spanish-speaking patients in this situation who don't understand what the ventilator is doing or what "weaning" means are at higher risk for self-extubation and distress. Explain the process step by step.

Explaining mechanical ventilation

• "El respirador está haciendo el trabajo de respirar por usted mientras sus pulmones descansan y se recuperan. El tubo en la garganta va a la traquea — no puede hablar con el tubo, pero puede comunicarse con señales con la mano o escribir." — The ventilator is doing the work of breathing for you while your lungs rest and recover. The tube in your throat goes to the trachea — you can't speak with the tube, but you can communicate with hand signals or writing.
• Hand signal setup: "Vamos a hacer señales simples: levante un dedo para 'sí', mueva la cabeza para 'no'. Si tiene dolor, apriete mi mano fuerte. Si necesita algo, señale con el dedo." — We'll use simple signals: raise one finger for "yes," shake your head for "no." If you're in pain, squeeze my hand hard. If you need something, point with your finger.

Explaining the weaning trial (SBT)

• "Vamos a hacer una prueba para ver si sus pulmones ya están listos para respirar solos. Por los próximos 30 a 60 minutos, el respirador va a ayudar menos — usted va a hacer más trabajo. Eso es normal y es bueno — significa que está mejorando." — We're going to do a test to see if your lungs are ready to breathe on their own. For the next 30 to 60 minutes, the ventilator will help less — you'll do more of the work. That's normal and it's good — it means you're improving.
• "Si se siente muy agitado, muy cansado, o si le falta mucho el aire, levante la mano y paro la prueba. No tiene que aguantar si es demasiado." — If you feel very agitated, very tired, or very short of breath, raise your hand and I'll stop the test. You don't have to endure it if it's too much.

Pulmonary function testing (spirometry)

Spirometry accuracy depends entirely on maximal patient effort. The RT cannot produce effort for the patient — they can only communicate the exact sequence of actions needed. These phrases are tested against what respiratory patients actually understand in Spanish, not a word-for-word translation of the English script.

• Setup: "Voy a medir qué tan bien funcionan sus pulmones. El resultado depende completamente de su esfuerzo — le voy a pedir que respire lo más fuerte y rápido que pueda. Es un poco incómodo pero no dura mucho." — I'm going to measure how well your lungs work. The result depends entirely on your effort — I'll ask you to breathe as hard and fast as you can. It's a bit uncomfortable but doesn't last long.
• Maximal inhalation: "Respire profundo — lo más que pueda — hasta que no le entre más aire. Más... más... bien." — Breathe in deeply — as much as you can — until no more air can enter. More... more... good.
• Forced exhalation: "Ahora sople todo el aire — rápido y fuerte — sin parar hasta que sus pulmones estén completamente vacíos. No pare aunque sienta que ya no queda — siga soplando." — Now blow all the air out — fast and hard — without stopping until your lungs are completely empty. Don't stop even if you feel there's nothing left — keep blowing.
• Repeat: "Muy bien. Necesito que lo hagamos tres veces para confirmar el resultado — descanse un minuto y lo volvemos a hacer." — Very good. I need us to do it three times to confirm the result — rest a minute and we'll do it again.

Discharge breathing exercises

Discharge respiratory instructions are the last thing an RT does with a patient — and the one instruction that determines whether they come back. Incentive spirometry and pursed-lip breathing are the two most common discharge exercises. Neither works if the patient doesn't understand how.

Incentive spirometry

• "Este aparato se llama espirómetro de incentivo. Lo va a usar para mantener los pulmones abiertos mientras se recupera de la cirugía / la neumonía." — This device is called an incentive spirometer. You'll use it to keep your lungs open while you recover from surgery / pneumonia.
• "Exhale todo el aire, ponga la boquilla en la boca, e inhale lento y profundo hasta que la bolita suba hasta [número] — aguante dos segundos — y suelte. Haga esto diez veces cada hora que esté despierto." — Exhale all the air, put the mouthpiece in your mouth, and inhale slowly and deeply until the ball rises to [number] — hold two seconds — and release. Do this ten times every hour you're awake.
• "Si le duele respirar profundo después de la cirugía, sostenga una almohada contra la barriga — eso ayuda a aguantar la incisión y duele menos." — If it hurts to breathe deeply after surgery, hold a pillow against your belly — that helps splint the incision and hurts less.

Pursed-lip breathing (COPD / dyspnea)

• "Esta técnica se llama respiración con labios fruncidos — sirve para cuando le falta el aire. Inhale por la nariz dos tiempos — y exhale por la boca con los labios juntos, como si fuera a apagar una vela, en cuatro tiempos. Más despacio la salida que la entrada." — This technique is called pursed-lip breathing — it's for when you're short of breath. Inhale through the nose for two counts — and exhale through the mouth with your lips pursed, as if blowing out a candle, for four counts. Slower out than in.
• "Cuando siente que le falta el aire, siéntese derecho, inclínese un poco hacia adelante, y use la respiración con labios fruncidos — eso es lo primero que debe hacer antes de buscar el inhalador." — When you feel short of breath, sit upright, lean slightly forward, and use pursed-lip breathing — that's the first thing to do before reaching for the inhaler.

Disclaimer

ClinicaLingo is a language-training tool. The phrases above are intended to support clinician-patient communication for licensed respiratory therapists delivering care within their scope of practice. Device-specific parameters (oxygen flow rates, spirometry predicted values, ventilator settings) depend on physician orders and institutional protocol — this page does not constitute clinical guidance. Language training is not medical advice.