Poor spelling in charting

Nurses General Nursing

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I just had a eureka moment. I have been an LPN for about five months and just realized I have been charting they word laying wrong. I have been charting for example " lying in bed watching television with no complaints" I realize now that I should have been putting laying in bed. I feel like such an idiot. Does this make me look like an incompetent nurse or do yo all have words that you thought you have been spelling right that are actually wrong? Just wondering

Specializes in ER.

I think you are fine. If that is the worst mistake you made you are doing well!

Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.

Don't be so hard on yourself on this small issue - you've realized and you've caught the problem early. Spelling seems to be a problem with many people-nurses included. Have you seem some of the posts listed here on this website!!!:D

Specializes in Long Term Care.

I've seen others make bigger mistakes 2, 5, 10 years into becoming nurses, please don't be so hard on yourself - just keep an eye out for errors, so next time, you can not only correct yourself on an error, but also maybe a co-workers' mistake as well.

Specializes in psychiatric nursing, med/surg adult care.
Don't be so hard on yourself on this small issue - you've realized and you've caught the problem early. Spelling seems to be a problem with many people-nurses included. Have you seem some of the posts listed here on this website!!!:D

English is not my primary language but that doesn't excuse me for making you shake your head on how "unnatural" I express myself in this site. Thank you guys for being considerate and understanding, I just can't imagine how you can bear with my posts hehe :D:D

Anyway, back to the thread, we chart and accomplish legal documents in English. Senior nurses and the managers are very particular with grammar, spelling, and vocabulary when they inspect/check our charting. I often encounter (and commit) common mistake like with the following words: jewelries instead of sets of jewelry, equipments, use of were-where, this-these,respond-response, its-it's,they're-their,double negatives like I didn't do nothing, transfered, etc. I guess that's all I can think of right now.

You are not alone. There are (of us) many who do even worst, or shall I say worse? See that?! :D

:redbeathe tatara

Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

Don't feel bad. I used to spell monitor with an "e" (moniter)! I worked in NICU, and charted that misspelled word frequently.

lie 1 (lī) dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif

intr.v. lay (lā), lain (lān), ly-ing (lī'ĭng), lies

  1. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep.
  2. To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal: Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.
  3. To be or remain in a specified condition: The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.

http://www.grammarmudge.cityslide.com/articles/article/992333/8992.htm

You're using it correctly. You've probably seen so many people using it incorrectly that you're doubting yourself.

Specializes in psychiatric nursing, med/surg adult care.
lie 1 (lī) dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif

intr.v. lay (lā), lain (lān), ly-ing (lī'ĭng), lies

  1. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep.
  2. To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal: Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.
  3. To be or remain in a specified condition: The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.

http://www.grammarmudge.cityslide.com/articles/article/992333/8992.htm

You're using it correctly. You've probably seen so many people using it incorrectly that you're doubting yourself.

:yeah:

Indeed!

I even opened a dictionary just to be sure (I even scribbled the word lying-laying :D), and yes, just as I thought. You were correct after all!

I chart in the same record as doctors do, and they abbreviate the majority of their words and their handwriting is atrocious! I've had other doctors complain they can't read the chart. A misspelled word here and there seems to be small potatoes, if you ask me.

Classicaldreams

So would I use it like : pt. Laying or lying in bed

Specializes in intensive care major medical centers.

maybe your patient was lying in bed :D i have had several patients lie to me

Patient lying in bed. People lie (lying), things lay (laying). So a notebook could be laying on the bed next to the person who is lying there.

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