"Fixin' to die"

emmy27 · Dec 23, 2016

The irony of complaining about the public perception of a colleague's professionalism in using an extremely common colloquialism in an interview explaining to laypeople what happened (do you think the audience would have understood what she was saying if she said "I took one look at the child and immediately noticed he was rapidly decompensating- his prognosis seemed grim"?) while using almost incoherently poor spelling, grammar, and punctuation, is... profound.

Farawyn · Dec 23, 2016

I love the word askew.

sevensonnets · Dec 23, 2016

I love askew too. One of my favorite words!

allnurses Guide · Dec 23, 2016

Um, what is wrong with being a hick ? I take exception to that generalization. I'm fixin to post about it on Facebook.

Yikes! I'm a hick too. :smug:

I understand wanting nurses to be professional. I'm one of the folks here on AN who used to correct grammar, punctuation, etc. But I backed off on that for the most part.

However, I don't agree that we should be castigating this wonderful nurse who saved a child's life. Maybe that's the issue - she really did a good thing and we shouldn't be worried about her words right now.

OP - I am not sure I remember anyone calling YOU names and don't have time to re-read the entire thread. But if that happened, it shouldn't have happened.

I love the word askew.

Me too. And forthwith! (Blue Bloods fan here :inlove: Tom Selleck makes me swoon! :yes: ).

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 23, 2016

This is not one battle I would've picked. It's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. The nurse saved that child's life & you're upset over 1 phrase she used? Oy.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Dec 23, 2016

It's so funny that the majority of you disagree.The members of this board have slammed posters for spelling and grammar to the point that they left.And to call me names because I hold a differing opinion just proves your own ignorance.
I stand by my opinion.I would not say to a family member "your dad is circling the drain" or " fixin'to die".I would not report it to a physician,I would not use it publicly especially during an interview.
Let's talk about " cultural awareness".It is a regional colloqialism. No place for it in this context in my opinion.Thanks for yours,no need to call me names.

.

If you were addressing me, I did not call you names.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Dec 23, 2016

I love the word askew.

I must askew a question.

DowntheRiver · Dec 23, 2016

Lifelong Florida citizen here. This is just how we speak. I'm very educated, but you can certainly here me saying y'all, etc. I'll also say french toast in place of dropping an F bomb, or shiitake mushrooms in place of crap.

I believe it was Robert Frost who said, "You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right part of the country."

Boomer MS, RN · Dec 23, 2016

I love colloquialisms. I remember hearing a well educated and polished nurse say to me during report about a patient in the trauma room, "He be dead." Lots of dark humor in the ER. This was in PA, not in the south, but I appreciate the expressions from anywhere.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 23, 2016

It's so funny that the majority of you disagree.The members of this board have slammed posters for spelling and grammar to the point that they left.And to call me names because I hold a differing opinion just proves your own ignorance.

Trust me there have been more than a few times when I posted something I was certain would have my peers lining up in support and much to my surprise my opinion and point fell completely flat or even worse was vehemently discredited. Meh it happens and rather than become defensive I figure to each his own and also consider that there might be something valuable in what others have written especially if it is an overwhelming majority. Try to keep an open mind and remember that when posting on a public forum you will get all opinions not just supportive replies. I admire those who accept criticism even when it isn't especially kind with courtesy and grace.

catmom1, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2016

There's a difference between spelling and grammar errors and local dialect. I also fail to see any posts calling you names.

My first thought was that the OP had some kind of personal insecurity about being a nurse (I assume he/she is a nurse but there is no educational info on the profile).

The reference to nonexistent "name calling" seems to support my hypothesis. If I am mistaken, I stand corrected.

Secure people do not react like this, IMO.

Catmom :paw:

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2016

I did read the story,I also know that terms such as "fixin' to die" "circling the drain" etc.I also know it is "regional".My point is it makes her sound ignorant.We nurses continue to strive to be recognized as professionals.I would th ok no anyone with even a minimum of education would put their best foot forward during an interview and use proper English.I guess it's my issue.

It makes her sound ignorant to you, because you are biased against people who use this regional expression.

To me, it makes her sound Southern or maybe Midwestern, I'm not sure. I admit I am ignorant as to the origin, I just know it's not something we say in New Jersey. See what ignorant means? It means you don't know something.

Frankly, I think you are the one being ignorant here. The school nurse is a hero. Why are you busting her balls? (That's Jersey for giving her a hard time or just being an ass)