A name for Computer on Wheels

Published

We are no longer able to use the acronym "COWs" for computers on wheels. Does anyone have a name they use for computers on wheels other than cows. Patient offended by nurse using this word, thought they were talking about her. So we need to call the cows something else. Any suggestions. Thanks alot.:nurse:

Specializes in Critical Care.

Ours are COWs too but I rarely hear people refer to them as such in the presence of patients. We usually just say "computer" if we're in a patient's room. The only time we really use the term "COW" is when we're talking to each other or if we have to call IT with a problem regarding one of the COWs. In that case, it gets even more comical as each of our COWs has a name of it's own. Some are named after cartoon or movie characters and some creative individual even named one of them "Lula Belle" :stone

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

That is why we don't call them COWS it wasn't our hospital that it happened at, but apparently she heard someone in the hall talking about a cow and thought it was her they were talking about.

We call them WOW's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

Another example of this insane political correctness, we call 'em COWS, at least this week :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CMSRN.

We refer to them as medcarts, computers, mar cart. I have even heard some nurses call it the scanner. I have never heard anyone call them cows on our floor. Sometimes we will call it "that darn computer".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nice to read that Nurses are still full of humor :wink2: Thanks for the morning chuckle! I was just fighting with one of these WOW COW PIB's yesterday! Darn thing wouldn't work...plug or no plug!:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

We call em Stinger Carts and I have not a clue as to why, we just do :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, Hospice, Urgent Care.

Funny. Where I was doing my clinicals, they call them COWs technically, but the nurses have nicknamed them. They call them Bessie, Clarabelle, Daisy and Elsie. They have even made up lttle laminated signs and attached to each cart. I thought it was cute!

Of course, the nurses still have the same problems that many others have with the computers and it was so funny to hear them "talk" to the computers and use their names: "Come on Bessie, work with me honey!" or "Clarabelle is not wanting to mooove this morning, we better call IT and see if they can moootivate her!"

Just a little comic relief on a crazy morning!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

omg talk about crazy lol we even have signs on ours that say don't yank the cow's tail, a few nurses even named them, Bessie, Flossie & Mossie roam our halls lmao

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
Am I the only person who finds it ridiculous that one woman was wrongly offended so a whole freaking hospital has to change????

No, I do too. Sadly, this is how the world works now.

Can't use the acronym SOB for shortness of breath, we now have to say SOA for short of air.

In the field as a paramedic, EMS had a complaint because one told the other to "bag him" meaning use the BVM/Ambubag. Someone thought we meant get a body bag and called to complain. We had to watch everything we said even if it was medical jargon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

Lol think how this progress note would be absorbed: "Pt is S.O.B. upon exertion." "Pt B.S. active x4." We were advised at our facility to write out the words shortness of breath and bowel sounds so if family ended up requesting the chart they would not think we were dissing the pt!!!

No, I do too. Sadly, this is how the world works now.

Can't use the acronym SOB for shortness of breath, we now have to say SOA for short of air.

In the field as a paramedic, EMS had a complaint because one told the other to "bag him" meaning use the BVM/Ambubag. Someone thought we meant get a body bag and called to complain. We had to watch everything we said even if it was medical jargon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.
Lol think how this progress note would be absorbed: "Pt is S.O.B. upon exertion." "Pt B.S. active x4." We were advised at our facility to write out the words shortness of breath and bowel sounds so if family ended up requesting the chart they would not think we were dissing the pt!!!

Oh and our med-carts are color labeled on the top: we have the "red cart", "blue cart" and "yellow cart".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac, ortho, med surg, oncology.

That cow story has been reported as happening at so many hospitals that I don't hardly believe it ever really happened. I suspect political correctness is more likely.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion