A name for Computer on Wheels

[butterfly9]

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.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

The nurses on the oncology unit at my old hospital even went as far as painting "patches" on their "cows" and attaching tails and ears.

Our oncology patients appreciated the humor - especially the youngsters/kids.

And of course, they named 'em too :)

Sometimes I do think that 'people doth protest too much'.

cheers,

[shodobe]

We use the term "PACS" The "a" isn't really there because it stands for "Portable Computr System" PCS wouldn't really mean anything and would be hard to pronouce so we added the "a".

[bill4745, RN]

"Carts" at our ER.

[RS0302]

honestly, what will people think to complain of next??!! pretty soon we will all be walking on eggshells around our patients, because we might do something that "offends them". I've had patients complain about nurses to the nurse manager about " a look they didnt like". I agree its ridiculous.

[MedSurgeNewbie]

you could try just "books" or "chart's" you really cant say cow's?- What about "Moo's" since COW is "off limits" Is it me or has the world gone nuts?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

We call them COW's. We recently had a patient walking the halls though, and a nurse warned him to "Watch out for the COW."

The patient thought she was referring to the nurse standing near the COW, and goes, "Well, that wasn't very nice!"

It was pretty funny.

[Kunzieo]

Unit I worked on called them...

Scoobies.

Scooby, singular.

Don't know why. No one really knows why. Something about being a hybrid word for Scooter and Computer, originally?

[michelleernurse]

Am I the only person who finds it ridiculous that one woman was wrongly offended so a whole freaking hospital has to change????

The world has gone MAD spending time and money trying not to offended any one person they come in contact with at any given time. I have worked the ER for 16 years and there are people in this world who you will never make happy and their soul purpose in life is to find something that they can complain about. I would have never changed "COW" for one complaint, I would have explained what COW means (computer on wheels) and if she wasnt happy, too bad, move on I got other things to do.

Michelle

[rngolfer53]

Am I the only person who finds it ridiculous that one woman was wrongly offended so a whole freaking hospital has to change????

You are not alone. We are a society with an appreciable minority of people who are bound and determined to be offended most of the time by something.

My theory is to give them what they want.

Why bother to placate them when they'll simply move on to find something else to whine about. I don't have time to waste on them, and any time spent on them is likely to be wasted.

[rngolfer53]

OMG...ROFL....!! Seriously?? Some woman was confused as to whether SHE or the COMPUTER were being discussed??

LOL...

Seems to me it was a "teachable moment." Not to speak of a cross-selling opportunity.

"So, ma'am, you are concerned that the use of the word "cow" referred to you? This might be a good time to review your diet and exercise program. Plenty of research supports the benefits of exercise and a healthy diet. We have dieticians and exercise therapists on staff, and I would be happy to set up an appointment for you. I have the time."

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

we call them laptops though they are on wheels

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

I call ours POS, they never work and I end up writing my triage notes down and charting later:bugeyes:

Management doesn't appreciate my evaluation of this equipment, but the truth hurts doesn't it?

M