Don't Say The "Q" word!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Last weekend on the geriatric psych unit, we had only six patients with one admission on MNs Friday and one on Days Saturday.

It was a relatively uneventful weekend. I told the nurse I was working with Sunday, "It looks like it's going to be another quiet night".

"Oh no!" she said, "You said the 'Q' word!"

"But I spelled quiet, k-w-I-e-t, in my word balloon, so it doesn't count", I informed her.

"Oh thank God!" she replied.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I didn't used to be superstitious about the Q word until I worked in LTAC. I became a firm believer.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

If nothing happened after Kwiet was said it must have been a 1 time freebie, I don't think I would rock that boat again. I don't think I have ever worked 1 time that it didn't go to he** after someone said quiet. Be careful DaveyDo!

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My mom who was an OR nurse for 50yrs taught me not to say it especially when she was on call. I learned first hand working at a jail not to say it, when as soon as I did a fight broke out on one of the units and I saw 10 inmates in an hour, with several being sent to the local hospital. I'm having constantly remind the newbie security here at juvenile detention not to say it. THERE ARE ALWAYS REPRECUSSIONS FOR SAYING IT!!!

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Specializes in Hematology-oncology.

The "Q" word is right up there with bored. Neither are allowed to be spoken during a shift!

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Perianesthesia Care.

I was orienting a new nurse when she said the "Q" word, of course I quickly corrected her, but unfortunately the q-karma proliferated exponentially through the cosmos before it could be dispelled. One of our patients soon choked on a piece of fish he was eating for lunch, coded, and ultimately died.

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Buckeye.nurse said:
The "Q" word is right up there with bored. Neither are allowed to be spoken during a shift!

Meh, I don't believe in this superstition and use both words regularly if the situation calls for it

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Specializes in MA.

Did someone say my name?

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The two most important things nursing in an extended care facility has taught me:

1. Never say the Q word. Don't think the Q word.

2. If it's a full moon, be wary. Be prepared to find at least one patient covered head to toe in the brown stuff. It's not pudding or chocolate either.

Case in point: I was leaving work tonight, the night before the full moon. One of the nurses goes, "It sure is quiet 'round here, JollyBug!"

I didn't have a chance to respond because at that moment, one of the personal support workers peeks her head out of a room and whispers to me, "Send the nurse down. Mr. B is playing in his poop again and Mr. A in the bed beside him just urinated all over the floor."

The nurse could have killed me when I said, "Don't ever say the Q word. This is what happens when you say the Q word."

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We don't use the Q or boring word because usually the call lights go off after that.

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Specializes in Psych.

I am a total believer in not saying the Q word! Every time someone says it the SH%T hits the fan

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Specializes in NICU.

Personally I think it’s ridiculous. I’m a Christian and don’t believe that saying a word makes things busier. It’s fine if other people don’t want to use it if that’s their bag, but I dislike being personally censored from using language.

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