Drs. handwriting - Can you read it well?

Hi. I was just wondering how you deal with not being able to read a drs. handwriting, because even though I am not a nurse, a lot of times I cannot read the Prescriptions that my drs. write out, therefore I wonder how nurses deal with this? When you have to go back to the Dr. to ask questions, are they usually nice or do they act like you should have been able to read it?

LOL...makes me think of an older Doc we had who would make up abbreviations for things that nobody had ever heard of..like: 3H enema=High, Hot, and Hellavalot....or,seen in progress note: BOP=Bubble off Plumb in reference to mental state....he'd also write the first letter of a med and the rest was a big scribble..like Morpine was written: M~~~~~~ 2-4 mg q 3 hrs prn...bless his heart, he died a few years back,but he was a HOOT...after working with him for many years everyone learned to 'decifer' his orders and he'd LOVE when somebody new came along and asked about his funny written orders.....dang, missin him now..he always loved me cuz I'd joke back with him when others would be scared to death of him...off subject now..lol...he always wore these plaid "golfer" pants...asked him one day what garage sale he got those awful thangs at...the nurses at the desk were standing there with their mouths gaped open and he BUSTED out laughin.....hehe

Specializes in ICU.

Why do doctors have bad handwrting?

To disguise the fact that they can't spell!

Specializes in Oncology, Cardiology, ER, L/D.
Originally posted by gwenith

Why do doctors have bad handwrting?

To disguise the fact that they can't spell!

:rotfl:

Girl, that is the truth! You are not kidding.;)

Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

I think that they send docs to a class on how to write illegibly. When I worked civilian, we had a doc that his hand writing used to look like the practice loops for cursive handwriting practice. If you did not stand right there when he was writing and the clerk was gone for the day, you had no alternative but to call and ask for clarification.

There is a locum tenems (sp) surgeon here at the MTF that I work at now and the Assistant Hospital Commander called him out on the carpet, stating that his illegible orders and notes were intolerable. His writing has since got a dab batter but it is still touch and go.

I find that the docs would rather have you call than to guess and misinterpret the orders and personally, I'll take a griping doc any day over transcribing orders wrong.

Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.

Our docs have had to attend a handwriting class-it has helped some of them, but others:rolleyes: .....we usually call to clarify; if they get mad...it is there problem, not mine-I'm just taking care of the patient:D

If I can't read it I go to the horses mouth instead of the butt.

We asked the nurses to make copies of the worst offenders (just the order, of course). This info was put on overhead at medical staff meeting. Even the dr who wrote the order could not read it. Also went to typed insulin orders with checkboxes for the md to designate type insulin, dose, etc. I would call the MD if there is a question. in 20+ years do not recall many who objected to having order clarified.

Our patient's rights info packet that we are giving to folks upon admission to our facility includes a paragraph about doc's writing. Tells people that if they can't read the script a doc gives them, they should demand a new one. Should be interesting to see what happens with that.

Computers, computers, computers! Haven't seen a hand written order in about four years now. I remember the ordeal of trying to figure out what exactly it is they were ordering and I don't miss those days at all.

we are totally computerized so orders can be read but sometimes we have to ask for clarification--orders are verified by both pharmacy and an rn before dispensed to pt

Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

Hey doctors spent alot of time in the class "bad handwriting 101"!!!

Seriously you have to be psychic to read those things!!

There's a resident doc in my town who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, and joked to the local paper that he aced his Bad Handwriting course during med school. Sad but true, I've heard his handwriting is actually one of the more legible ones on the charts.

:chuckle

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