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?

[gymnut]

I almost fell over the other day when I was going through a patients chart and saw the most perfect handwriting I've ever seen from a doctor. It looked like it was something out of a teenaged girls diary. Not flowery and filled with hearts dotting the i's but very neat, well spaced script.

I chalked it up to her getting too much sleep and not enough stress.

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

One hospital I worked in in AZ had two doctors that neatly printed their orders, sometimes two pages worth if they were admission orders. One doc was a surgeon the other wasn't. I asked the latter about it once and he said "printing my orders legibly keeps you from having to call me at 3AM for clarification".

On another note, the surgeon who also printed her orders, we LOVED her. Would even put pt's on the bedpan if she was passing by a room and the pt called out, then would let us know "so and so is on the bedpan" Definately not to many of those kind of docs around.

[beewink]

I can't believe this is something we as nurses still have to contend with. I agree with other posters who say it is disrespectful and who can't believe JCAHO still allows this. There really is no reason computerized orders shouldn't be the standard - other than the push back from doctors. Patient safety? Meh...

[rn4ever?]

A Nursing Educator once told us that legally, as RNs, we are not supposed to “interpret” an order. What we should do is “carry out” the order. Thus, if an order is not clearly written, we should contact the Doctor and clarify. And yes, I’ve done that numerous times. The Dr. might be upset-----but it’s your job and your license on the line. I am not guessing if the dosage is 1.0 mg or 10 mg-----I am definitely calling him up! And not because all patients got 10 mg ,it would mean that patient z should get 10 mg too!

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Not silly at all. My hospital has just addressed this issue. Effective 2/1, all md orders (except emergency or telephone) must be put into the computer system by the doc.

[mskate]

If I am working in places that have paper order's, I call the docs - a lot. If I can't easily read your writing, I will ask 1 other person. If they can't, you are getting a phone call and I don't particularly care if what time of the night it is. Maybe they will learn that if they want orders carried out, the need to write like an adult.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I can't believe this is something we as nurses still have to contend with. I agree with other posters who say it is disrespectful and who can't believe JCAHO still allows this. There really is no reason computerized orders shouldn't be the standard - other than the push back from doctors. Patient safety? Meh...

*** Or push back from nurses. After many years of reading and taking hand written orders we now have physician computer order entry. This doesn't allow me to write the orders the way I want them to read, the way they should read. I hate it as our resident don't really have any idea how to properly write many of the orders and I have to call them to get them to change them. One example is PICC line orders. I have resident writing for me to place them in a particular arm or vein, or writing the number of lumen I should place. Sure I can an do educate them but just as soon as I get one set of resident straightened out we get another group of them. Another example is that our resident seldom worite for PRN ABGs when they write vent orders and I have to call them and get them to add the PRN ABG order. In my experience physician order entry has only increased the number of calls to physicians for clairification.

[prmrae]

I just started a new job as a Specialty Clerk in a hospital, and yes I can say reading the doctors orders is very frustrating. Why do they expect us or should I say how do they expect us to read this chicken scratch. Can't wait till they get a EMR, will make life a little easier at work. I do not understand their frustration when we have to ask, "Doctor could you please tell me what this say?" After all most of them can't read their own writing...

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

One of our Drs has worse handwriting than a 5 year old would. Drives us nuts! Before he walks away, I make him clarify the order. There have been many occasions that we have had to call.

[tokidokifantasy]

there should be a prereq class for the MDs, "how to write orders legibly" so nurses can read. LOL...My instructor told me that the reason MDs don't write legibly is because they only know how to spell the first two letters and last letter of the medication. LOL!!

[prmrae]

Yes they realy should have a class for MD's to take on handwriting. Someone needs to say to them we cannot read it, and if you get a call, or the Secretaries and Nurses need to confirm with them all the time on what their orders say, then they got noone but themselves to blame. They seem to get very testi when we have to ask. But if everyone is asking all the time, then you would think that with them being doctors with such high levels of education, that they would switch things up somewhat and start writing the orders in a manner we can all read. As if our jobs are not hard enough, with all the paperwork, answering phones, calling for consults and dealing with sick peoples family questions, they just make it even harder by writting chicken scratch that they think we can understand. I just don;t get them...

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I'll tell you a secret. Some physicians are very lonely and LOVE to get phone calls from nurses in the middle of the night to alleviate their loneliness. At least that is what i assume. I find that if you wake them up enough their handwriting gets better.