inoffensive words to describe an event

[RayRPN]

hello,

my name is Ray. Although Im a new member, I ve been looking at this website for reference. You guys are pretty awesome. now that midterm is on its way, ive been struggling with some of my courses and I m not happy of with my marks so far. i need to catch up before it's too late and one of my main concern and least like to do is our weekly reflection. first, English is my second language, not fan of writing or reading unless I really have to and I been out of school for 5 years. Nursing has it's own language. it is one of the feedback that I got from my clinical instructor that I have used few or none medical terms at all on my reflections. she said I use mostly general terms and slang e.g. dosed off, etc.. Im working on my reflection now that involves me helping a client to use to bathroom and couldnt hold it long enough and made a mess all over the floor. I wanted to know how can I put that in nursing and less offensive term?? any suggestion/comments woulld be appreciated. thanks in advance!

[MunoRN, RN]

First I'd suggest getting rid of the term "client" if you want to avoid being offensive, but that's not your fault, go along with whatever your teachers want.

To describe the event, I would say "Urinary incontinence noted while patient was ambulating to bathroom"

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Client/patient was incontinent of a large/moderate amount of stool/urine on bathroom floor. Actions taken.

[RayRPN]

got it. my instructor actually says that use the term client only when in LTC but when in hospitals, should be patient. thanks for the suggestion

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

got it. my instructor actually says that use the term client only when in LTC but when in hospitals, should be patient. thanks for the suggestion

In the hospital, I always was taught to use "patient." In LTC, "resident." Now in psych it's "participant."

When in Rome...

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Maybe we should just chart the person's name instead of client, patient or participant.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Maybe we should just chart the person's name instead of client, patient or participant.

In my psych setting we do this; however, in acute care & LTC I can only think of one nurse who charted using a name vs. "pt" or "resident."

[TriciaJ, RN]

In the hospital, I always was taught to use "patient." In LTC, "resident." Now in psych it's "participant."

When in Rome...

"Participant"? What happened to "consumer"? That one didn't last long.

I would love to work for the Department of Thinking Up New Euphemisms For Everything Mental Health-Related. I bet I could come up with some good ones.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Our faculty uses the term client because we are told this is what NCLEX uses and we try to prepare students to be accustomed to it. Also, our texts use client.