Am I just being anal or is this really BAD??

november17, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2007

Last year there was a new professor whose powerpoint presentations would have several errors like that in them. Someone in my class brought it up in the "suggestion box," and the professor revealed that her 10 year old wanted a playstation 3 and she was paying him to type the powerpoints out from her notes.

It turned into a big joke in class when we'd see them. It wasn't like every slide was messed up, but when there were 130 slides there would be a few errors. We'd just ignore it since it isn't that hard to see what the point was.

Irregardless, when the Reproductive lecture she shared some of the questions her son had asked her after he typed it out. Very funny stuff.

I think your professor has probably gone through a lot of crap to get to whatever level she is at right now. Respect that.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2007

My clinical instructor and classroom instructors make spelling mistakes all the time but I've learned to live with it. I live with it because they have a ton of bedside experience, are supportive and compassionate. They are fair and impartial. They do an excellent job of explaining things to me. If I have a problem they are willing to meet with me and work out whatever issue I have.

I admit bad spelling is my pet peeve as well. But putting it in perspective, I have a great deal of respect for my instructors and can forgive their spelling errors.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 24, 2007

The key to getting through nursing school is just go with the flow. In other words it is not worth stiring the pot because it could make you a target.

Swtooth

WDWpixieRN, RN · Feb 24, 2007

Thank heavens our instructors so far have been VERY literate....

But I left a major Fortune 500 Best Places to Work company in August and had 2 managers who didn't know their "there" from their "they're" to their "there", or "its" and "it's", never mind the use of commas, etc....it drove me absolutely batty as these guys had to be making 3 - 4 times my salary!! I wanted to scream when I would get their illiterate e-mails!!

I really feel it makes someone look SO ignorant and like they don't care how they're perceived by others!! I don't claim to be the high priestess of the English language, but c'mon!!

That being said, I think it says volumes about the state of education in our country as someone else mentioned above....so, so sad!!

In your case, I'd let it go....learn to be a nurse and pass the NCLEX. We also get anonymous evaluations to complete at the end of the semester; that's where *I* would mention that information!!

onlyhope · Feb 24, 2007

had an instructor teach us all about "perineal" dialysis and our class laughed the whole lecture... needless to say she refused to teach our class the summer term

wgirl08 · Feb 24, 2007

ok this is one of my favorite things one of my instructors added to the beginning of her lectures about the importance of correct spelling and wording in documentation.

ACTUAL WRITINGS FROM HOSPITAL CHARTS

1. The patient refused autopsy.

2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital. 4. Note: patient here-recovering from forehead cut.

4.Patient became very angry when given an enema by

mistake.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for

over a year.

6. On the second day the knee was better, and on the

third day it disappeared.

7.The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She

also appears to be depressed.

8. The patient has been depressed since she began

seeing me in 1993.

9. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male,

mentally alert but forgetful.

11.While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and

sent home.

12. She is numb from her toes dow

13. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia

for lunch.

14. The skin was moist and dry.

15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

18. She stated that she had been constipated for

most of her life, until she got a divorce.

19. I saw your patient today, who is still! l under our

car for physical therapy.

20. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus

sized.

21. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

22. Skin: somewhat pale but present

23. Patient has two teenage children, but no other

abnormalities

cherokeesummer · Feb 24, 2007

Nah I don't think your anal, these things irk me, but I would not point them out. I don't think it is putting anyone in danger (other than annoying the crap out of us LOL) so I would keep it to myself and move on.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2007

I also have a real problem with grammar/spelling/punctuation errors coming from the professionals that are leading our education. I've been working to let go of some of it but I don't think I'd be able to in this situation.
If this is something that is happening on a regular basis I think it would be a good idea to politely and respectfully bring this to the attention of the director of the program. Eusebnebger vs. Eisenmenger is more than "just a typo" when the instructor doesn't recognize the mistake.
RNin'08
~my reality check bounced~

I SOOOOOO agree with you.

Really, there is NO excuse for any of this. I guess they have no idea how ridiculous all of this makes them look. I have a hard time taking someone with a BS, much less an MSN, seriously when they do stuff like this.

And before anyone goes there, I have three friends in my program who are all dyslexic. All three of them found out I'm two things: (1) an excellent writer, and (2) an absolute stickler for grammar. They all sought me out when we had our first paper due at school and asked me to proofread their stuff. I didn't correct individual writing style, but I did check for the grammatical and spelling errors that even spellcheck doesn't pick up.

So if you know you have problems, you can always ask for help! No excuses for this stuff in PROFESSIONAL communication - and I consider an email to your clinical group PROFESSIONAL. Typos are one thing; screwing up continuously is another.

I will say that I don't know that I would say anything - my point here is there's just no excuse for it. A pharmacist doing a pharmacology lecture put up in her slides "triampterene" - FOUR TIMES. It's "triamterene". I didn't say anything, but I wonder if it should have been pointed out, because all that's doing is teaching folks incorrect information.

There is still, however, no excuse for this sort of stuff. And it's everywhere, and it's completely ridiculous.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 25, 2007

I have an instructor who constantly says "theirselves" and the other one says "also, too" every other sentence. Drives me crazy, but I love 'em.

lllliv · Feb 25, 2007

with all the talk about how nurses should be more professional in order to improve our image, you'd think an instructor would lead by example.

i probably would just let it go for now though since you are her student.

Tiwi · Feb 25, 2007

okay, this has been bothering me for some time but finally i think i have to do something about it. i'm going for my adn at a community college in new england, and this is an actual email we received from our clinical instructor:
"hi everyone,
attach is a copy of the rotation schedule and the assignment for this passed sat. it will be do sat. if you want to e-mail it feel free."
does anyone else see the problem here? we are taking instruction from this person in a field where accuracy counts. this woman has a master's degree in nursing!!! my 2nd-grade daughter writes better than this 20-something y.o. woman with an advanced degree.
and it's not just the clinical instructor: our lecture professor's "study guides" are riddled with errors: in the latest on cardiac anomalies, she wrote about the "eusebnebger complex" and even mentioned in class how she could not pronounce it. after reading the chapter, i think i found out why: she was actually talking about the "eisenmenger complex"! there are errors all over the study guides (which i tend to ignore now and make my own), the tests, everywhere.
so --- do i send an email to the don of our school? i'm having a real hard time taking instruction from these people.
and please note: it's not like these 2 professors are so wonderful in other areas that it makes up for their spelling and grammar shortcomings. in their case, i think the old adage is true: "that those who can't, teach."

1. yes it is really bad. i hate spelling and grammar errors. mind you, i imagine, as us and australian spelling systems are different (eg 'mom' vs 'mum' and "program" vs "programme", ppl from both countries probably find the opposite system a little irritating.

2. you are currently dealing with it in the appropriate way, by making your own study guides etc. as long as you are able to back up your study with recognised sources such as textbooks and articles, it is not necessary to take it any further.

just accept that you recognise the errors, and perhaps, once you have graduated, you will make a difference for some other student.

LydiaNN · Feb 25, 2007

I have a much bigger problem with an instructor who can't spell the name of a disorder so that students have an idea what she's talking about than I do with an instructor who sends out emails riddled with what could just be typos. I have above average spelling skills, but I find errors in my posts all the time, just because my fingers work faster than my brain. Still, when discussing specific disorders, it is vital to ensure accuracy.