Maybe I'm alone in my thinking (it sure seems that way sometimes), but I find the use of text speak/SMS language utterly annoying and unprofessional. It seems as though its use is becoming more and more prevalent and in situations that are totally inappropriate, in my opinion.
I may just be old-school (although I am relatively young), but using slang is just a no-no at work! Now, I understand there is a place for abbreviations in the healthcare field, but some things I have seen other nurses enter in a pt's chart (a LEGAL document, mind you) left me just shaking my head.
Our unit manager will sometimes text me on my days off if they are short: can u come in, we r short at 6. Seriously, you are the manager! Shouldn't you try to be professional?!?
Maybe I'm just overreacting :). I just tend to see it as the person makes themself look unintelligent when they communicate this way. I get it....it's faster, it's become acceptable and it's trendy, but it's just not for me.
Am I alone or does anyone agree/understand? Would love to hear what you all think!
Does anyone other then me regard this as judgmental? After having it drilled into us repeatedly about being tolerant of patients cultural and other differing values--why is that courtesy not applicable to coworkers? I agree txt terminology does often convey a negative impression, however I would never presume to correct someone else's communication style.
Well, I wouldn't correct someone, unless it's one day in the future that I'm perhaps mentoring/precepting a student, and they are using text terms in their documenting.
Am I being judgmental? Maybe, but I admit this is a personal pet peeve. I just can't help but cringe that a text message from a manager looks like the same thing his 15 year-old daughter could have written. "Can u come n early?" is missing three letters. Three. Am I going to judge their critical thinking skills based on this? No. Is it going to bother me? Probably for a moment the first time it happens, then I'll be used to it. -v('_')v- What can I say? Humans are judgmental.
Does anyone other then me regard this as judgmental? After having it drilled into us repeatedly about being tolerant of patients cultural and other differing values--why is that courtesy not applicable to coworkers? I agree txt terminology does often convey a negative impression, however I would never presume to correct someone else's communication style.
It is not a judgement, it is an opinion. An opinion that apparently some share; others not so much. My intention was not to start a topic to judge/bash others, it was to state my opinion and get feedback on what others thought on the topic. The benefit of seeking other's input is that it helps one to see opposing/different points of view and can help one to understand and be more tolerant of others and their behavior. That is what this site is for if I'm correct.
As far as attempting to correct someone else's communication style.....I don't see where I or any of the commenters are trying to "correct" anyone else. We are just stating examples we have encountered and our opinions on the matter, therefore I feel that comment was unfounded.
Maybe it's that we hold ourselves and our colleagues to a higher standard than we do of patients, I don't know. We are all accountable for what we chart in a patient's medical record and I know that from a legal standpoint, using slang/text speak is not going to look favorable upon the author of that chart entry.
I absolutely hate textspeak! My family knows it and with the exception of one fourteen-year-old relative, no one uses textspeak when they email or text me. The fourteen-year-old is my cousin's daughter. Her dad is going through a contentious divorce and I'm the only family member she's "speaking" to at the moment. I'm so glad she's keeping in touch with me that I don't care how she does it.
Grammar and usage is vital and when my husband tries to convince some of his students that certain grammar and spelling rules still apply, they just laugh. They're in for a rude awakening after graduation.
It isn't the evolution of new words that bothers me so much, but misspellings, incorrect verb tenses, to instead of too or two, your for
you're, it's when the writer means its. Pluralizing almost every word that ends in s drives me crazy!
Whether it's allnurses, a letter to the editor, or especially charting, proper grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, etc. is vital. One of my relatives has two-year-old twins, a four-year-old, and will deliver another in about three weeks. She is still teaching with plans to finish the school year. I'm so glad she has time for a paragraph or two in the midst of total chaos, that I'm just glad to hear from her at all. I know her notes will go back to being grammatically correct some day.
I agree!!! Incorrectly using there/their/they're, your/you're, are/our, etc. is the worst! This is taught in like first grade!!! If you aren't sure, look it up in a dictionary.
Maybe my standards stem from growing up....I was always taught to do things the right way and to take pride in what I do. Thank you Mom and Dad!!!! :)
My husband strongly suggests that his students buy a dictionary if they don't have one. Last fall, he asked the class if they had purchased their books yet. One kid's answer, "Everything but that useless dictionary. What the would I do with that?" Uh...You just answered your own question, you darn fool.
My husband strongly suggests that his students buy a dictionary if they don't have one. Last fall, he asked the class if they had purchased their books yet. One kid's answer, "Everything but that useless dictionary. What the would I do with that?" Uh...You just answered your own question, you darn fool.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Does anyone other then me regard this as judgmental? After having it drilled into us repeatedly about being tolerant of patients cultural and other differing values--why is that courtesy not applicable to coworkers? I agree txt terminology does often convey a negative impression, however I would never presume to correct someone else's communication style.
You are probably not the only person who regards this as judgemental, however I respectfully disagree with you. "Textspeak" is not a cultural issue, per se. If you want to use textspeak with your friends, that's fine with me. But for any type of professional communication, even if it's just a quick text to a coworker saying "Sorry, I'm running late," don't use it. Using proper grammar, spelling and punctuation is a sign of respect for ourselves, our coworkers and our profession.
awesome, me too! I love to find fellow alumi! :) Few weekends ago I went to Disneyworld and saw a bunch of PSU tshirts, it was heaven :)
Penn state needs a lpn to RN program ? I grew up about 40 min away and went to the local vo tech for lpn instead of doing what I should have and went to lock haven on pen state for my RN... Stupid stupid me...
I don't care if someone uses text speak when texting. It seems appropriate as it matches the channel of communication. Sometimes there are limits on length of text. Additionally, many users prefer to receive shorter rather than longer messages. If one is using text speak for professional communications, I think it would be wise to use broadly understood terms to avoid misunderstandings.
I should also note that I appreciate good grammar. I don't always think that good grammar is imperative. Sometimes a bit of slang or other rule-breaking can be used to enhance communication.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
"Text speak" originated a dozen or so years ago when texting was a relatively new idea, and folks were charged not only by the text but by the length of the text. That isn't the case for most folks anymore, and phones are so much more "text friendly" than they were in those days when you had to hit the number keys up to four times for each letter. I don't understand why someone who can type a lengthy text including three syllable words is unable to type out "you", "your," "late", etc.
I agree, but I guess some old habits are hard to die for some people. I'm happy we don't have T-9 keyboards (i.e. the regular phone keypads) anymore, but I wish people would go and use spellcheck and spell properly.
Of course if they're asking me to work extra -- psh, whatevs. I'm all for more money HAHAHA.
just wow...
Shinnichi, ADN, RN
157 Posts
Well, I wouldn't correct someone, unless it's one day in the future that I'm perhaps mentoring/precepting a student, and they are using text terms in their documenting.
Am I being judgmental? Maybe, but I admit this is a personal pet peeve. I just can't help but cringe that a text message from a manager looks like the same thing his 15 year-old daughter could have written. "Can u come n early?" is missing three letters. Three. Am I going to judge their critical thinking skills based on this? No. Is it going to bother me? Probably for a moment the first time it happens, then I'll be used to it. -v('_')v- What can I say? Humans are judgmental.