I cant read MD handwriting! Ack!

[Trubie]

Okay, I have heard this is one of those skills that you develop as you grow in your career.... but for the life for me, I cannot read physician handwriting!! To me, it all looks like random loops and lines... I cannot see letters or words! Often, I will ask a coworker to help me translate this mess, and they are guessing and grasping at straws as well.

Of course, if nobody can figure it out, I will call to clarify, but the doc I work with gets ticked that I cannot read his handwriting:uhoh3:

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Oh, didn't you know? They take a class in med school titled "Illegible Writing for the Confused Doctor-Someone Will Clarify For You."

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I have a very neat handwriting, always have, at least once I emerged from the child-chicken-scratch era. I was often told growing up that I could never be a doctor (which in fact I had intended to be) because my handwriting was so nice. I know they were kind of joking but to some degree it used to annoy me. I hate to even think that this may have even subconsiously swayed me away from medicine in a minor way, but I have more prominent and legitimate reasons for having diverted away from it back then. Now I will be a nurse with great handwriting so that's really all that matters!

[Orange Tree]

I can't, either! And even worse....when I do need to call and clarify, sometimes I can't even figure out who signed it, so I don't know who to call! Our charts/orders get passed around the room ALL THE TIME. I can't wait until the orders are entered in by the physicians, themselves.

[Music in My Heart]

As you read a given doc's writing, it tends to become more recognizable. However, I don't spend too much time on it - if I can't get it quickly, I just call. I really don't give a rip if they're irritated by the call... they've created the problem by scribbling like 3-year-old.

I try to review the orders before the doc walks off the floor, though.

We do have a few docs with very legible writing so it's not like it can't be done.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Once I presented an illegible script to a doctor and asked him to translate, and he was quite embarrassed when he realized he couldn't read it himself... Eventually figured it out with the anaesthetist's help.

But I just had a great idea from reading all these threads! from now on, I'm going to make photostat copies of all illegible scripts and send them to the manager! Maybe he'll do something about it.....then again, maybe he won't

[OCNRN63, RN]

We once had a GI doc that wanted orthostatic BP's taken on his patient. Instead of writing "orthostatic BP's" he drew 3 stick figures in the lying, sitting and standing positions. Combined with his serial killer handwriting, none of us could figure it out. And he actually sounded surprised when we paged him and told him that we couldn't read it.

That's kind of funny, because I draw those stick figures all the time when I want to show orthostatic BPs. I would have gotten it immediately!

[Paula Gayle]

Even if this is one of those situations where the nurse and MD have a office or clinic relationship, it has error is written all overi it. It is time for all to green: paperless.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Just call them every time, no matter the hour. If you make a transcription error because you are guessing it could lead to a med error. They are just being lazy and unsafe. Deciphering handwriting is not a skill you should spend a lot of time on, we are too busy.