Learn To Say It Correctly!!

[SheriLynnRN]

Doesn't it just drive you insane when someone tells you that Mr. Smith's O2 STAT is 96%?

It's O2 SAT people! Sat, short for saturation. I even hear respiratory therapists saying this. I am sooooo tempted to say something next time, but I know it's just petty, so I needed to vent here. Thank you.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I hate it when people use "Enormity" to mean "Something really big."

Elephants are enormous.

The my lai massacre was an enormity.

And phrases that don't go together, either by losing the subject of the verb or using the wrong verb form, the wrong pronoun, or both.

"Having been out of work for six months, the rain made her sad." so, the rain has been out of work for six months?

"When someone can be out of bed, we check their balance before we walk them." "Everyone is responsible for their own equipment." someone, everyone = singular, them/their = plural.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

"They" and "their" can be used as a singular, instead of "his or her", to refer to someone of unknown gender.

[charlottegirl]

Once I had a patient with "galactose" intolerance.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

charlottegirl said:

Once I had a patient with "galactose" intolerance.

Is that sugar from outer space???

[Poi Dog]

xtxrn said:

Is that sugar from outer space?

Straight up Star Trek style 

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Anybody had a pt ask how to get their 'diabetical' supplies?? 

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

xtxrn said:

Thanks for looking it up ? I found my copy, and in reading it-- didn't doubt you at all- just easier to read (plus it doesn't hurt to drag out a dictionary now and then !!! ? Mine is antiquated, with all of the techno-speak these days )- The thing I notice is that 'nauseous' is used after linking a verb ..... so "I'm nauseous" is technically correct (am being a verb) but sort of squeaks by But "I'm feeling nauseous" is a better verb linkage.....

"I'm nauseated" to me is a more temporary statement...."I'm nauseous" sounds like one thinks they are a person who is characterized by their nausea-- like "I'm doing good" (a statement of the current state) is correct, but "I'm good" is a statement of absolute worth.... (and those who use it are often the only ones who concur ) LOL .

Maybe we could all go get espressos, and chat about this !! (I won't be drinking mine to prevent becomming nauseated- LOL- but I'd go along for the ride

And how about all of the text spelling?? Drives me nuts.... it's gr8 2 b able 2 not learn how to spell !! (and technically, my last statement is incorrect since I split the infinitive "to learn" by putting 'not' in the middle....grammatically it should be "it's gr8 2 be able not 2 learn how to spell"...... and ending with prepositions is another bummer...but hard to avoid at times ? It's so common in the midwest to say "Do you want to go with?".....should end with "do you want to go?" ?

That was so cleverly written I think you should submit it to Bill Bryson! ?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Simba&NalasMom said:

That was so cleverly written I think you should submit it to Bill Bryson! 

Who's he? 

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

"They" and "their" can be used as a singular, instead of "his or her", to refer to someone of unknown gender."

No, they cannot. the writer can recast the sentence prn. "when patients are ready to walk, we check their balance..." "all employees are responsible for their own equipment."

If the singular is unavoidable, use another construction, as in "we discovered the burglar's work when we found fingerprints (you don't need 'their' fingerprints)." or, "we discovered the crime when we found the burglar's fingerprints."

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

grntea said:

"They" and "their" can be used as a singular, instead of "his or her", to refer to someone of unknown gender."

No, they cannot. the writer can recast the sentence PRN. "when patients are ready to walk, we check their balance..." "all employees are responsible for their own equipment."

If the singular is unavoidable, use another construction, as in "we discovered the burglar's work when we found fingerprints (you don't need 'their' fingerprints)." or, "we discovered the crime when we found the burglar's fingerprints."

They're going to their house over there. 

[morte, LPN, LVN]

charlottegirl said:

Once I had a patient with "galactose" intolerance.

Galactose: A sugar contained in milk. Galactose makes up half of the sugar called lactose that is found in milk. Lactose is called a disaccharide, the prefix "di" meaning 2, since lactose is made up of two sugars, galactose and glucose, bound together.

Galactose is metabolized (used) through the action of an enzyme called GALT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase).

[klb061409]

The one that really drives me nuts is NICU. I've always heard it nick-u (i'm from Florida with family from the north east) but here(in west Texas) its ni-coo which is correct?