Learn To Say It Correctly!!

Updated:   Published

nurses-say-it-correctly.jpg.6b7b324be686944e89bf310af3666c2c.jpg

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.

Hahahaa!! It is becoming more interesting until I am getting into the laughter boat!! Wait until you are taught by a tutor who has problems with pronouncing R and L and ends up by saying something like ' you lun arong the rine!' instead of ' you run along the line!' and measure it with a' lurer' (ruler)!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A new employee is oriented to the unit not orientated. You palpate an abdomen not palpitate. The BP machine is broken not broke so please don't write that on the equipment tag. O2 stats...arrrgh. And it's Phenergan NOT Phenergran. I don't mind when patients and their families mispronounce things but when we do it we sound stupid. Wait there's more. Monitor is spelled with an "o" not an "e" (moniter) and it's a chux pad not be confused with Chuck's apartment. I could go on but I don't want to steal all the fun.

The "orientated" one is SO popular too!! It's so annoying!

Here's a question for you... what about when OBs write about how many "sonameters" of "dilitation" a pt's cervix is?? Maybe it's just me but it seems like it should be "centimeters dilated"??? Can they both be right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How about "Does the patient have a temperature?" Ummmm....pretty sure if he's breathing then he must have a temperature!!:cool:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
The "orientated" one is SO popular too!! It's so annoying!

Here's a question for you... what about when OBs write about how many "sonameters" of "dilitation" a pt's cervix is?? Maybe it's just me but it seems like it should be "centimeters dilated"??? Can they both be right?

Orientated is a valid word....

Dilatation and dilation are used interchangeably. Both are correct.

"Sontimeters" is just a different pronunciation of centimeters.

It is all correct.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly LTC.

I have a charge nurse in the facility that I work in that says "up AT lib" instead of ad lib, she also says "Costis" instead of "coccyx" I'm sure I will think of more, annoys me just to think about it

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly LTC.

Also, my Director of nursing said "um" and reiterate 95 times in a 30 minute inservice!! uggggh!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If we all were great orators, spellers and writers we wouldn't be stuck in whatever level of nursing above which we presently cannot rise.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.
If we all were great orators, spellers and writers we wouldn't be stuck in whatever level of nursing above which we presently cannot rise.

Excuse me? I chose nursing to be a bedside nurse. In that role, I am a professional and expect others to be professional as well. That includes proper English, pronounciation and spelling. It has nothing to do with "rising to another level of nursing."

In fact, I expect my children to speak proper English, pronounce and spell words correctly. It has nothing to do with a certain "level of nursing". It does have everything to do with looking, acting and sounding intelligent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Just school!.
Living in Indiana was absolute torture. Even the grammar in Texas was better. :chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

It is natural for separate groups to develop differing languages. Technically their usage is correct for their dialect. As far as English is concerned, sadly even I am incorrect because English is not spoken anymore. We all honestly speak varying dialects that veer from standard English and in some areas I would venture to say it isn't even English.

It would be like Spanish. People believe that every Hispanic country speaks Spanish but technically Spain utilizes Castillian. Castillian is the original Spanish. The other countries speak different dialects to be sure. Some of them amount to different languages. People that learn Mexican 'Spanish' can barely understand Castillian...

I live in a city in NM that is on the border of TX, so most people here speak spanglish.....but with a texan accent!

I haven't read most of the replies...but my biggest pet peve is when people say "old timers". Not all OLD people get alzheimer's!!!AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!:angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Excuse me? I chose nursing to be a bedside nurse. In that role, I am a professional and expect others to be professional as well. That includes proper English, pronounciation and spelling. It has nothing to do with "rising to another level of nursing."

In fact, I expect my children to speak proper English, pronounce and spell words correctly. It has nothing to do with a certain "level of nursing". It does have everything to do with looking, acting and sounding intelligent.

Hi, I did mean to make a provocative remark. In my twisted way I am so sad about the people in our chosen profession who make the kind of language mistakes that reflects poorly upon all of us. I wish there was a screening device in place that would not allow people who make these truly embarrassing mistakes to call themselve nurses. I hope you understand my meaning in this. On the other hand, people only can get promoted to a certain level when they are unprofessional, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Hi, I did mean to make a provocative remark. In my twisted way I am so sad about the people in our chosen profession who make the kind of language mistakes that reflects poorly upon all of us. I wish there was a screening device in place that would not allow people who make these truly embarrassing mistakes to call themselve nurses. I hope you understand my meaning in this. On the other hand, people only can get promoted to a certain level when they are unprofessional, right?

Can I tell you something? I get rather irritated by spelling and grammar errors. I used to cringe at other nurses' charting. With my love of medical information, I make a good medical transcriptionist. However, I make a rather average nurse (with stellar documentation).

On the other hand, my husband has horrid spelling and grammar to where he misspells things like the word bananas. HOWEVER, he can think on his feet in ways I cannot. He can do all kinds of technical skills that I cannot. He gets along with people in ways I cannot.

He is clearly a better nurse than I could ever be. Let him save your life or keep you alive; I'll type up the reports for your medical record.

(I am certainly not saying a person with flawless spelling, grammar, and pronunciation cannot be a fab nurse. However, being poor at any of those items does not mean one is a bad nurse or reflect poorly on the profession.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.
Hi, I did mean to make a provocative remark. In my twisted way I am so sad about the people in our chosen profession who make the kind of language mistakes that reflects poorly upon all of us. I wish there was a screening device in place that would not allow people who make these truly embarrassing mistakes to call themselve nurses. I hope you understand my meaning in this. On the other hand, people only can get promoted to a certain level when they are unprofessional, right?

wow, when you get down off your high horse, be careful...you might fall.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion