Lost in Translation

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2018

. Boy today said he had a couple episodes of diarrhea and was concerned that he might have "a stomach cold"
Another boy had a concussion. Said his mom had given him medication to take if he was sick so he was taking it. He didn't think it was helping and didn't know the name of it. Asked him to bring it to the health center. Was penicillin.. Yup, nope.

I love this. "Stomach cold" is totally accurate. Runny noses...runny bowels...

I have found that a lot of my friends/patients who have access to what are prescription drugs here in Mexico often have a stash of antibiotic. It takes a lot of education. I'm reminded of the guy in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" who thought Windex would fix everything.

Oldmahubbard · Feb 23, 2018

Years ago, a young Vietnamese man told me, through an interpreter , that he had a "disease".

Multiple questions via the interpreter yielded little further information. They were both very insistent that he had a disease, because they had looked it up.

Finally I said " please write down the disease".

"Dizzy" they wrote.

OldDude · Feb 23, 2018

Years ago, a young Vietnamese man told me, through an interpreter , that he had a "disease".
Multiple questions via the interpreter yielded little further information. They were both very insistent that he had a disease, because they had looked it up.
Finally I said " please write down the disease".
"Dizzy" they wrote.

from my days in the ER..."chicken breath" - she can't breathe.

Amethya · Feb 23, 2018

I work with a school majority of them Hispanic, and some Black and very little White and Asian students. So I can understand Spanish and English perfectly, so it's no issue, but the Asian students? I don't know Vietnamese, so if they come about their child, I have to get either the child to translate or find a teacher who knows it, which thankfully we do. It's also hard to understand them with their accent, but I try. I think I'm going to learn Vietnamese as a third language, maybe that will help me more.

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2018

"My nose is throwing up."

Guess what they were describing :)

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 23, 2018

I love this. "Stomach cold" is totally accurate. Runny noses...runny bowels...
I have found that a lot of my friends/patients who have access to what are prescription drugs here in Mexico often have a stash of antibiotic. It takes a lot of education. I'm reminded of the guy in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" who thought Windex would fix everything.

Windex will help get a very tight ring off with out cutting the ring!! I will use it on an adult but not a child unless I speak to a parent.

WineRN · Feb 23, 2018

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WineRN · Feb 23, 2018

I had a student go home for a fever and I used the phrase "He's was funny" as in he's not feeling like himself which is why he was sent my way.

The mom (ESOL) emailed the teacher after picking him saying "the nurse said he was acting funny. was he being like a clown in class?"

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Feb 27, 2018

Well, I think when it comes to pediatrics I'm a little slow with catching on to the verbiage. My child is seven. Ever since she was four there would be the occasion that she would start complaining of a 'dry throat', so I would give her water. She wouldn't complain of anything else and was running around happy and playing so I would think nothing of it. A couple days later she'd have a nose flowing like a river and coughing like crazy....fast forward three years and she complains of a 'dry throat' and it finally hits me. I say, "Honey, is it 'dry' or 'sore' like your getting sick" She replies, "Well, I usually don't feel very good the next day and I can only breathe out of one side of my nose. Hey, am I getting sick?"....so it took me some time but 'dry throat' was kid lingo for 'Hey, idiot! I'm coming down with the creepy crud. Pass the Cepacol!"

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2018

I had a friend who had access to meds from places where they were stationed for diplomatic employment.

She had a cold and told me she was not feeling well in spite of taking medication for it.I asked to show me what she was taking as I read the label My eyes popped out when i saw the word for tuberculosis medication .

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Feb 27, 2018

I had a friend who had access to meds from places where they were stationed for diplomatic employment.
She had a cold and told me she was not feeling well in spite of taking medication for it.I asked to show me what she was taking as I read the label My eyes popped out when i saw the word for tuberculosis medication .

Well that was sure one heck of a doozy "cold" now wasn't it?

My last TB patient was also a psych patient. I went in to give him his TB meds (and a little haldol)...he didn't refer to them as â€˜cold' meds though...noooo, according to him they were his â€˜monkey nuts!!!'. Yes, he was â€˜a witch'and he â€˜ate monkey nuts'. He also offered to share. Um, no thanks? I'll never forget that guy. He also decided his name was God or Jesus Christ depending on the day....