Medical terms you'd rather see changed....

[Lisa CCU RN]

I hate saying "expired" for someone who is dead and I could also do without seeing "morbid obesity" or even obese in the chart.

I know being overweight is a serious health issue, but those words are so ugly to me.

So, what are some medical terms you could do without or you think are strange?

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

In my physical assessment textbook when describing how to assess a woman with large feminine anatomy, so to speak, they refer to the tissue as "pendulous". It really brings to mind an odd image of them swaying back and forth, and I'm sure it's not how those women would like to be referred.

And about Foley, this election in town there was a man whose last name was Foley running for some position. On my way to the hospital for clinicals I saw his signs stuck in peoples' yards, and I always had to laugh because the background of the signs was yellow.

[Little Panda RN, ASN, RN]

I work with this doctor who does not like to refer to his patients as obese, so in his dictations he always says "overweight for their height".

I do not like it when the dication states, "patient denies alcohol use or patient denies tobacco use". Denies being the key word. To me it sounds like they are saying well the patient says they do not drink or smoke, but I am not so sure". It should say patient states no alcohol or tobacco use. Just my opinion.

[Cindy_A]

I hate the word "dementia." I think of someone who is demented as a psychopathic serial killer. These old folks certainly aren't that! I can't think of a good substitution though.

[SillyLilly]

I hate using the word "client" instead of patient, that was really big in all of nursing textbooks in school (10 years ago). I work in Urology and I hate the term gross hematuria. We have to use it to describe the difference between frank blood in the urine or micro-hematuria but I never like the word. I hate the word foley, where did that come from?

Oh I sure do hate the word 'client' too.

Foley is like Jello. Its the brand name of the indwelling catheter that is apparently the most popular. Jello of course is a brand name for gelatin, but we all call it Jello.

[Rnandsoccermom]

I don't like it when someone says "the doctor, nurse whomever was MADE aware". You can't MAKE anyone aware of anything (meaning I have no idea what they were aware of when I told them!). I prefer the term "notified".

I also don't like "client". I'm old school and use "patient" or sometimes their proper name ie: Mr. Jones.

I have a good friend who abbreviates everything, making his progress notes very confusing to read.

[lilypad2424]

I say tomato, you say tomotto. You say potato, I say potawto. Tomato, tomotto, potato, potawto.....let's call the whole thing off.

[JVanRN]

I say tomato, you say tomotto. You say potato, I say potawto. Tomato, tomotto, potato, potawto.....let's call the whole thing off.

Do what?

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

Do what?

LOL. :clown:

[ebony2]

generic drug names..hated it upon it's inception and still do then and still do :). abbreviations that have multiple meanings and facilities and nurses that make up their own abbreviations. Seeded joint replacement( is that your normal garden variety), and I agree with the negatives non-compliant, morbid obesity and there is always one that makes u smile pulmonary toileting is it for me

[Jay-Jay, RN]

I just saw one that made me want to barf. "Murse" as an abbreviaton for 'male nurse'! PUHLEEEZE!!! I thought terms that identify someone's sex were no longer P.C. (eg, mailman, manhole, etc.)

[RNHawaii34]

Pulmonary toilet...I just hate that phrase!

ah, that...I have never heard of it, but I saw it in one NCLEXRN review book.

[RNHawaii34]

in my former workplace they used " A/O3X.NSR w/BBB.......I am a newbie, I hate it when they make their own abbreviations! hx, sx, tx? as in texas?