Medical words that make you cringe.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2011

Cocksackie. There is simply, just something wrong with this word.

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Not gonna lie, I thought "there is NO WAY this is a real term" when I first heard it.

Same with "bilirubin." I was cracking up during pathophysiology because I was imagining a dude named Billy Reuben causing all of these issues!

Jen-the-RN · Mar 3, 2011

What about Masticate (chewing)...?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 3, 2011

One word: OBESE.

It's a term that, even if I didn't know the English language, I'd instinctively stay away from. Sounds like a big ol' tub o' lard......which of course, it is. :rolleyes:

DarkBluePhoenix · Mar 3, 2011

Seriously, if mere words make you cringe, what will you do when your patient with a bowel obstruction vomits up fecal material all over the floor, and the odor permeates the entire unit? What will you do about the odor of digested blood? The sight of thick purulent sputum? The sight of infected pressure ulcers you can fit your fist into? There are even worse things you will encounter.....

When fun threads go wrong...

Keep'm coming!

I am looking forward to it!

solneeshka, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

Globe rupture. I love a nice, gory, adrenaline-pumping trauma, but NOT if it involves eyeballs. Amputations, ok. Not overly fond of degloving trauma either, but stuff involving eyeballs makes me cower. To me, nursing hell would involve LASIK or eye traumas.

I work in eye surgery and we slice on into that eyeball every day! It's awesome!!! :lol2: I have a co-worker who has worked in eye surgery for over a decade and still cannot deal with an eyeball in a cup after an enucleation (yes, the eyeball comes out in a whole piece). She always asks for another pair of gloves so she can cover the cup up with one.

solneeshka, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

I once had a co-worker refer to a patient's scrotum as his "ball sack" (can I say that on this forum?). This was *in the room,* patient awake and sentient! It was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. She was helping me turn him while I was doing peri-care and she said, "Umm, he's got, like, 3 tears on his *ball* *sack*...," really emphasizing that part. And this man was a retired surgeon! Oh, was it hard not to bust out laughing before I left the room! To be fair, he was a little out of it, but still. And she was a very experienced (and good) nurse. It just came out that way. Too funny!

Least favorite medical device: "scrotal sling." Nothing like a little (or a lotta) scrotal edema to make you lose your appetite. I once had *3* patients in one week with scrotal edema. Did you know it comes with a smell? Sorry, I have to go think about puppy dog kisses and lilies now...

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

Of all the medical terminology out their the best they can come up with for an amputee is.....STUMP?

Our NS actually encourages us to use the term "residual limb." So there ya go!

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 4, 2011

I work in eye surgery and we slice on into that eyeball every day! It's awesome!!! I have a co-worker who has worked in eye surgery for over a decade and still cannot deal with an eyeball in a cup after an enucleation (yes, the eyeball comes out in a whole piece). She always asks for another pair of gloves so she can cover the cup up with one.

While I love to look at eyes in a persons face, the second any trauma has occurred, it freaks me out. I know most people cant deal with poo/phlegm whatever, for me its eyes.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

I once had a co-worker refer to a patient's scrotum as his "ball sack" (can I say that on this forum?). This was *in the room,* patient awake and sentient! It was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. She was helping me turn him while I was doing peri-care and she said, "Umm, he's got, like, 3 tears on his *ball* *sack*...," really emphasizing that part. And this man was a retired surgeon! Oh, was it hard not to bust out laughing before I left the room! To be fair, he was a little out of it, but still. And she was a very experienced (and good) nurse. It just came out that way. Too funny!
Least favorite medical device: "scrotal sling." Nothing like a little (or a lotta) scrotal edema to make you lose your appetite. I once had *3* patients in one week with scrotal edema. Did you know it comes with a smell? Sorry, I have to go think about puppy dog kisses and lilies now...

I was in the jail doing a clinical 2 weeks ago, the PA was doing physicals on the inmates, I was in there with him and he says to the inmate, "so when is the last time you took a sh!!?" I didn't see that one coming.

solneeshka, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2011

I was in the jail doing a clinical 2 weeks ago, the PA was doing physicals on the inmates, I was in there with him and he says to the inmate, "so when is the last time you took a sh!!?" I didn't see that one coming.

When in Rome!

cogath · Mar 4, 2011

I don't know if this has been said yet, but I had the term "Stooling"

It just sounds so gross and yucky.

silverbat · Mar 4, 2011

1. anything to do with eyeballs!!! I can handle about anything, just keep those eyeballs away from me, especially if you can take them out and store them in a bedside table over night... ick ick ick ick

2. Hate the term "consumers" when describing long term residents of MM/DD facility. Consumers the word, to me, implies choice, and man o man, those type residents have FEW choices and where they live ain't one of them!

3.I agree with whoever said 'Prolapse" of anykind gives me the shivers!!

4. I don't like the term "elope" for resident who leaves the facility....makes me wonder who they married on their way out!!!

This is all I can'think of for now!! COOL THREAD!!!!