Mispronunciations That Drive You Nuts

Updated:   Published

Car-dee-ya-zem.

It's car-di-zem. Or dil-ti-ya-zem.

Cardiazem isn't a real thing.

Can I get an amen?!

Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.

Dil-lidi-zem/Diltiazem

?

I cant help but giggle.

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Had a guy who needed physical therapy for his broken spatula (scapula)

I have assisted with more rotary cup surgeries (rotator cuff) than I can count.

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forgot the quote

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Specializes in Early Intervention, Nsg. Education.

Years ago I had a sweet LOL in LTC who had IBS-D. Every morning around 0600 she rang to ask for her "linoleum" (Imodium.)

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I had a patient who referred to NS as "Celine", as in, Dion. Regardless of how many times I correctly said "saline", she never did get it.

Was she from a European country? I had several professors in college who were born and raised in European countries and they do pronouce it like "Celine' as in Dion.

I also have a caregiver to one of my patients who was trained as an RN in Hungary and she pronounces it that way. The first time she said it she noticed my perplexed look as i tried to figure out what she was talking about. She laughed a little and said..'oops, forgot, you say 'say lean' here'.

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Specializes in dealing w/code browns and blues.

My grandmother has a yearly colonostomy......I've given up trying to tell her she's having a colonoscopy.

I once had a pt family member telling me the surgical history and he kept saying that she'd had "the vegetable surgery". I finally figured out his wife had previously had a cabg.

Sent from my overpriced Apple device

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"smilin' baby Jesus" for spinal meningitis.... not even close 

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Carpet tunnel release (carpal tunnel release)

Linguini hernia repair (inguinal)

Luvadux (Lovenox)

All Hammers Disease (Alzheimers)

Sleep acne (apnea)

"My tumor was attached to the Missionary artery" (mesentery)

I actually keep a list of these for our administrative assistant. Every now and then, she'll post them in the lounge.

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Here are a couple:

One patient who was reporting that he had been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes said the doc had told him he was "tied to" Diabetes somehow. Took a minute or so to figure that one out.

A patient who kept asking for more dilaudid, except that he thought he was being given something called "Delilah". Maybe some sappy love songs on the radio would have helped, but I doubt it.

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I'm a tech/nursing student and am orienting to a new department. One of the long time techs was orienting me to the supply room. She showed me "the supplies the docs use for incubating someone" (intubating) as well as the "post natal bags when we have to take someone to the morgue" (post mortem). There were a few other funnies like that but I forgot to write them down.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I use to work as a pharm tech many years ago, and I often had people calling in asking to refill their subscription! I am starting nursing school this Fall!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
ERLaw14 said:
VICKodin...he would yell down the hall..I want my ******* VICKodin. I've also had patients correct me when I am struggling with med words...its a 2 way street LOL

Add another Vicodin mispronouncing:

VICE-odin. 

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