Nurses who can't spell

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I've noticed that there are many, many nursing students and pre-nursing students on this board who can't form proper sentences. I've seen posts on here that appeared to have been written by 2nd graders. I know that my grammar is far from perfect, but to think that people who can't spell BASIC words will be my nurse or my parents' nurse one day is downright terrifying.

Thoughts?

Specializes in Army Medic.

What about nurses who have English as a second language?

I've dealt with people that have a degree as high as MD or NP who often misspell words - they're still better at their job than a lot of American born doctors I've dealt with.

One way or another, everyone busts their butt getting a degree.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

My thoughts,

In nursing school, they're things that are far more important then someone's spelling and grammar errors on a message board.

I have no doubt I had many errors in that above sentence, and I am ok with that. If this was a paper I was turning in for school, I would put a lot more effort into it.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

idk wat ur tlking bout but i tlk just fin k thx bye

Seriously though, I frequent many forums and find that everyone has issues with grammar or spelling at some point or another. While it is not necessary on a forum like this, as long as you can get your general idea out, I think its fine

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I know plenty of people who aren't very good spellers, and imho it has no bearing whatsoever on their level of intelligence or ability to perform in class OR clinicals. :cool:

When you start talking about extremely poor grammar and sentence structure in papers alongside poor spelling, however, there might be some sort of issue. I've seen papers written by college students that could easily be trumped by a middle schooler. :confused:

But then again, I've known plenty of people who really can't write worth a darn, but are still smart people who are good at what they do. I'll agree it is important to be able to write and communicate clearly, but it's not the only important thing.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

While spelling, grammar and sentence structure is important to me, as I feel it reflects the impression I give while spending time online, I don't think it will make me a better nurse.

On a forum such as this, I just choose not to read the posts that have horribly blatant spelling or grammar errors. They make me batty. But I wouldn't go so far as to say they are doomed to fail in their career or should not be pursuing this. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I ignore posts that drive me nuts with grammar. I have that choice. At work it is absolutely different. I worked with a nurse who loved to write her nurses' notes like she was texting them (ex. U=you) along with misspellings. After a lot of complaining (I didn't need to because others did it for me) she managed to straighten out and fly right.:yeah:

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Who cares? This is a leisurely and casual hobby of mine. I'm not meticulous with spelling and grammar like I am in professional settings.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I can't even remember the last time I read a complete sentence in the nurse's notes on a patient's chart. Everything is abbreviated, shorthand, symbols, or a combination thereof. As long the previous nurse gets her point across, I could care less how she communicates outside of the workplace.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

does the grammar and usage of a non-native person bother me, either in oral or written form? heck no!

does listening to someone hack the language to bits in text messages, phone conversations etc. bother me? nope!

does hearing that same style carried over to more professional or formal written communication drive me nuts? you'd better believe it!:rolleyes:

before i became an rn, i was an editor and proofreader for several years for a major firm. i may have a different education now, but i still proof and edit everything i lay my eyes on. i don't mean to do it. i just do it without thinking about it.

you can take the editor and proofer out of the cubicle or office, but she'll still edit everything she reads when she's 120...:D

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

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Sometimes ppl dont feel like righting out all the words or putting punctuation in there sentences because they are to lazy to type properly and they just want to get there point across :idea:

Like that ;D

LMAO, good one!

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