nurses and spelling

belgarion · Mar 21, 2010

I think a lot of the spelling and grammar mistakes we see are due to a lack of practice. We use so much shorthand and abbreviation in our work that it's no wonder so many have problems with "regular" writing. Also, a lot of the mistakes I see (and make) here aren't from not knowing how something is spelled; they come from uncooperative fingers and not proofing what is typed.

Of course intelligence has nothing to do with education. Do you have any idea how many truck drivers and cocktail waitresses are members of MENSA?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2010

I agree NICUQueen - if nurses shouldn't be held to a higher standard with regard to "attention to detail", well... who the heck should? I should think attention to detail would be one of the most important characteristics for anyone in health care who has peoples' lives in their hands. It's simply a no-brainer.
What makes me wonder is, why has this issue grown so exponentially over the last 20 years or so? My kids' teachers have told me that it's a miracle when half the class turns in legible papers - and not just legible as far as being able to read the writing, but legible in terms of proper spelling, grammar and sentence structure. I have to say, this has been a bonus for my own children, who are pretty decent when it comes to this. The teachers are so thrilled when they get a paper that is written half-decently that they tend to grade higher than they probably should. What's with the dumbing-down of this nation?

It's because teachers have to put all their focus into students passing all the different testing required and everything else gets cut. It's all about Ccap testing WASL testing and the billion other ones. Sort of like how sometime all the learning emphasis of nursing school is to pass NCLEX when maybe some extra hours in clinical would prove to be more beneficial. While I might not be the best with grammar or spelling, I am great in clinicals and I don't skip out on important details. I know someone isn't going to die if I use the improper their in a sentence, but they could die if I miss a step in giving them their meds. I think we are comparing apples and oranges here when crossing the line that someone not good with spelling or grammar must be a bad nurse who takes the lazy way out and doesn't pay attention to detail.

I would be willing to bet if I got a couple of my friends that are English majors, to come in and go over some of these posts from people that demand perfection, they also could find some errors. Some of them have already been pointed out.

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Mar 21, 2010

"How is it continuing to grow? If anything, it's vastly improving over time, and with the use of spell check type technology. "

That's the problem...people are becoming heavily reliant on the technology, instead of just spelling things correctly to begin with. Spell check technology automatically corrects misspellings, so the person creating the document doesn't even have to proofread their work anymore.

Bormio · Mar 21, 2010

Kooky korky

Ha Ha...I proved my point! We should all pay closer attention to spelling and grammar! I will never misspell embarrassing again!

allnurses Guide · Mar 21, 2010

I attribute the errors in both spelling and grammar these days to the fact that most people don't read books anymore. Kids grow up on a Playstation or DS and do not sit and read books. I know the vast majority of my vocabulary, spelling and grammar was learned almost subconsciously from being a voracious reader.

I am constantly astounded by the number of people in my age group and younger who have not read a book since they left school.

I worked a couple of years ago as a grader for undergraduate nursing students. Some of the essays were literally barely understandable. There was a lot of red ink on most of them.

I find it sad and lazy that people say "I'm just not a good speller". If you know it's a deficiency you have, then go and learn how to do it correctly. If you can study human anatomy and physiology, and memorize drugs, then you can spell correctly with some effort.

It can hinder you in job hunting as well as in your job performance. I know I throw out application letters if the author cannot spell.

trae55 · Mar 21, 2010

You did something here that I notice quite a lot - you said "people...that" instead of "people...who". I was taught that "that" is for non-living items and "who" is for the living. Not really sure, just what I was taught.

Actually, either way is correct.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2010

Okay, well, I totally disagree.
Spelling has nothing to do with sheer intelligence. A person could have a number of reason they have difficulty spelling: dyslexia, they may be from a foreign country, or they might have a had a realllly poor childhood education, despite being smart.
I knew a guy in college who was a genius. Studied neuromusculoskeletal med, and wrote like a five year old. His handwriting was so poor, and so unreadable, it might as well have been misspelled.
I think people hide behind spelling and grammar mistakes because it makes THEM feel all super smart and special lol. Like "Oh look at her she made a run on sentence and didn't spell business right! OMG!!" Who cares? If someone is obviously smart, articulated, and able.....then I wouldn't judge them based on how they spell!
Now if someone is misspelling every word and not making much sense, than I'd say that person obviously an idiot. But who couldn't figure that one out?

Why, in God's name, would you believe that people "hide behind spelling and grammar mistakes"?

And why, in God's name, do you think they would do this to feel "super smart and special"?

I never stop being amazed that some people, like you, it would appear, automatically believe the worst about others. Can't someone just have a genuine, non-malicious point of view, even if it differs from your own?

And no, one who misspells often is not "obviously" an idiot.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2010

Who would have believed that whether or not we use correct grammar, could generate such passion. The reponse to this thread is as contentious as any I've seen here. A few of the posts are downright mean and insulting. What does that say about us? Some of us are actually using dictionaries to check spelling so that we don't invite an attack. What does that have to do with nursing? The CHF pt does not care if I can or cannot spell @#$%^$& correctly. He or she only cares if I know how to push 40 mg of Lasix. The MD may develop a horrible first impression of me if I sound like a hick, but will value me if I take impeccable care of his pt. The nurse who works beside me may ridicule me behind my back, or to my face, if I don't use the right words. But will forever thank me if I stop her from giving 100 units of regular insulin instead of 100 units of Lantus. I guess it's a matter of what one considers important. I have always found actions speak louder that words.

So should we just let spelling, grammar, punctuation go?

I see nothing wrong with this thread, no one is being contentious or rude, mean, insulting. We're just exchanging ideas. Aren't we? :confused:

leslie :-D · Mar 22, 2010

I have always found actions speak louder that words.

and nursing notes are supposed to be our actions, put into words.

besides, your statement is analogous to, "talk is cheap" and so then it would follow that "actions speak louder than words".

so contextually, it is apples and oranges.

leslie:)

CFitzRN, ADN · Mar 22, 2010

I was reading my Sunday paper (local) just a few minutes ago and this article caught my eye. How very timely! Incidentally, I totally agree with whoever said that a big reason spelling, grammar etc are failing is because so few people actually READ anymore. Anyway, on with the article:

TYPO COULD COST YOU A JOB

Just one typo in a resume could cost you a job, according to a recent survey.

Three out of four executives said just one or two inadvertent strokes of the keyboard would remove an applicant from consideration for a job, while 40 percent said they would not hire a candidate who had a typo in their resume.

The telephone survey of 1,000 senior executives was conducted on behalf of staffing firm Accountemps, a unit of Robert Half International Inc.

"Employers view the resume as a reflection of the applicant," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of "Job Hunting For Dummies."

"If you make errors on your application materials, the assumption is you will make mistakes on the job."

To illustrate the point, Messmer offers these real-life errors made in resumes:

"Hope to hear from you shorty." (me - bahahahaha!!)

"Have a keen eye for derail." (yep, you sure do - you're derailing your own application...)

"Dear Sir or Madman," (that should go over like a lead balloon!)

"I'm attacking my resume for you to review." (with a resume like this, you SHOULD beat it down)

So there is one very good reason why correct spelling and proper grammar is so important. And how strange that it was in my Sunday paper.

sassy_squirrel · Mar 22, 2010

I believe it is society in general where spelling in concerned. I think that schools allow too much leeway in the way of spelling. When I was in school (and no there weren't dinosaurs I'm only 25 this year) I had to do grammar work and had spelling tests every week. I might not be always 100% correct in my spelling but I do make sure I spell most things right. And where I don't know the spelling I will look it up to find out.

I'm sorry but incorrect spelling and grammar are pet peeves of mine.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2010

I attribute the errors in both spelling and grammar these days to the fact that most people don't read books anymore. Kids grow up on a Playstation or DS and do not sit and read books. I know the vast majority of my vocabulary, spelling and grammar was learned almost subconsciously from being a voracious reader.
I am constantly astounded by the number of people in my age group and younger who have not read a book since they left school.
I worked a couple of years ago as a grader for undergraduate nursing students. Some of the essays were literally barely understandable. There was a lot of red ink on most of them.
I find it sad and lazy that people say "I'm just not a good speller". If you know it's a deficiency you have, then go and learn how to do it correctly. If you can study human anatomy and physiology, and memorize drugs, then you can spell correctly with some effort.
It can hinder you in job hunting as well as in your job performance. I know I throw out application letters if the author cannot spell.

I have to disagree with this, well at least in my case and what I have seen in one of my children. I have always been an avid reader. For birthdays growing up, I was very happy with a series of books and often times got in trouble when the parents peeked in my room and it was 2 in the morning and I was still reading, I just couldn't put the book down. Even now in nursing school, my love for reading has gotten me in trouble, I started a series of books a few days before second semester started and could not focus on school until I finished the books. Their were 9 or 10 in the series. I had them all read in 2 weeks. Don't even get me started on when I feel into the Twilight trap and finally started those in June.

Anyway, my point is, I have always been huge on books, I let my children have their video games and computers, I also require reading daily even if it's not required at the time in school and we have 100's of books in my home (my 2 year old daughter has taken over my love for books as well) and my older boys bike over to the library often. That said, I still have always struggled more so with grammar and some spelling. Mainly with spelling if it's not a typo from being in a hurry, it's more of a misuse of the word, not that I spelled it wrong. I have beat my head against the wall trying to grasp when to use the proper then, than, to, too, sometimes their and there, etc. It's not from a lack of trying, I get to some points that I just don't know what situation would use which word and am not always in a place to look it up. I have a basic grasp on grammar, periods, commas (although I am sure I don't always use them properly) when to use a question mark and so on. But when it comes to knowing when to use : or ; I couldn't tell you. When I am in a formal setting, I obviously put a great effort into turning in good work, I seek out proofreaders and try to research a little. When I am on an informal setting I am more in a hurry to get my point across and I do not take the time to proofread. Sometimes when I see a post I made and see some very obvious things I missed I go back and fix them. Most times if I know my point got across fine I don't bother. I can type extremely fast and I get to typing faster then my brain can spit it out it seems at time. My oldest son really struggles a lot with spelling and grammar as well. He is even at a lower reading level then he should be and he reads a lot. Meanwhile I have a 2nd grader that is reading at a 5th grade level and excels at spelling and loves to write. It's hard for my oldest son when his 2 younger brothers can spell words he struggles with. Especially when their is a bigger grade gap between them. But it's not a lack of trying.

I will say, the biggest thing I have noticed when it comes to this stuff with my boys. With my oldest son he went to regular day cares for "pre school" and went to regular public school for all grades. My younger 2 sons I was able to put into private pre schools, private K4 and private k5 and started them in public school for 1st grade. They were very advanced and ahead of the other kids. I think that gave them a really good base and head start. My daughter who after having boys is very different in so many ways, will have the same opportunity. I already have her in an excellent day care that is also a pre school and private K4 and K5 and in the 8 months since she started, she has shown such a huge change and is very smart. I have people tell me all the time they can't believe how young she is because she is so ahead of the game.

Sorry to go off on a rant, I do agree that children in general these days are being raised much differently then past generations, I know it's been my goal as a parent, to not give up the good foundations I feel children should be raised with. I will agree that books have been tossed aside, although from what I have seen, schools are trying desperately to bring that back. At least my childrens schools.

But I do feel, spelling and grammar are some things people just seem to struggle with. I have also read that compared to other languages, English is one of the more confusing and hardest languages to grasp because of all the variances in it. Their is a lot of grey areas.