nurses and spelling

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I believe nurses to be some of the most well educated, bright and savvy professionals across all disciplines. My question is, why can't a large majority spell? I am talking basics here, for example their, there and they're. Is this a general failure of education or specifically science-oriented curriculum? It is embarassing.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

the one that really gets me is "alot"...... a lot! a lot!! space in the middle, please! let's get it together people!!! :lol2:

probably came from a grade school teacher putting this on every spelling exam given. guess that teacher got the point across...

(of course this applies only if the intent was not to say/spell "allot")

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I am normally a stickler for grammar and spelling. When I worked as a nurse, it drove me nuts to see some of the charting from other nurses. I charted meticulously; some of my colleagues seemed to simply barf random letters and words on the paper. The charting was where I excelled in nursing; my husband (an RN), on the other hand, could barf letters and words on paper with mind-boggling proficiency. His spelling is horrible, and his grammar is frightful.

I left nursing when my middle daughter was born and pursued a different career that suited me a bit better.

Guess which one of us in my marriage is the better nurse by a mile, and guess which one is the better medical transcriptionist?

To put it in perspective, learning spelling and grammar comes very naturally to some people and not to others. Unlike my husband, I can't find my way around the mechanics of our vehicles or appliances and I can't tell which direction I'm headed if I'm lost while driving. Can I learn these skills? Maybe I could, but they do not come easily to me and I will likely never be proficient in them.

However, if you write "loose" when you mean "lose" or ever write "HIPPA" on anything, I will vehemently roll my eyes.

This is totally me. I moved to CO a few years ago and everyone here gives directions in North South East and West.. That isn't me. Someone well tell me,

"Go to the light and go west"

my reply "is that left or right"

they reply "look at the mountains, you will always know what direction you are going"

my reply "DO YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE OR WATCH THE MOUNTAINS???AM I GOING LEFT OF RIGHT AT THE LIGHT!"

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Do you think being a type A personality or B personality factors in to how much spelling and grammar matters?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
This is totally me. I moved to CO a few years ago and everyone here gives directions in North South East and West.. That isn't me. Someone well tell me,

"Go to the light and go west"

my reply "is that left or right"

they reply "look at the mountains, you will always know what direction you are going"

my reply "DO YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE OR WATCH THE MOUNTAINS???AM I GOING LEFT OF RIGHT AT THE LIGHT!"

Had to laugh at this, I'm so that way, too. East? South? I have no idea. Luckily my dashboard tells me which way I'm facing, that helps a little bit.

Now, left or right?

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
This is totally me. I moved to CO a few years ago and everyone here gives directions in North South East and West.. That isn't me. Someone well tell me,

"Go to the light and go west"

my reply "is that left or right"

they reply "look at the mountains, you will always know what direction you are going"

my reply "DO YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE OR WATCH THE MOUNTAINS???AM I GOING LEFT OF RIGHT AT THE LIGHT!"

Yup! I much prefer people give me the street names and landmarks.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Do you think being a type A personality or B personality factors in to how much spelling and grammar matters?

Which personality type of people do you think cares most about spelling and grammar?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Had to laugh at this, I'm so that way, too. East? South? I have no idea. Luckily my dashboard tells me which way I'm facing, that helps a little bit.

Now, left or right?

My rear view mirror has it on their as well, but it's just not me. I am a left or right kind of girl LOL In my town though people are so appalued if you don't know the directions, especially when the mountains are practically yelling it out at you (so they claim). You can't even always see the mountains, guess if I am in old town between a lot of tall buildings I am supposed to jump on my roof and peek things gaps :|

I finally caved and got me a GPS. Best investment ever, now I only get lost a few times instead of every time!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Do you think being a type A personality or B personality factors in to how much spelling and grammar matters?

I don't know what type I am. But if it does, I am with the type that is bad at it. :p

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I'm a type A. No, type B. Yeah, type B. Nah, type A.

That makes me type A, B, B, A.

I'm type ABBA.

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Specializes in Public Health.

I think spelling and grammar are important. I'm currently in an online RN-to-BSN program, and since most interaction in online (and text-based), I find that spelling and grammar make an impression. If a classmate can't construct a coherent sentence, I'm less likely to want them in my group if there's a group assignment.

As far as practice at the bedside, I also think spelling and grammar are important because our charting becomes a legal document. I think there has been a trend towards to computerized charting, and it's very rare to see written orders by a doctor, and computer-based order entry is usually accomplished by selecting a pre-set item. Also, doctors today are more likely to dictate their notes and have them typed by another person.

Nurses, on the other hand, can only rely on their own knowledge to type a free text note. We can't exactly dictate our notes for transcription. I think it's important for the nursing note to make sense, since it's often the only reminder of care rendered on a patient if the chart someday ends up part of a court proceeding.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I agree sometimes a misspelled word can get you into trouble! Read a post a few days ago from someone who said she was a candy stripper. I hope she doesn't put that on her resume! :eek: :eek:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
And to add to this quote some of the best writers were bad spellers and humble,I like to learn from the famous writers.

I have said "I couldn't care less" meaning that truly my caring could not be less

also said " I could care less" meaning I could care less-but do you want me to care less?

otessa

You're right- I never thought of the second version there. Now I won't cringe when I hear it!

thanks:)

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