"Fixin' to die"

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2016

Yes.
I was making a joke. :)

Snickers, so was I. :yes:

More a snide reference to the fact that a nurse did her job spectacularly and saved a young one from a very untimely end and we have 'people who are getting their tits in a tangle' (kiwi expression basically means getting upset over not alot) about the fact that this nurse used a regional expression to describe the experience.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 26, 2016

'people who are getting their tits in a tangle' (kiwi expression basically means getting upset over not alot)

Gee, great, thanks, just what I need another hilariously inappropriate comment to use on the job where although an accurate assessment of the situation totally unprofessional. I can't wait!

RN2364 · Dec 27, 2016

That boy WAS "fixing to die"! What she did was make a lie saving decision. Your judging her seems ignorant to me. It's seems ignorant and I am appalled you took an uplifting story of a very intelligent RN who made the RIGHT decision and turned it into an English lesson to suit your own personal agenda to try and make you appear more intelligent..... it's her story. She did a fabulous thing. Let her feel good about herself without your uninformed predujice attitude trying to steal her "thunder".

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2016

I made it through the majority of the comments and I'm not sure if I saw this particular notion brought up: as I was raised by folks from Oklahoma, terminology like that being used in the state of California is generally to place significant emphasis. In other words, the nurse saying that he was 'fixin' to die' was a black-and-white, under-no-uncertain-terms was this kid experiencing a manifestation of the stomach flu (the initial diagnosis) but rather a life threatening stroke. There was no, "Well, he was rather unwell appearing." or "He was critically decompensating." These terms make it seem not so bad, though true and, at least for our ED require a rapid response assessment (meaning, if he was on the floor a code would be called). But to the layfolk these are vague, professional terms and do not necessarily lend any idea of how dire the situation was, particularly when 'stomach flu' was previously on the table. People who don't have that experience tend to not be able to make that jump from stomach flu to stroke. Saying he was 'fixin' to die' was saying, "**** is about to hit the fan people so we needed to make a move without hesitating. Ya dig?!"

At least, where I see it, terminology like that is more demonstrative of the situation and not indicative of her capabilities. It cuts through the professional jargon that would not actually have been as impressive to those not coming from a medical background. Also, as the story was lauding her abilities and efforts, clearly they can see the difference. It wasn't, "School Nurse Appearing to Not Be the Coldest Beer in the Fridge Saves Student. More at 11." I don't really know how I would have said that in a way that would have gotten the same point across. I likely would have swore and then would have ended up similarly being judged by the OP.

Editor's Note: I have bronchitis and I am delirious so if any of the above seemed unclear, blame it on the Mucinex, the recent change to night shift, and way too much holiday stress. I'm fixin' to die over here, ya dig?

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2016

Snickers, so was I.
More a snide reference to the fact that a nurse did her job spectacularly and saved a young one from a very untimely end and we have 'people who are getting their tits in a tangle' (kiwi expression basically means getting upset over not alot) about the fact that this nurse used a regional expression to describe the experience.

I want a Snickers bar, now.

morte, LPN, LVN · Dec 27, 2016

I must askew a question.

did yo mean eschew?

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Dec 27, 2016

When I speak, people often ask me if I'm from "up north somewhere". No, I was born and raised in Georgia, and have been here my entire life. But in my neck of the woods, "fixin' to" is considered by many to be "talking proper", since here, the local term is "finta".

For example, one would say "I'm finta get ready for work in a little bit". So, "fixin' to" has been sliced up so much that the 'xi' in the word has been completely extrapolated; the 'o' in 'to' has been replaced with an 'a'; then the two words have been combined to form the word 'finta'.

Neither term bothers me at all. When interacting with my patients, I introduce myself using correct grammar. I listen to terms used by them in their responses to me and each other. Then I adjust my speech accordingly to better relate to the person I'm speaking with. I consider it all learning opportunities on how best to communicate important information to diverse population. Call it flexibility.

I would like to say that I would use correct grammar and proper English if ever I'm in the limelight. But who knows what will come out when those nerves kick in and the adrenaline starts to flow. :nailbiting: The only fingernails-on-chalkboard statement for me is any initial conversation that begins with the words 'So' or 'Like'. I just can't stand that! So, when I read those threads, if I read those particular threads, I simply ignore the first word; pretend like it's not even there, or mentally translate it into what I would like to have read.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Dec 27, 2016

I don't think anybody is arguing that it's a normal colloquialism in the south, and I don't know that it's worth getting irate about, but it was certainly a missed opportunity to educate the public that school nurses are actually able to formulate an assessment of a situation that is beyond what just anybody could come up with. "Fixin to die", while accurate in colloquial terms, isn't particularly all that different from how non-nursing folks could have described the situation.

Bold: mine

Saving his life didn't accomplish that?

needtobeschooled · Mar 15, 2017

Let me see if I have this right(and please correct me if I am wrong).

The nurse in question saves a child's life with her quick thinking and observation skills. Yet the OP is OFFENDED by the nurse using "fixin' to die" because it's not PROPER GRAMMAR or SPELLING? (I lived in Marietta, GA, and YES, "fixin'" is used quite commonly in the South)

Does that sum it up correctly?