Regional differences in OB terminology ....

Selke · Apr 5, 2006

This thread is proving invaluable...I'm soon off to AZ from UK where I've been a midwife for 13yrs. We use
fully=fully dilated
....
the cervix might be up with the gods or in the heavens
always ultrasound not sonogram
I'm sure I'll think of a bunch more as I click post but that's the norm.

You say fully in the UK? Is that usual?

Love the "cervix might be with the gods or in the heavens" ... for high, posterior cervix ... I've heard that's it's by your tonsils.

What brings you to AZ from the UK? Will you be a L&D nurse, or practicing as a midwife?

Kelky · Apr 5, 2006

I was a UK midwfe, it was fully for us too down in S Wales, the first time I heard 'complete' was when I had my 2nd child here. I worked out what the midwife meant when she said I could push! I have just started as an OB RN here, and one thing I've noticed is that many many more abbreviations are used, a list of them and their meanings would be wonderful :)

Selke · Apr 6, 2006

I was a UK midwfe, it was fully for us too down in S Wales, the first time I heard 'complete' was when I had my 2nd child here. I worked out what the midwife meant when she said I could push! I have just started as an OB RN here, and one thing I've noticed is that many many more abbreviations are used, a list of them and their meanings would be wonderful :)

I wonder if "fully" is a British term that made it here to the colonies years ago? It seems to be used here in New England, which was colonized by the English. It would be interesting to learn more of the history of childbirth, including the history of terminology used over the years in different countries.

There must be a site for medical abbreviations someplace on the internet, even in allnurses.com, you could access. Abbreviations are a constant problem for charting, however, and JCHAO is always trying to upgrade and standardize them to prevent mistakes.

Welcome to the US! What do you think of our health care system compared to yours?

Kelky · Apr 6, 2006

I've lived in the US since 1996, just took me a while to get around to getting an RN licence :)

Our health systems are very different, and I still have difficulty getting my head around the insurance issues etc I have to deal with. But it is easier here to see a 'specialist', and there are fewer waits for surgery etc. As far as the uninsured though, they are in a far worse position than British people with socialised health care. I don't like insurance companies dictating what tests can be done or how long a patient can stay in hospital, although I can see reasons why that is the case.

I don't think one is necessarily better than the other though, but a combination of the two might be better.

nursecave · Apr 6, 2006

We seem to rotate between BUFA, CAP and MAP for babies that are up for adoption.

BUFA- baby up for adoption

MAP - making adoption plans

CAP - considering (or choosing) adoption plan

FLK is a favorite too. I personally like to use VIH when referring to HIV in report, because even though we report in a room behind closed doors, visitors have been known to eavesdrop. I don't say names either when I report. I don't want a HIPAA violation.

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2006

In Delaware, it was "fully", in Arizona it's "complete". The one I had the most trouble with though was instrument names. What we called a "Kelly" in DE, is a "Mayo" out here. What AZ calls a "Kelly", in DE was a "hemostat" or a "Jones".

Selke · Apr 8, 2006

In Delaware, it was "fully", in Arizona it's "complete". The one I had the most trouble with though was instrument names. What we called a "Kelly" in DE, is a "Mayo" out here. What AZ calls a "Kelly", in DE was a "hemostat" or a "Jones".

I thought Mayos were scissors used in the OR. So, what do you call mayos (scissors)? I've heard Kellys as hemostats, too.

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2006

Yes, there are Mayo sissors too--both straight (for cutting suture) and curved (for cutting tissue). The Mayo brothers were very prolific... Invented all those surgical instruments, started that little clinic...

nodi0603 · Apr 15, 2006

Here in the south they use:

FOB-Father of baby

JOOTBP-Just out of the bed pregnant

Rim-almost complete

Complete and fully

PITA-pain in the --- (for docs also)

PP-OOP-presenting part out of pelvis

If we can't reach her cervix we will sometimes say "it's in her tonsils"

Of course they "mash" all kinds of buttons around here. I am originally from the Midwest and we always press buttons. If you are a native of the south then you are a "good 'ol boy"

I once heard a nurse tell the IC/EH nurse, who is very bow legged; "you are so bow legged you couldn't hem a hog in a ditch". LOL

tntrn, ASN, RN · Apr 15, 2006

"Here in the south they use:

JOOTBP-Just out of the bed pregnant"

I so love that one! With the advent of home pregnancy tests, pregnancies are soooooo much longer. I don't think that necessarily a good thing in all cases, especially the ones where the pregnant one wants to involve everybody in it right from the get-go.

Jamesdotter · Apr 17, 2006

Regarding birth certificates--5 years ago or so (I assume it hasn't changed) we could have both parents sign an affidavit EACH IN THE PRESENCE OF THE OTHER while the mom was still in the hospital. We didn't need a notary. Once she left the hospital it got more complicated for them--a selling point for the new dad who was still passing out cigars and hadn't bought that first box of diapers or formula.

Selke · Apr 17, 2006

Just read this on a UK Midwifery listserv (paraphrased): I just checked (the pt) and she was almost "fully delighted"!