One thing that is nails on chalkboard to me is when I hear my fellow nurses use double negatives and other blatant grammar mistakes. I'm speaking of English as a first language, domestically born and raised people.
I feel as this detracts from the professional image of nursing. We are supposed to be educated professionals. Poor grammar makes nursing look like a blue collar trade to those who are educated, such as our physicians and many members of the public.
Let me clarify that I don't harshly judge the intelligence or moral character of people with poor grammar. But, I feel strongly that nurses should project an image of being educated professionals in our speech and demeanor. Thanks for reading.
Last weekend at work a nurse proclaimed "I have a hour left". No, you have an hour left. Since the 'h' is silent and the second letter is a vowel you would use "an".
Another pet peeve are those that write "advise" if they want advice. You advise someone much like the president has advisors. You give advice.
I do stick my "buts" out here on allnurses but when it comes to charting I never start a sentence with "but" or "and". I also never use contractions in charting. Not using contractions is the one thing I remember from my high school journalism class. When it comes to formal writing always write the words out.
Another pet peeve are those that cannot discern between: sit, set, lie, lay, etc.
MELK for MILK (My mom and Grandma are guilty of this).
EXASPIRATION for EXACERBATION. Many times my co workers mispronounce that word and it makes me crazy. I keep thinking the patients condition isn't angry and frustrated.
Misspelling trach (trache) bugs me too. I don't know why it just does.
Seeing "Et" for and was confusing for me when I was first reading some posts. I figured the person was French. I didn't know it was used as a medical abbreviation for and.
I have always had trouble with the word aneursym (sp?). I am never sure if I am spelling it right or not.
I had a nurse tell me that "The patient is having bronchiospasams post op." The nurse ment bronchospasams. It took all I had not to correct her in front of the patient.
I too am guilty of bad grammar at times. I know I am a terrible writer. I do the best I can. My charting is probably terrible. I hope I am getting the point accross.
I also hate when staffing consistantly mispronounces someones name. I know how some names are hard to pronounce, but you think once you have been corrected you would try to get it right. I can see if you are close but jeez they are so far off it is crazy. My last name is difficult for some but if my mom can get it right then anyone can. We have a secretary who dosen't always put full names on the sheet. We have a nurse named Robert and she writes Rober on the phone list. I find myself correcting it because it makes me crazy. I find that insulting that you know the persons name you can't take the time to write it correctly.
I also hate when staffing consistantly mispronounces someones name. I know how some names are hard to pronounce, but you think once you have been corrected you would try to get it right. I can see if you are close but jeez they are so far off it is crazy. My last name is difficult for some but if my mom can get it right then anyone can. We have a secretary who dosen't always put full names on the sheet. We have a nurse named Robert and she writes Rober on the phone list. I find myself correcting it because it makes me crazy. I find that insulting that you know the persons name you can't take the time to write it correctly.
That irritates me too. I have a long name: Elizabeth. I go by Elizabeth everywhere but here. When the charge nurse writes down the assignment she writes "Eliz" or "E". Come on! Write out my whole name as I am a whole person. It's on the verge of being inconsiderate. She writes out everyone else's name but can't seem to find the extra 2 seconds to write mine out completely?
Specializes in ICU, Paeds ICU, Correctional, Education.
Don't mean to beat a dead horse but....
I would expect to orient someone to the unit. After a few weeks of orientation, they would have been oriented.
Oh dear!!! Perhaps Allnurses needs a spell and grammar check. Maybe dictionaries in Australia are different or perhaps the unit is in China. The creativity with the integration of future and past tense is quite impressive too.
8. a. to grow, especially in quantity; cultivate: [color=#226699]raise corn and soybeans.
b. to breed and care for to maturity: [color=#226699]raise cattle.
c. to bring up; rear: [color=#226699]raise children.
d. to accustom to something from an early age: [color=#226699]"such amenities are ... meant to make churchgoing attractive to a post-world war ii generation raised on shopping malls and multiplex cinemas" [color=#226699](gustav niebuhr).
i think this might be regional, but i never hear anyone where i live use rear in the context of bringing up children, raise seems to be the norm. according to the dictionary, it is correct.
i notice that people aren't checking the dictionary before correcting what are actually regional differences in usage. english has a wealth of synonyms.
Perhaps Allnurses needs a spell and grammar check. Maybe dictionaries in Australia are different or perhaps the unit is in China. The creativity with the integration of future and past tense is quite impressive too.
kasia2
199 Posts
You are so right LOL