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.
Specializes in ICU, Paeds ICU, Correctional, Education.
"Orientate" is not a word. Try looking it up in a dictionary. To "orient" someone is to give them direction so that they can find their way (you might need to "find your way" in many things in life). When you do that as a formal process, it is called "orientation." When the person finishes that process they are not "orientated," they either have been "oriented" or have "completed orientation."[/quote
I'm sorry, but orientate is a word. It is a transitive verb and I think the Oxford English Dictionary is the benchmark for the English language so try looking it up in that one. When orientation (noun) is being attended, the person being oriented is moving from one known space (metaphorically) to become familiarised with another, hence the transitive application to the verb. Following the act of being oriented (present tense) the person would be orientated (past tense).
Again,learned something new! Back when I was in school we rec'vd the lecture on the differece between saying lye down here please rather than lay down here please. WOW
If everyone votes for "et," will we then have an "et al" situation?
"Et" may be French, but the usage in medicine is because it means "and" in Latin, the mother tongue of medicine and other arts. German is (was) used for sciences. Are we too good to use ad lib, PRN, et al?
Again,learned something new! Back when I was in school we rec'vd the lecture on the differece between saying lye down here please rather than lay down here please. WOW
One lays something down and it lies there.
(Thanks to Sister Mary Miserable, 6th grade, St. Martin's Academy)
By the way, us'n nurses ain't the onliest peeps what make pronouncing mistakes. There is a weather-person on a local station that says "The tempaturr will be...." MAKES ME NUTS. :smiley_abI have even written the station. Geez, you'd think they would hire someone who can pronounce one of the "critical" words in the business.
By the way, us'n nurses ain't the onliest peeps what make pronouncing mistakes. There is a weather-person on a local station that says "The tempaturr will be...." MAKES ME NUTS. :smiley_abI have even written the station. Geez, you'd think they would hire someone who can pronounce one of the "critical" words in the business.
"The temp-a-chur in Feb-you-ary will be twenny-two degrees."
One test of careful pronunciation is to ask the person what ten times ten is. Common flubs include "a hunnerd," "a hunderd, "hunnert" and " a hundert." I hear this misspoken frequently by--as you pointed out--people who ought to know better. Radio commercials seem to require it as they are often made by local business owners who may have acquired entrepreneurial smarts but who may not have fond memories of English class. Many who are otherwise articulate let this one slip by.
Ran across "between you and I" today. Harkens back to "me" taking on near dirty-word status in grade school. Had a former employer who used to say, "If you have any questions, give Pete or I a call." You wouldn't say, "Give I a call." Or maybe there are some who would. Oh my.
"The temp-a-chur in Feb-you-ary will be twenny-two degrees."
One test of careful pronunciation is to ask the person what ten times ten is. Common flubs include "a hunnerd," "a hunderd, "hunnert" and " a hundert." I hear this misspoken frequently by--as you pointed out--people who ought to know better. Radio commercials seem to require it as they are often made by local business owners who may have acquired entrepreneurial smarts but who may not have fond memories of English class. Many who are otherwise articulate let this one slip by.
Ran across "between you and I" today. Harkens back to "me" taking on near dirty-word status in grade school. Had a former employer who used to say, "If you have any questions, give Pete or I a call." You wouldn't say, "Give I a call." Or maybe there are some who would. Oh my.
Sometimes, listening to "eye-witness statements" on the news hurts. Yup, a hunnert times worser than you coulda knowed.
Sometimes, listening to "eye-witness statements" on the news hurts. Yup, a hunnert times worser than you coulda knowed.
I'm right dere witcha.
If there were a college drinking game where you had to down a brew every time an eyewitness or interviewee said, "Y'know," no one would be left standing after a half-hour news show. Y'now?
Keep in mind that when some people do not pronounce words to another's liking that it could be because of a true speech problem. Back home, quite a few people make fun of one of our news reporters, but i know for a fact (since i went to school with him) the poor man has had speech problems all of his life. Sad that even as an adult that supposed adult people are making fun of him now.
Music in My Heart
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I suppose it's better that the patient "done well" than if the patient were "well done."
Seriously, though...ugh!