"Fixin' to die"

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Anyone see the story regarding the school nurse who thought one of the students had a routine stomach virus when the teacher summoned her only to discover the kid was showing signs of a stroke?In interviews she is quoted as saying she thought he was "fixin' to die".Discuss.Me first-color me appalled......

School Nurse Assumes Sick Kid She'''s Called to Help Has the Stomach Flu. One Look Has Her Calling 911

Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
Um, what is wrong with being a hick ? I take exception to that generalization. I'm fixin to post about it on Facebook.

I'm sorry about the hick comment. I should not have said it.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I have been a nurse for 27 years .My mother was from Virginia.Now my credibility is being called into question (yes,I really am a nurse) and I am being called prejudiced,too..( 50% Italian American and 50% southern myself)

The article's headline reminded me of something I would see on the front of the National Inquirer while waiting in line at the grocery store.

This reminds me of the discussion over calling patients "dearie","sweetie" or "Hon".

Am over it,Peace to you all

What does your ethnicity have to do with anything? You can be white, black, brown, pink, green or yellow & be prejudiced. There is literally *no* correlation between the two. You are digging your whole deeper & deeper. If you think that the article would run in the Enquirer I'm at a loss. How does the phrase one nurse used relate to an article in the Enquirer about aliens, Big Foot & other made up creatures? You are getting overly defensive for *no* reason.

I live in Texas & it is a common phrase. Also with nurses & etc saying "honey", "dearie" or "sweetie". It doesn't mean someone is uneducated, it's just the common lexicon. I bet you say things that would have some people scratching their heads. I hope you have learned to be less ignorant & more open minded.

The fact that everyone has disagreed with you is a red flag.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

This reminds me of the discussion over calling patients "dearie","sweetie" or "Hon".

The appropriateness of calling patients by nicknames is completely different than a medical professional using a typical regional verb "fixing". (If she had said "about to die", would you have the same problem?) In the former case, the patient may feel patronized being referred to by a pet name, and it's important that patients feel they are respected. In the latter case, no patients were offended by her word choice- just you because you don't understand that the phrase is not slang or improper, but widely-utilized and accepted English.

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Specializes in Pedi.

The nurse saved a child's life. Who cares what verbiage she used to describe how critically ill he looked when she assessed him?

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

Nobody is "questioning your credibility." Questioning your credibility would be claiming you were lying. We believe you mean what you say. We just think you're wrong.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Is this really the hill you want to die on?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We 'fix' to do a lot of things.

And we 'mash' buttons. Fundal massage is 'mashing your belly'.

That's just how we talk here.

I can turn it off to give a presentation to colleagues.

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.
Is this really the hill you want to die on?

"Is this really the hill you're fixing to die on?"

FTFY

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I did read the story,I also know that terms such as "fixin' to die" "circling the drain" etc.I also know it is "regional".My point is it makes her sound ignorant.We nurses continue to strive to be recognized as professionals.I would th ok no anyone with even a minimum of education would put their best foot forward during an interview and use proper English.I guess it's my issue.

She's in the deep south, people of all educations and social standings are known to use the word 'fixin' on occasion. I'm not personally a fan of "fixen"... I do say "gonna" a lot. I guess I'm just ignorant like that. ;)

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
"Is this really the hill you're fixing to die on?"

FTFY

OMG. :laugh: You win the Internet today!

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Specializes in med/surg.

I moved to Texas and I hear fixin to do stuff in a lot of local folk here. It just means getting ready to. It does not mean any to make fun of. They are serious when they say that. That nurse was fixen to send him off to a hospital because his condition was bad enough to warrant it. I just hope it wasn't over yonder cause you never know how far that could be.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
The folks in Oklahoma who said it were regional and FAR from unintelligent or ignorant. I was from the north and never gave it a thought. Sheesh people.

I'm from a different country and I didnt give it a thought.

People use language differently, its a cultural thing. Personally I'd be more concerned if the RN had written it off as stomach flu and failed to follow through on her intuitiion

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