Should penmanship be a mandatory course for physicians?

babyNP., APRN · Jun 8, 2012

Nope, hand-writing orders is archaic...can't believe hospitals still do this!

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 8, 2012

Physicians should just write electronic orders AND PUT THEM IN THEMSELVES. I can't be sitting trying to read and figure out what they wrote, their incomplete orders, then have to call and clarify and they get mad. MDs should have to input the orders and deal with what I do instead of me wasting 3 hours typing in orders from their crap handwriting and incomplete orders, then having to call and waste more time clarifying with them, and getting yelled at for calling them, when they know darn well I can't just make up a dose cause they failed to write a complete order.

On the other hand I do miss hand written orders in one way. When taking a verbal or phone orders it was my opertunity to write the order the way it should have been ordered, rather than what the just-just-woke-up physician said.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2012

I work somewhere with an EMR any everything is types and perscriptions included. Would never want to go BACKWARDs and work somewhere without EMR. It makes things sooo much safer and faster. From typing notes, to text paging, to not guessing what the order says. etc

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 9, 2012

I work somewhere with an EMR any everything is types and perscriptions included. Would never want to go BACKWARDs and work somewhere without EMR. It makes things sooo much safer and faster. From typing notes, to text paging, to not guessing what the order says. etc

*** I mostly agree with you. However there are some truely terrable EMR programs out there. Some of them are so bad I would consider them a step backwards from paper charts and records.

rita359 · Jun 9, 2012

I'd also like physicians to actually have to write or print their names instead of some squiggly that doesn't even include a letter as their signature. If you don't work with a particular physician and KNOW his squiggly and HIS signature you could guess till the cows come home and still not know who wrote an order.

rita359 · Jun 9, 2012

My penmanship is terrible as well. I am so envious of
beautiful handwriting.

I hear a calligraphy course will help make handwriting better.

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2012

My fiancee has an old autograph book that was handed down to him as a sort of heirloom.

It dates back to the late 1800's.

I must tell you that the script in that book is outstandingly beautiful and some of it looks impossible by today's standards!

To think how much skill was required and that it was done at a time wherein ink took forever to dry and needed to be blotted.

There is not one single smudge.

It is truly a lost art.

He even has an old ledger, detailing sale and purchase of farm equipment and animals, that is positively meticulous.

When I discovered my children could not read nor properly write cursive, I taught them.

I felt foolish that I did not realize this until they were already 14 and 12!

It never occurred to me that schools didn't teach it so much anymore.

All of our orders are still handwritten.

I know it's hard to write neatly when one is hurried, but I do hate wasting time deciphering and clarifying.

I swear some of our most intelligent doctors have the worst. handwriting. ever.

It's like there is some sort of disconnect there that makes it impossible for them to do!

I don't care if they get crabby if I call to clarify.

I'm likely already crabby myself for having to do it!

I like to share the love.

celtchick68 · Jun 9, 2012

Many places today are going to computerized charting that require the doctor to input his/her orders into the computer. This is even being done in the ER. I believe it will help to eliminate having to decipher handwriting but will still obviously need to double check anything that sounds/looks out of the ordinary. The prescriptions are also computer generated and require the doctor to merely sign the printed copy.

While this doesn't address the issue of penmanship it will help to standardize the results.

DoGoodThenGo · Jun 10, 2012

My fiancee has an old autograph book that was handed down to him as a sort of heirloom.
It dates back to the late 1800's.
I must tell you that the script in that book is outstandingly beautiful and some of it looks impossible by today's standards!
To think how much skill was required and that it was done at a time wherein ink took forever to dry and needed to be blotted.
There is not one single smudge.
It is truly a lost art.
He even has an old ledger, detailing sale and purchase of farm equipment and animals, that is positively meticulous.
When I discovered my children could not read nor properly write cursive, I taught them.
I felt foolish that I did not realize this until they were already 14 and 12!
It never occurred to me that schools didn't teach it so much anymore.
All of our orders are still handwritten.
I know it's hard to write neatly when one is hurried, but I do hate wasting time deciphering and clarifying.
I swear some of our most intelligent doctors have the worst. handwriting. ever.
It's like there is some sort of disconnect there that makes it impossible for them to do!
I don't care if they get crabby if I call to clarify.
I'm likely already crabby myself for having to do it!
I like to share the love.

Many primary schools have long since ceased teaching handwriting/penmanship at least when it comes to "joined up" writing. *LOL* This is even happening in the bastion of teaching handwritting excellence to students, Catholic school.

Rationale being given is that in this modern age few if any young people bother to write by hand as everything is done on computer. That and they need the time to "teach to the test" so students can pass whatever exam is the flavor of the month.

Shame really, but guess it was to be expected. I mean when was the last time anyone bothered to send a hand written thank you note or letter?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jun 10, 2012

Maybe I lack a sense of sentimentality or something....I get that cursive penmanship is more individual and "prettier" but isn't that irrelevant? When one writes in cursive it is harder for many (not all but many) to read. When one writes in print-style *everyone* can read it, unless your hand writing is truly atrocious.Cursive handwriting is simply an anachronism. I feel the same way about doctors who still use "standard" measurements. Maybe it's because I was raised in Canada, but I think the metric system should be the only system allowed in health care. (yes even LTC). It's not my OPINION that the metric system is more efficient and logical, it's a FACT. I get so annoyed when our 70 year old doctor writes orders for liquid meds in "ounces" or "tablespoons"Liquid meds should ALWAYS be in mls. Temp should always be in Celsius, weight in kg, height in cm, etc etc.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 10, 2012

Heck, make a handwriting class mandatory for nurses as well! Trying to read some of the nursing notes in the chart is almost as bad as having to play "decipher the prescription."

Cat_RN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2012

LOL.

I see 'Bralava 10mg one daily-#30". That's all I can make out. I have no idea what it means- I cannot find any med called 'Bralava'.