Should spelling count?

[betc]

the electronic notes at my facility are full of words misspelled words. The embarrasing thing for me is these are degree nurses, BSN and MSN.

Does this effect the image of nursing as a profession?

looking for comments,opinions and/or references.

[leslie :-D]

I am a horrible speller. and I aint too good on grammer neither!

I hope whomever does the chart audits takes into account that most nurses are rushing to get charting done at all.

and if they look at the Dr progress notes... it makes the nurses notes look wonderful!

but even when rushing, you either know how to spell a word or you don't.

unless you're talking about computerized charting...

then typos can easily occur.

and, agree w/you about md notes....when legible.:)

leslie

[GOMER42]

these are degree nurses, BSN and MSN.

ASN nurses are degree nurses as well.

Really, it is an embarrassment to the person that habitually misspells, not the profession as a whole.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I don't think so...there are quite a few distractions while someone is typing, writing, and when you are exhausted or several things that need to be done are running through their head...if someone has a few misspellings here and there, I could care less...as long as it's not so much that you misinterpret the message entirely.

Better to document than not at all.

[ToxicShock]

I think the usual spelling errors are OK every once and a while (like there/their, etc), but please make sure your directions, procedures, medicines, etc are written and spelled correctly. If one person makes a mistake (like the colposcopy vs. colonoscopy that someone mentioned earlier) you could really hurt and/or kill someone.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I see a lot of misspellings in charts when I read through them. I'm a natural speller and the errors seem to jump off the page at me sometimes. Some of them are common errors and others are just silly. But the one that always cracks me up is "illicit" instead of "elicit". Not many illicit acts in peds, but we do elicit cough and gag!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I wish our EMR had a spell checker. I am awful at spelling, but do routinely spell check my work: everything from school papers to yes, forum posts. I think misspellings make us look unprofessional and unintelligent, often contributing to a negative outlook on nurses.

Not to mention, a patient's chart is a legal document.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I keep a pocket dictionary at my desk just in case spellcheck does not catch the word I need. Are you a member of NNSDO? This topic has generated a LONG thread by nursing educators recently. Although we realize people have limited time and are used to text writing ---- poor grammar and spelling is the only part of the "conversation" the recipient may remember. I have even heard people say they would not want "that nurse" taking care of them because of their impression of her based on communications.

[DeeAngel]

Spelling does count and I think those that say it doesn't are doing themselves a huge disservice! Not to say I don't make a lot of spelling errors, but I do use spellcheck and try to proofread everything carefully. It does make a difference in how others perceive you. Don't even get me started on the job applications full of spelling errors, it can get your application discarded.

Sometimes your writing is the first contact someone has with you, and it should always make a good impression.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

i don't think so...there are quite a few distractions while someone is typing, writing, and when you are exhausted or several things that need to be done are running through their head...if someone has a few misspellings here and there, i could care less...as long as it's not so much that you misinterpret the message entirely.

better to document than not at all.

if you "could care less" then that means you care a little . ..

the phrase is "i couldn't care less". one of my bugaboos.

i disagree that this is not an important issue at work. here on allnurses - no big deal.

my spellcheck is on - i didn't turn it on though - i just assumed it was always on.

steph

[jode]

Spelling and good grammar ALWAYS counts!

[Cindy-san]

IMO, one or two minor spelling errors isn't the end of the world, like "teh" instead of "the." But if someone is typing "celebrex" instead of "celexa" or the notes look like this: "calld dr smth weth Tst resilts," that is a problem. I'm usually in a rush, but I do take a sec to reread my notes and make sure it's coherant. This being legal documentation and all....

Docs at my old job would dictate their notes and electronically sign them, without reading them. So there were plenty of weird spelling errors, usually in past medical history. I always double-checked someone else, so I made sure ASAZLTS wasn't a real disease. :chuckle

[RNperdiem, RN]

An occasional spelling mistake will not harm patient outcomes.

Doctors do not read nurses' notes, most nurses do not read nurses' notes. Chart auditors probably do most of the reading of our notes.

I guess spelling is a minor thing to me even if I do have good spelling. The note is one basic chore using a lot of canned phrases to cover all the "knowledge deficit" and "discharge planning" charting I am required to complete.

If something of real importance happens, I make a good, factual note with impeccable spelling, otherwise I put my energy into actual patient care.