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.

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

As a culture and as a human being, we have an established reading and writing system. That system changes. Change is good. I love change. Having a stagnant language means the culture is stagnant. Stagnant things die. That is bad. When the members of that culture are too lazy to attempt to learn to express themselves in a manner that reflects intellect in that culture, it is good.

People who dont care if they spell words the wrong way all the time are lazy. No one is perfect, but when you are charting about a patient, those words have to affectively describe what you are seeing, so when another reads, they can get the image of what you describe. In healthcare, the RN has to be at the forefront of this. When I am at the Catalina Wine Mixer, people often ask me about culture. I tell them that culture started with the spoken word and then evolved into the written world..

[Shenanigans, RN]

When I come up against spelling errs in electronic notes I just pass it off as someone not being able to type properly. But I was reading a pt info booklet that was full of bad grammer and spelling quirks.

I'm dyslexic and I go out of my way to make sure my spelling isn't deplorable in notes - especially because they're legal documents! Essentially, if I can't spell something, I think of a word that means the same thing or I break out the dictionary!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Spell check is invaluable for people like me.

I am also agitated when I see misspelling, all words typed in capital letters, run on sentences, etc. I can excuse some things because I am still trying to remember how to spell certain conditions and especially medications; but blatant misspellings drive me insane. It amazed me that my notes are more sequential, more organized than many of the higher degree nurses. And, when they comment on how great my notes are, I shake my head...didn't they learn the significance of this in nursing school?? It should be a fundamental skill...

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think that's Dan Quayle who says tomatoe

Yeah, I remember the potato story...they spoke about it for WEEKS and even had a spoof on Murphy Brown.

[oncnursemsn]

:) The old you say tomatoe I'll say tomato...

Ok, I know. tomato or tomatoe.

I still like this thread as we as professionals must be professional. Write. Spell. Use correct grammar. We as nurses must present ourselves as educated and knowledgable about English grammar and spelling. As a nurse I have no excuse and must not deviate from the best I can do.

(I know- there are the typos. and poor grammar and poor punctuation.) But- if we can do better- shouldn't we? I try to instill this in my students- and I am humbled that at my hospital we chart just typing with no spell check. Ack. Terrible typos, spelling grammar and tons of room for error.

[jode]

I think that's Dan Quayle who says tomatoe

Yes, Dan was lambasted for that one...

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I thought it was "potatoe".....

[Princess_M83]

No one is perfect, but when you are charting about a patient, those words have to affectively describe what you are seeing, so when another reads, they can get the image of what you describe. In healthcare, the RN has to be at the forefront of this. When I am at the Catalina Wine Mixer, people often ask me about culture. I tell them that culture started with the spoken word and then evolved into the written world..

I believe you meant "Effectively".

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I tell them that culture started with the spoken word and then evolved into the written world..

You mean written word, right?

What is this Catalina Wine Mixer you keep referring to? You've piqued my curiosity.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I thought it was "potatoe".....

Potato is to potatoe as tomato is to:

A) tomatoes

B) tomato paste

C) tomatoe

D) salsa

Extra credit: Which is the correct spelling?

[leslie :-D]

and is it spelled bologna or baloney?

leslie

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Catsup or Ketchup?