tomato/tomahto?

Gator,SN · Aug 17, 2003

Good question. I've heard both too and thought that the person speaking had mis Mediaounced the words. I also hear orthopod, when talking about an orthopeadic surgeon.

??

Gator

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 17, 2003

According to Webster's Ninth (unrelated to Beethoven's Ninth),

to dilate is to distend,

dilation is the act or action of dilating, and

dilatation is the state of being expanded/distended.

centimeter is spelled the same, only pronounced differently: sent - i - meter vs sont - a - meter (second has the French pronunciation of -ent ----- is that PC, these days???? )

OK, DH (banjo player and used to work in Xray dept) has just nit-picked w/me, and enlightened me as to the SONOMETER, which has to do with measuring waves and oscillations (as in ultrasound or instrument strings) . . . do a google search for more. I insisted you weren't looking for this particular info, just for pronunciations --- but then again, working OB, I figured you may be interested in this tidbit also. Best ----- D

fourbirds4me · Aug 17, 2003

OK, DH (banjo player and used to work in Xray dept) has just nit-picked w/me, and enlightened me as to the SONOMETER, which has to do with measuring waves and oscillations (as in ultrasound or instrument strings) . . . do a google search for more. I insisted you weren't looking for this particular info, just for pronunciations --- but then again, working OB, I figured you may be interested in this tidbit also. Best ----- D [/b]

So technically if I measured a cervix which was dilated to 3 CENTIMENTERS via sonography the client would have cervical DILATATION (or dilation? :confused: ) of 3 sonometers????

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 17, 2003

AAAAACCCCCKKKKKK!! Getting too technical for me!! (and I'm not an OB nurse) I just called a Radiologist friend about this. He said the sonometer is an old term, rarely used in Radiology or Imaging anymore. So I don't think you have to worry about it (unless any experienced OB colleagues do use this term routinely :)). DH did find a recent link to an example of a sonometer: http://nld.unibel.by/e/298/stat9.htm

Just FYI

The rest I leave for the OB nurses!

But Webster's stands, I believe, for the definitions!!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 18, 2003

I really don't care.

Where I work all these terminologies work fine. and everyone understands and is on the same page.

skdauriaRNC · Aug 18, 2003

agree with smiling blue..centimeter/sonometer same thing..

she is dilated xyz

her dilitation is xyz..it' the same and can be used however you like.

fourbirds4me · Aug 20, 2003

I basically understood the concept of them being the same... I was just wondering why one is preferred over the other and just trying to make conversation.

allnurses Guide · Aug 20, 2003

I always thought people said "sontameter" to sound sophisticated and it has always bugged me. It is centimeter.

Just a little peeve . . .

Just thought of another one . . . 21 years ago when I was pregnant with my eldest son, I took a childbirth class from a nurse who hated the term "cesarean section" as it sounded like you were cutting a woman up in sections, like butchering a cow or something. I've never used that term since then . . I always just say cesarean.

Funny how words affect us. :)

steph

June55Baby · Aug 21, 2003

stevielynn,

I too have a problem with the term section (cesarean section). It makes my toes curl when I hear a nurse say, "We're gonna 'section' her!"

I also have problem with the comment, "We're gonna pit her". Meaning of course give the lady pitocin.

I never could decide if I'd rather be sectioned or pitted! HaHa

fourbirds4me · Aug 22, 2003

I agree with the "section" term... However, I think it's better than "we're going to CUT her" ewwww LOL

OBNurseShelley · Sep 1, 2003

HAHA

The residents really bug me, they're so techniical and usually dont have much bedside manner, i had one tell a pt that we needed to "break her water because the pattern was bad and we could put a FSE on to watch the pattern better" SHE MIght as well have been speaking HEBREW to this english speaking pt, who had NO idea what she just said......ok im babbling,