What do you think of nurses who can't spell medical terms?

Published

Honestly, no personal attacks, but im curious..

I see posters on this forum who can't spell "cough" or "aspirin" or "Morphine" correctly.. and it really concerns me. I'm not really a grammar nazi, but when someone who claims to be an RN for a number of years and can't spell basic medicine or procedures, it makes me wonder how much harder it makes the job for their co-workers.

Thoughts?

Everyone has their strengths/weaknesses. I have a nursing school friend who was so great in clinical... confident, could do any procedure like it was incredibly easy, she seemed to know everything when talking to her... but had her in an online class where we had to post assignments and she could not compose a coherent written sentence to save her life. I'd take her as my nurse anytime though!

I agree with the poster who said prounoucing the words wrong is even worse. I agree! So much of school was reading material on your own and sometimes I hear a doctor or another nurse say a word I've been pronoucing incorrectly all this time, and it's so embarrassing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Grammar freaks belong behind a desk or book.

Herein lies the crux of the problem. You can at least make an effort,people are going to read your writing- don't give them a difficult time in trying to decipher your codes.

Not everyone spells great but please don't try to minimise the consequences of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
" Shut the door...:smokin:

Remember that advert, "Shut the front door.". Sneaky people.:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
As long as other people can make it out and I know what the heck I am talking about, what's the problem? Some people struggle with spelling.

Exactly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Remember that advert, "Shut the front door.". Sneaky people.:D

See, some just have trouble with spelling...:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The mistake that really gets on my nerves is loose and lose! So many people write loose when they should spell it as lose :o. Does my head in :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I think their human, just like me to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

we still hand write medical and nursing notes. My typing is not good but my spelling is. I know some comments here seem to brush spelling aside but I think it's important to get it correct. Spell a drug name wrong in untidy handwriting and that could lead to a drug error. If your notes end up in court, some legal person will have a field day with spelling errors. Some spelling errors also indicate that the person writing has no idea what they are talking about...you want to be a bit careful, no need to be over the top and ridicule people but remember that bad spelling can have implications even if you are a damn good nurse!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Trauma and Psychiatry.

I get the point. . . and I can understand the irritation if a nurse is just careless and makes no effort to ensure that her spelling and grammer is correct. On the other hand, if the nurse is concientious and has a genuine problem spelling certain medical terminology, and it is not making way for misinterpretation of a telephone order or misinterpretation of an issue or proceedure I will not get bent out of shape over it. I would prefer to have a nurse who is concietious and has a problem spelling, than a nurse who has perfect diction and spelling and is careless with proceedural techniques and lacks empathy for his/her patients. On the other hand, this post should encourage all of us as nurses to be cognizant of our short coming(s) as far as spelling and grammer is concerned. I am far from perfect with either, but I certainly will be more mindful. Thank you for starting this thread it made for constructive discussion is an eye opener for me personally!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi again. I Googled dilation and dilatation. It seems both mean the same and both are acceptable? Is that correct? To be honest I was to lazy to do more than quickly peruse the answer. You guys do the research for me, ha ha.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.
yes!!! that!

omg, i thought it was just me!

i promise you i was taught to spell it as one word!

and what about "everytime"?

i thought that was one word too!

of course, now that i'm looking at it-- it does look wonky!

btw, i distinctly recall being taught to spell "ice cream" as "ice-cream" and "halloween" as "hallowe'en".

sorry to get off topic.

it struck a chord with me!

wait! wait! wait! hold the phone! it isn't!?!

o_o toast on a sandwich!! i feel so stupid right now. i always thought it was one word. :banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What's even worse is someone who can't do simple math.Ever wonder where these

people went to school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion