Why some nurses use the word "endorsement"?

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

Most nurses where I work usually say: I have endorsed that to the next shift, or the nurse have already endorsed that information to me. This is kind of funny because the word endorsement at least in the US is associated with support, approval, encouragement, agreement and a few others. But not with simply notifying or instructing which a change shift report is. So this is not incorrect but it's a funny way to use this word. Very formal or serious I guess? Is that an English thing? Not sure. Any comments on that? 

[morte, LPN, LVN]

It literally means to hand over, which is what passing report is.

[klone, MSN, RN]

From Merriam-Webster, 3rd definition:

3 medical : to report or note the presence of (a symptom)He endorsed nausea without emesis and denied any associated shortness of breath.

I think it's kind of awkward. Must be a regional thing there. 

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

2 hours ago, klone said:

From Merriam-Webster, 3rd definition:

3 medical : to report or note the presence of (a symptom)He endorsed nausea without emesis and denied any associated shortness of breath.

I think it's kind of awkward. Must be a regional thing there. 

Other nurses say this with such confidence but I'm not convinced. This is a weird use for the word endorsement. I bet you this is a England's expression that somehow made it to the US. I'll get to the bottom of this someday...

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

Other nurses say this with such confidence but I'm not convinced. This is a weird use for the word endorsement. I bet you this is a England's expression that somehow made it to the US. I'll get to the bottom of this someday...

Pretty common lingo in a review of systems (ROS). As in, "patient endorses chest pain, denies dizziness, endorses palpitations," etc. I see it all the time in documentation. 

[Orion81RN]

Like with checks, you sign over responsibility for the care of patients. I don’t know where it started being used that way in nursing. I just read in an old AN thread one person say they learned it from Filipino nurses. That got me thinking how much of my education early on was from Filipino nurses. I always have used it when referring to signing over responsibility of a part of pt care that still needs to be completed. The oncoming nurse is accepting that sign over. I’m curious at the legal ramifications of this, now. I think I will use “sign over” from now on. 

[JKL33]

59 minutes ago, Lunah said:

Pretty common lingo in a review of systems (ROS). As in, "patient endorses chest pain, denies dizziness, endorses palpitations," etc. I see it all the time in documentation. 

Yes, and I think it's actually a bit better than "admits to," as if someone got caught shoplifting or something. ?

But "Pt reports...." works just fine.

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

4 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Yes, and I think it's actually a bit better than "admits to," as if someone got caught shoplifting or something. ?

But "Pt reports...." works just fine.

Yes, the patient is malodorous, edentulous and a bad historian and I endorse that

[NursLitt, BSN]

It's synonymous with "gave report to". You're correct as to its denotation, but its use in healthcare is decades old. Think of it as idiomatic.

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

1 hour ago, NursLitt said:

It's synonymous with "gave report to". You're correct as to its denotation, but its use in healthcare is decades old. Think of it as idiomatic.

I bet this is an English expression that somehow made it to the US

[JKL33]

On 9/12/2021 at 10:06 AM, klone said:

3 medical : to report or note the presence of (a symptom)He endorsed nausea without emesis and denied any associated shortness of breath.

On 9/12/2021 at 2:38 PM, Lunah said:

Pretty common lingo in a review of systems (ROS).

Was thinking about this again and realized why I kind of like the word.

"Reports" -- we usually use that for what the patient states/reason for visit, whereas in the ROS there are often other positives that people agree with/admit/realize only after being asked. 

There isn't a great word for "remembered or recognized upon questioning."

So I think it would be interesting if that were the use of endorsed. Too bad it isn't. ?

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

as long as my paycheck is endorsed I don't really care ?