Words You Hate

[OyWithThePoodles]

Is there a medical word that you absolutely hate? Or one that you can never seem to pronounce correctly?

Hate:

• Meatus. (Eww)
• Gargle.

Mispronounce:

Prophylaxis. I ALWAYS say prophylaxicks.

I have a co-worker that says Cefazolin wrong and is convinced she is right. Drives me nuts.

[AspiringNurseMW]

-Orientate. It's just wrong English.

-O2 stat. Why people use it is beyond me.

-Dilitation.

I HATE dilatation!!!!

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I second o2 "stat." Makes me homicidal.

I worked with multiple educated healthcare professionals who told me the patient was now on a "non-breather." (uhh, that's a problem...)

Although, I must say - I'm a TERRIBLE pronouncer. I'm very well read and when I'm watching Jeopardy! I tend to mispronounce all kinds of stuff because I've only read it but not heard it.

[Sassy-Kat]

Hate the word Whatnot...makes me wanna slap someone...

[luvsltcrn]

Orientate! I know it's technically also a correct version of the word, but it's like nails on a chalkboard to me.

This!!! Orientate makes me crazy!!!!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Not medical, but I HATE the word delish.

Also, can't pronounce 'practice exam.' Practice, fine. Exam, fine. Practice + exam = practix exam. Every. Time.

Can't say Arnold Palmer. Can say Arnold. Can say Palmer.

Can't say Arnold Palmer.

[FutureNurse001]

It's gotta be diarrhea. Not fun to say or read when written.

[Double Dunker]

Pulmonary toilet. I don't know if anybody uses it? I think I last heard it in maybe nursing school?

One of our hospitalists uses it all the time. I hate it because it makes no sense.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Pulmonary toilet. I don't know if anybody uses it? I think I last heard it in maybe nursing school?

We were taught toilette (not toilet), with the French pronunciation. (twa LET)

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Actually heard a surgeon tell a postop patient they were going to check his tummy. Like really?

They say we should speak the pt's lingo, LOL.

I recall a resident asking a post-op pt "Did you fart?" The pt just looked at him and got all embarrassed, feared she'd caused a stink. I had a great laugh over that.

Same res asked that of another pt - pt replied "I most certainly did not!" At that point, I took Res aside and suggested he be more explicit - "Have you been able to fart/break wind/pass gas/make wind since your operation?" He took the point and we both laughed. Ha Ha.

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

Sputum! 

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Any body fluid described as a food: cherry colored urine, current jelly stools, coffee grounds emesis.

And any I time I hear or read frank bleeding, i think of chuck steak.

[dec2007]

I hate when educated people say "orientate" instead of "orient".