I cant spell the best and I would like to know if I could still be a great EMT if I cant spell good. I am working on it every day but that is my number one concern is writing a PCR. I plan to start applying for EMT jobs but is my spelling going to keep me from getting hired
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Pittsburgh77
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Lol, not only do I have horrible handwriting BUT I have horrible spelling as well! Luckily, we use EMS Charts [online PCRs]
I'd also recommend using an spell check App if you have a smart phone or anything. So I wouldn't really stress it too much.
I'd also recommend using an spell check App if you have a smart phone or anything. So I wouldn't really stress it too much.
adamjh3
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In a word, yes.
As much as it sucks, paperwork is probably the most important part of the job. PCRs are how your employer gets paid and how you, in turn, get paid.
Your English doesn't have to be perfect, but do you want a narrative rife with spelling and grammatical errors in front of a court of law? One would lose credibility fairly quickly when the jury is laughing while making their way through said narrative.
However, the best thing you can do is what you are doing; Work on it. Worst case scenario you'll have to keep a dictionary with you at work, and that would slow down your paperwork immensely.
As much as it sucks, paperwork is probably the most important part of the job. PCRs are how your employer gets paid and how you, in turn, get paid.
Your English doesn't have to be perfect, but do you want a narrative rife with spelling and grammatical errors in front of a court of law? One would lose credibility fairly quickly when the jury is laughing while making their way through said narrative.
However, the best thing you can do is what you are doing; Work on it. Worst case scenario you'll have to keep a dictionary with you at work, and that would slow down your paperwork immensely.
C.T.E.M.R.
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Shishkabob
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I'm calling shens on the authenticity of the poster.
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TransportJockey
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Linuss, if you're doing it just by name... This is one job that ABC actually means something
He just had the misfortune of making this his first post I think
JJR512
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Poor spelling should not keep you from getting hired. The only example of your spelling an employer should have prior to hiring you is your resume, application, and possibly a cover letter as well. If you're smart, you will run your resume (and cover letter if applicable) through a spelling and grammar checker before printing, faxing, or emailing it. As for your application, just take your time. Take it home and fill it out there; don't do it on the spot if you think it might be trouble. You could ask for another one "for a friend", just in case you make any gross errors. Take your time, go slow, and be careful.
Once you get hired, it's not a huge deal. You probably won't get fired for bad spelling if that's your only problem. As long as someone can read your reports and understand what you mean, you should be fine.
If you have to write down medications, though, some extra caution might be called for here. If you're writing names from pill bottles or prescriptions, write them letter by letter. If you're writing down what someone tells you, write "(phon.)" after each one, like this:
That lets someone know that you spelled it phonetically, meaning it's your best guess on how it's spelled based on how it sounds. This is important for meds because there are some that if you get a few letters wrong, you've actually correctly spelled some other medication. Or you might spell something wrong enough that nobody can figure out what you meant.
You already seem to know that I is always capitalized, and you also seem to know that sentences always start with a capital letter, so you're already slightly better than the average internet forum poster.
LucidResq
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A dyslexic former coworker purchased a small electronic dictionary and pulled it out every time she completed a PCR. She had severe dyslexia, but managed to keep her reports nearly error free. Definitely took her more time to fill out a report than most, but she got the job done.
ShannahQuilts
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That makes a lot of sense. I'm a reasonably good speller, but I do look things up, especially technical terms. Having a resource in my pocket would be very helpful.
Another thing I find to be sometimes useful is to find a way to break up a word into pronounceable bits that helps me remember the spelling. This is not the same thing as syllables. Asthma becomes As-Th-Ma. It's the best way for me to keep it straight.
Habit is a huge help, as well. I once worked for a neuropsychologist, and reports had a certain rhythm to them. They always started out with the same wording, covered topics in the same order. As you go on with your documenting, you'll get in a rhythm that will help you more quickly spell things "well enough."
Another thing I find to be sometimes useful is to find a way to break up a word into pronounceable bits that helps me remember the spelling. This is not the same thing as syllables. Asthma becomes As-Th-Ma. It's the best way for me to keep it straight.
Habit is a huge help, as well. I once worked for a neuropsychologist, and reports had a certain rhythm to them. They always started out with the same wording, covered topics in the same order. As you go on with your documenting, you'll get in a rhythm that will help you more quickly spell things "well enough."
Aidey
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Have any of you ever had a documentation lecture done by a lawyer? There is no such thing as good enough when it comes to lawyers. They will use anything and everything against you if that is what it comes to. They really like to use the argument "Well if you did A wrong, how do we know you did B right?". An example "If you can't even spell diazepam, how do we know you know how to recognize the names of the medications you are authorized give?"
Yes, I am aware that is a logical fallacy, but it is the tactic they use. And it works. If they can make someone look bad because of one thing, they can cast the person in a bad light overall. A good lawyer can turn a misspelling into you being an uneducated, negligent, inattentive provider who isn't thorough and doesn't care about anything. I am not exaggerating, though it may sound like it.
We had a lawyer come in do a lecture, and then we did some scenarios where real reports were presented and the person who wrote it had to defend it to the lawyer. It wasn't pretty, she ate us all alive. She got you so flustered going over abbreviations, medical words, spelling, grammar and handwriting that you were upside down and sideways by the time she finished, and these weren't even cases where there was something you had to actually defend yourself against.
Never ever misspell the names of diseases, medications or people. Even if it means you have to spend 20 minutes looking up how to spell things correctly.
Something to keep in mind, especially if you work for a big company, is that your reports could be subpoenaed without you ever hearing a peep about it. Our company QI/QA person advised us that reports are subpoenaed frequently by lawyers on fishing expeditions, and that the provider never hears about it unless it goes to court, or they were found to have violated policy/protocol.
Yes, I am aware that is a logical fallacy, but it is the tactic they use. And it works. If they can make someone look bad because of one thing, they can cast the person in a bad light overall. A good lawyer can turn a misspelling into you being an uneducated, negligent, inattentive provider who isn't thorough and doesn't care about anything. I am not exaggerating, though it may sound like it.
We had a lawyer come in do a lecture, and then we did some scenarios where real reports were presented and the person who wrote it had to defend it to the lawyer. It wasn't pretty, she ate us all alive. She got you so flustered going over abbreviations, medical words, spelling, grammar and handwriting that you were upside down and sideways by the time she finished, and these weren't even cases where there was something you had to actually defend yourself against.
Never ever misspell the names of diseases, medications or people. Even if it means you have to spend 20 minutes looking up how to spell things correctly.
Something to keep in mind, especially if you work for a big company, is that your reports could be subpoenaed without you ever hearing a peep about it. Our company QI/QA person advised us that reports are subpoenaed frequently by lawyers on fishing expeditions, and that the provider never hears about it unless it goes to court, or they were found to have violated policy/protocol.
SanDiegoEmt7
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SanDiegoEmt7
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if you work for a private company.
TransportJockey
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Even for other types. If it's a hospital based they're gonna want to get paid as well, my municipal service will put you on probation after you've finished your probationary period if your reports are continuously bad enough that they can't bill from them. I'm sure some FDs are that way too
I probably am misunderstanding what you're saying. You mean a patient goes to lawyer in hopes of having some case against ambulance company? Otherwise reports are covered under patient/client privilege and any subpoenaed get quashed in court.
fortsmithman
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Except when the reports are subpoena'd by the crown prosecutors office as evidence in a criminal case. We have been told by superiors to write the PCR's as if they are going to be used in criminal proceedings.
I am not a lawyer but I would still say it's covered under patient/client privilege unless knowing the information is overwhelming in public interest sufficient to violate patient/client privileged such as many millions will be harmed if we do not get this information.