Opinion

Becoming a nurse involves learning a whole new language

For someone unaccustomed to working in a hospital environment, being suddenly bombarded by the legions of acronyms used on hospital wards can be a little overwhelming.

After a few months, most nurses are well versed in using acronyms, and use them every day without noticing. See how many of these you can identify – there’s no prize apart from the realisation of just how extensive this strange vocabulary of ours is.

I had a TDS POC, but I had a fall with LOC as a result of a TIA and was FOF by my carers.

On admission to hospital I had a CT, MRI, ECG and EEG. They found I had fractured my HOF so badly I needed a THR and had to be NBM before surgery.

They took blood, and although my FBC and Us & Es were fine, my CRP was high; it turns out I had a UTI. Before the op they took my BP and BMs – I am at risk of T2DM due to my high BMI.

Following the operation, I got MRSA and also got an LRTI which developed into HAP for which I got IVI AB. I started hallucinating so the SHO carried out a MOCA and found my cognition was poor so he thought I had LBD and needed an MHA assessment.

In the end the team decided DOLS under the MCA was a better option. Once they had found an IMCA (I have no NOK), they held a BIM where my DNAR status was considered. It turns out I was just delirious, but that made me aggressive so they had to give me IM Lorazepam. I was also prescribed haloperidol 0.5mg BD but I got NMS (i.e. my CK levels were high) so they looked up the BNF for alternatives.

Personally, I think the CQC, NMC and GMC should investigate the whole debacle. Luckily, I got better and was eventually MFFD. I had an OT and PT Ax and it was decided I needed a QDS POC, lucky I qualify for CHC!

About the author

Niall O’Loingsigh is a final year mental health nursing student at the University of the West of England