Nurse’s Guide to Grammar

By Ginyn Noble


Having countless hours spent in language courses, it would be frankly inapt for us to commit sins against the simplest grammar and sentence construction rules repeatedly. Especially as nurses who interact with various people during our work, we, in the College of Nursing, must have speaking skills that are competent enough for the privilege of carrying the University’s and the College’s name. These are simple yet stern reminders from all of us in the NJ staff.

INCORRECT: did not/didn’t + past form of the verb (as in didn’t had, didn’t wanted, did not formed)
WHY: redundant past
CORRECT: did not/didn’t + base form of the verb (as in didn’t have, didn’t want, did not form)
Example: Because she didn’t observe the patient’s heart rate during potassium chloride IV push, the patient with cardiovascular disease in the CCU expired.

INCORRECT: irregardless
WHY: “double negative” (ir- and -less)
CORRECT: regardless
Example: In an ideal setting, there is a need to identify the patient every time before administering medications, regardless if you are already familiar with the patient.

Remember, Thomasian nurses, proficiency is imbued in competence, one of our core values. Be proficient; be competent; be a true Thomasian.