Jackass "Professionals"

Mountain. Molehill. Some people still don't know the difference. Did they stop teaching this in school, because I swear we've an abundance of drama queens, the likes of which I've never seen. From time to time I write for a website that has a discussion board where people can come to flame one another. At least that seems to be the primary purpose. I thought it was established so we could help one another with questions and issues, but I think was misinformed. More often than not, I've seen people argue and insult one another over this issue or that, including..... PUNCTUATION! Yes, that's right, they yell at one another about commas and periods and colons, Oh My! Recently, I've seen a potential flame war erupt over the correct spelling of a celebrity's name. Yep, flame war over a typo. Could these self-proclaimed (since no one's credentials are ever checked) journalistic professionals be any more trivial, uneducated or absolutely out of their fucking minds? Jury's still out.


Yes, I understand the importance of pride in a profession. I'm a nurse for 'cris sake. And yeah, I take pride in my education and accomplishments. I know the merits of correctness in my work. It helps people stay alive. That being said, even if I make a mistake and I HAVE TO OFFICIALLY DOCUMENT IT BECAUSE IT'S SERIOUS OR HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING SERIOUS AND CAUSING HARM TO A HUMAN LIFE, no one rakes me over the coals. Well, okay, a doctor did once, but he got in trouble with the Chief of Staff over it (snicker). The point is: a mistake is a mistake. It's not intentional. I might get counseled, I might get asked for details -- and then I simply point them to my 'already-covered-my-ass nurse's notes.' We've all made mistakes. Lots of them. And damnit tomorrow when our feet hit the floor, we're going to make some more. I'm no Bible thumper, but I seem to remember a few passages in there about forgiveness and not condemning someone lest we be condemned? 


It's fine to point out an error. It's good to counsel someone about the error so they don't make it again. But do it with a little humanity for crying out loud. A doctor can write an order wrong, a person could enter it into the computer wrong (making a double error), the pharmacy can fill the drug order and never question it (and they should for blatent errors) and the mistake winds up in my hands. Guess who's liable for the mistake. Me! So you see, I understand errors. I understand the right and wrong way to talk to someone about an error. People can be kind or they can stand on the "good intentions"  road to Hell. I've heard it's paved.


I've seen a nurse kill a patient with a blatent med error. I've seen patients end up in ICU over a med error or missed lab result. THESE are the THINGS to get upset over..... not apostrophes and typos. Makes me wonder just how "educated" and "experienced" these so-called professionals really are. Could they be so insecure in their own talents, that they have to pick on someone else to make them feel better about their own shortcomings? My guess is this, because it's usually true. Whatever it is, they need to stop acting like jackasses.