Poll of the Day > So in Grey's Anatomy when someone is shot, they say "GSW"

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like "GSW to the left leg" or whatever

But isn't it quicker to say "gun shot wound"?

Seems like that half second of time is being wasted on dumb things
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I made this exact comment to my wife while she was watching it

It's a very dumb show
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Golden state warriors to the left leg

gsdub
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It's for marketing purposes... they don't want impressionable conservatives thinking guns actually hurt people.
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Would be even quicker to say "shooting to left leg".
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SKARDAVNELNATE posted...

Would be even quicker to say "shooting to left leg".

Or just, "shot on left leg".

Idiot doctors. I could do their jerbs
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Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality
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shadowsword87 posted...

Or just, "shot on left leg".

Given their line of work that could also refer to an injection site. The purpose of gsw is that it is distinct in its meaning and can't be mistaken for another frequently used phrase. "Shooting" shares these characteristics whereas "shot" might be too generic sounding.
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Mead posted...

Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality

ikr?

most of the time the surgeons are doing the shit nurses would do. it's stupid as fuck.

i love it.
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It's possible that they could just say it that way because they've gotten used to WRITING it that way on official reports and documentation. Because while "GSW" might have one syllable more than just saying "gun shot wound", it's still 11 characters shorter.

There's also the possibility it could be used as a deliberate code to mislead non-medical personnel who might overhear a conversation. For example, hospital PA systems will refer to "Code Blue" (ie, patient's heart has stopped), but they also have codes for fire (Code Red), chemical spills (Code Orange), and someone armed and dangerous on the premises (Code Silver). In each case they COULD just say straight up what's being referenced, but by putting it in code they obfuscate it a bit from the general public (and, in theory, prevent patients or visitors from panicking if they hear that there's a fire somewhere or someone with a gun might start shooting.

GSW isn't all that subtle a code phrase, but if you just overhear it in passing, you might not realize what it's short for unless you're really paying attention.


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I think the wrong assumption is that acronyms are necessarily for reducing the syllabic workload. rather, I think it's more like they become their own term which is independent of the underlying words. it more easily brings to mind the right context and it's implications than just the mundane words that it's composed of.
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Mead posted...

Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality

What do doctors actually do

I mean, that's what is said in real life so. . .

SkynyrdRocker posted...

Mead posted...

Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality

What do doctors actually do

Look up your symptoms on webmd

MICHALECOLE posted...

SkynyrdRocker posted...

Mead posted...

Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality

What do doctors actually do

Look up your symptoms on webmd

as a doctor, i can confirm this is what i do

i get paid six figures
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Greenfox111 posted...

MICHALECOLE posted...

SkynyrdRocker posted...

Mead posted...

Especially since 90% of what you see done in those shows is done by nurses and techs in reality

What do doctors actually do

Look up your symptoms on webmd

as a doctor, i can confirm this is what i do

i get paid six figures

Wait but I can do that too

That'd be funny, go on webmd and your symptom checker says you've been shot.
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Lokarin posted...

That'd be funny, go on webmd and your symptom checker says you've been shot.

I typed in gun shot wound as my symptom and it told me I had cancer.