Grammar (october 17th)

Question

Would you correct There is a safety on the morphine drip so that the patient doesn't get too much.   This hospital is better equipped for that type of surgery.   Can one differentiate from doctor and nurse?   Can one distinguish between doctor and nurse? I thank you in advance

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

You try first and then we'll help you afterwards.

John

Anonymous · Answer

There is a safety pin on the morphine drip so that the patient doesn't get too big a dose.

This hospital is better equipped for that type of surgery.

Can one differentiate doctor from nurse? Don't know which is correct

Can one distinguish between doctor and nurse?

Regards · Answer

Hi,

There's a safety pin on the morphine's drip to prevent giving an excessive dose to the patient.

This hospital is better equipped for that type of surgery.

Can one / someone distinguish between a doctor and nurse?

Regards

JohnParis · Answer

There's a safety mechanism on the morphine drip that prevents giving an excessive dose to the patient. You should not say safety pin because, while the mechanism might look like a pin, a safety pin is a pin with a point that is bent back to the head and is held in a guard when closed. They are still used to fasten closed some bandages and baby diapers.

This hospital is better equipped for that type of surgery. OK

Can one / someone distinguish between a doctor and nurse? Incorrect.

This sentence is awkward and goes against common sense.

The question would be better asked as:

How does one tell (know, see) the difference between a doctor and a nurse?

Please come back with additional questions when you have them.

John

Dimsumexpress · Answer

I agree with John P. "Safety Pin" sounds incorrect to me as well, so I did some reading up and I got this excerpt from an article written by a "self-proclaimed " doctor: The dosage and safety work this way:

A drip is set up in a machine to deliver a specified amount over a designated time. Example: 10 mg morphine per hour...... 2 mg morph every 10 mins... etc. There is usually what is called a lock out dose that insures only a certain amount can be delivered over a specific time like 2 mg of morph every 10 mins to a max of 10 mg in one hour. It differs for every patient and their condition. Morphine is a respiratory depressant and you have to watch respiratory patients very closely when administering it.

JohnParisCan one / someone distinguish between a doctor and nurse? Incorrect.

Also agreed, for the same reason that we "differentiate" a certain property, i.e. the responsibility between A and B. Without the green part, the whole sentence sounds awkward indeed. We can, however say: How does one distinguish a doctor from a nurse?
Distinguish / differentiate / tell: all work within the "dorcotrt and nurse" context. The key is in the paraphrasing and verb choice, as well as picking the correct preposition for the construction.. i.e. "Tell difference between.../ distinguish A from B.

Canadian45 · Answer

JohnParisCan one distinguish between a doctor and nurse? Incorrect.

This sentence is awkward and goes against common sense.

[/quote

I don't agree that the above sentence is incorrect.

You just have to have an appropriate situation in which to ask that question.

For example, you may have been observing a situation with one or more doctors or nurses, but due to their dress or to what they have been doing or not doing you don't know what (s)he is/they are. So you can ask that question.

A. Can one distiguish between (a) doctor and nurse.

B. No you can't, at least not by just watching them have lunch together.

The question would be better asked as:

How does one tell (know, see) the difference between a doctor and a nurse?

That's a different question.

Grammar (october 17th)

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