Results

I.

Criteria Chart
A criteria chart was concluded to identify the recommended writing genre for
students majoring in health science. Refer to Appendix 1 for the criteria chart.
The point result for patient reports, factual research papers, grant proposals,
and follow-up reports are 32, 30, 30, and 28. Out of the four genres patient
reports received the highest score suggesting that it should be the recommended
writing genre.

II.

Interviews
The three nurses were interviewed to discuss patient reports as a common
genre of writing. Reports include collecting objective and subjective data, which
is compiled to diagnose the patient (C. Santiago, personal interview, October 28,
2014). The objective data is collected based on what can be seen, heard, smelt,
and felt. For example, if a nurse is assessing a patient and notices small red dots
all over the body, then that is what the nurse would write down on the patient
chart. On the other hand, subjective data is collected through communication
with the patient. For example, if the patients claim to be itchy then the nurse
would write down the subjective information onto the chart. While in school, the
nurses mainly had to fill out reports for clinical (L. Bell, personal interview,
October 27, 2014). Clinical is relating to the observation and treatment of actual
patients rather than theoretical or laboratory studies. The nurses mentioned
how being clear and detailed while filling out the patient reports can be helpful

to doctors, trying to treat the patients (A. Bridges, personal interview, October
27, 2014).
III.

Course Catalog
English 301 Advanced College Writing: Writing expository prose for nonEnglish majors. Precision in rhetoric and development of individual-style by
concentration on matters of diction, audience, emphasis and persuasion. Meets
upper-division writing requirements for approved majors (CSUF, 2013).
English 360 Technical Writing: Open to science and non-science students.
Advanced composition stressing professional rhetorical situations, genres and
styles. Professional writing, designing and editing, with attention to outlines and
abstracts, description, process explanation, instructions and fundamentals of
reports, feasibility studies, proposals, internal memos and letters (CSUF, 2013).

IV.

Online Research
On The Student Doctor Network forum, several doctors have replied with patient
reports as the most common writing used. Also the doctors said that its very
important to know how to fill out patients charts because the objective
information written on the charts can lead to an explanation and treatment for
the patient.

V.

Genre Conventions
The patients background information is vital before treatment, such as age,
weight, past health problems, family health problems, current temperature and
blood pressure. According to Purdue OWL there are three rules to keep in mind
when filling out a patients chart

1. Be objective: It is important to remove personal opinions and feelings

from the information.
2. Be precise: Accuracy is very important in the medical field and be being
clear about every procedure done will help the reader understand the
condition of the patient.
3. Remember your audience: When filling out patient charts it is
important to clear and accurate to avoid mistakes that can lead to losing
your license or death of a patient.

References
California State University Fullerton. (2013, August). 2013-2015 University Catalog.
Fullerton, CA: Titan Shops
Role Of Writing In Medical Career. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014, from
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/role-of-writing-in-medical-career.276090/
Welcome to the Purdue OWL. Purdue OWL: Medical Writing (n.d.). Retrieved November 15,
2014, from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/732/01/
Welcome to the Purdue OWL. Purdue OWL: Nursing (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2014,
from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/922/