Dietitians in Nutrition Support: DNS Podcast · Hosted by Christina Rollins, RDN

Rethinking the Language of Nutrition Support: A Conversation with Terese Scollard, MBA, RDN

·29 min·2 clips

Terese uncovers that 'bridle' was used in medieval times as a punishment device for women called scolds.

Christina Rollins hosts this episode of the DNS Podcast, featuring registered dietitian and nutrition support leader Terese Scollard. Scollard authored a 2022 letter in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition challenging the term "bridle" for nasal feeding tube retention devices. Her critique stems from decades of clinical experience and a deep concern for patient-centered language. Scollard first encountered the device in the early 1980s on an elderly patient and was unsettled by its appearance and name. She connects the term to animal husbandry, recalling its use for controlling horses and sheep from her rural upbringing. A pivotal moment occurred when a respected nurse stated she needed to "bridle" a patient who repeatedly pulled out her tube. Scollard researched the term's history, discovering the "scold's bridle," a medieval punishment device used to silence people, primarily women. She argues the term carries historical baggage of control and dehumanization. Manufacturers have historically used "bridle" in product branding, and the term appears frequently in clinical literature, with Scollard noting 39 uses in one journal. She emphasizes that the modern device, which uses magnets and soft tubing, no longer resembles an animal bridle. Alternative, descriptive terms she suggests include "nasal feeding tube retention device" or "enteral loop securement device." Scollard successfully advocated for removing the term from her own hospital's order sets, policies, and purchasing systems by aligning the change with the organization's mission and values. She reports that ASPEN, the publishing society for JPEN, is considering excluding the term from its journals. Scollard broadens the discussion to other problematic clinical vernacular, like calling a patient a "train wreck" or a "frequent flyer." She stresses that such language can create distance, undermine trust, and make patients feel like objects. The conversation highlights the power of words to convey the value placed on a human being. Scollard, now retired and experiencing healthcare as a patient, notes the subtle shift in how she is perceived without her "clinician's cloak." The episode maintains an educational and conversational tone, blending personal narrative with practical advocacy. It thoughtfully explores the ethics of medical terminology without being accusatory. Clinical dietitians, nurses, and healthcare professionals interested in patient dignity, communication, and equity would find this discussion highly relevant. Listeners seeking purely technical or procedural content on nutrition support might find the focus on semantics less directly applicable.

As heard by us

A narrow terminology debate with a useful point about clarity and respect.

The episode keeps its focus on one word, and that restraint works. Therese Scholar argues for moving away from a label that can carry the wrong associations and toward language that describes the device more plainly.

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Why you'd press play

When one clinical label starts sounding wrong in the room.

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