A nurse with a speech impediment

Nurses General Nursing

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I never realized how hard it would be to find a job when I have a speech impediment. I've been in the nursing field for about 5 years now, stair stepping from CNA --> CMA --> LVN and now ADN-RN. I stutter. I've always stuttered ever since I was young. It hasn't really bothered me until lately. It's what i'm starting to believe is to blame for me not being able to land a hospital job. I've been an RN for about 6 months now and I sound really good on paper. When it comes to the interview, however, regardless of how comfortable I am with the interviewer I always stutter a little bit. I want to know can that make or break a decision for someone to hire me? I currently work in an LTAC/SNF and care for the Geriatric Population for the most part. I talk to people all day, every day from communicating with doctors and family members to explaining procedures to my patients. I just don't understand and it's starting to get discouraging. I've worked really hard in nursing school and I don't want to believe that my hard work was done in vein. Any advice or encouraging words would be helpful at this point. My worst fear is that I don't land the job of my dreams because I either get too anxious or excited, stutter, and the interviewer lose interest in the interview all together.

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I never realized how hard it would be to find a job when I have a speech impediment. I've been in the nursing field for about 5 years now, stair stepping from CNA --> CMA --> LVN and now ADN-RN. I stutter. I've always stuttered ever since I was young. It hasn't really bothered me until lately. It's what i'm starting to believe is to blame for me not being able to land a hospital job. I've been an RN for about 6 months now and I sound really good on paper. When it comes to the interview, however, regardless of how comfortable I am with the interviewer I always stutter a little bit. I want to know can that make or break a decision for someone to hire me? I currently work in an LTAC/SNF and care for the Geriatric Population for the most part. I talk to people all day, every day from communicating with doctors and family members to explaining procedures to my patients. I just don't understand and it's starting to get discouraging. I've worked really hard in nursing school and I don't want to believe that my hard work was done in vein. Any advice or encouraging words would be helpful at this point. My worst fear is that I don't land the job of my dreams because I either get too anxious or excited, stutter, and the interviewer lose interest in the interview all together.

It can be hard to break into acute care with only SNF experience. Your stuttering may have nothing to do with it.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Any advice or encouraging words would be helpful at this point.

Obviously, you are a successful, determined individual, Nurse Tickles.

Without going into great detail of how I've overcome my very own impediments ("There's a story behind it, but it's not very interesting."), please allow me to encourage you to work on your affliction with practice, practice, and more practice.

Here's a website that has some basic bones information:

3 Ways to Stop Stuttering - wikiHow

There are others. If you want, we can discuss some specifics. For now, digest this information and see what you think.

Good luck to you, Nurse Tickles!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Remember too that what you may think is your dream job may actually turn out to be a nightmare.

You are probably very aware of the push for acute care especially to meet the ever increasing demands of patient satisfaction scores.

If not, google Press Ganey and peek into my acute care nightmares. :zombie:

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The job that i'm looking into is for NICU.

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The job that i'm looking into is for NICU.

That really is a difficult specialty to break into, as most sick people are elderly- not babies. And while it's not impossible to land an NICU job with an ADN, it might benefit you to go ahead and get your BSN since you have something so specific and competitive in mind.

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That really is a difficult specialty to break into, as most sick people are elderly- not babies. And while it's not impossible to land an NICU job with an ADN, it might benefit you to go ahead and get your BSN since you have something so specific and competitive in mind.

I thought the same thing too, I'm currently enrolled in an online RN-BSN program, anticipating graduation July 2017 :).

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Are you open to relocating? I know some NICU's that will take ADN nurses gladly. Great units.

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Are you open to relocating? I know some NICU's that will take ADN nurses gladly. Great units.

Depends on where it is. I'm near the Texas Gulf Coast region.

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It can be hard to break into acute care with only SNF experience. Your stuttering may have nothing to do with it.

I agree with your statement, especially since she want to work in the NICU. Jumping from the snf to the NICU is a big jump, maybe you could try a less acute area in the hospital and then make a transfer after you get some experience.

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Your studder is not the problem, the type of unit you are attempting to get hired into is the problem.

I knew a nurse with only 1 arm, 1 ARM! A studder should not be an issue.

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My heart goes out to you, I would like to tell you that your stutter is not a factor keeping you from getting the job you are applying for (as it shouldn't be), but I don't know the minds of the people interviewing you. But aside from that, the NICU is really hard to get into depending on the area you are in. Do you have your CCRN, ACLS, BLS, PALS certification? Do you have any hospital med/surg or acute care experience? In my area all of those are required, along with a BSN or enrollment in a BSN program within 1 year of employment and completion in two. However good you think your resume is, it can be better. You seem determined, keep trying, you'll get it. How does the saying go.....seek and you shall find!

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