Is English required to be an RN?

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

Dear David, I was referring to 100% bonafide Americans! No, I would not want to try to work in a foreign country and learn the language; my grammar would probably cause way too much confusion!

I am sure you were, but my post is directed at those who have openly criticized foreign doctors for their level of English.

husker-nurse, LPN, LVN · Jul 16, 2004

At the hosptal where I work Med-Nephro, every Nephro Dr. in a particular group is foreign-born, Yes, I have a hard time understanding their English. The orders take skill to decipher. I would not trade them for the world, for the most part, their bedside manner is wonderful and they are amazing with their collective knowledge!

Energizer Bunny · Jul 16, 2004

Oh Dear God here we go again. GET OVER IT! It's a bulletin board....a relaxed, comfortable area for all of us to go and not be crucified for petty little things such as grammar and spelling.

BORI-BSNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2004

Have any of those who criticize the English of foreigners ever tried working in a foreign country?
Working in a language that is not your own is scary. A heavy accent or incorrect grammar doesn't automatically mean that the person doesn't understand what's going on around them.
I work in France with what I feel is a good functional level of French, but there are days when I'm tired or stressed when to speak French is more difficult than on other days and I might search for certain words. My French colleagues are nothing but helpful.
You have foreign personnel because you can't recruit enough of your own, be grateful for them. And please, a little more tolerance.

:) DAVID, I TOTALLY AGREED WITH YOU!!

HAHAHAHAHAHA :rotfl:

You have foreign personnel because you can't recruit enough of your own, be grateful for them. And please, a little more tolerance

Specially for this......I think that if you are working with deficient english person, just help her or him. I've been hearing our President(U.S.A.) speaking spanish and I feel very proud of him! and isn't a good spanish...I mean i do understand that to be an RN professional we have to speak and written a good english, but i think that anyone out there isn't PERFECT!! :rolleyes:

God bless you all! I enjoy this site it is my favorite!

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 19, 2004

excuse me if i am wrong, but i thought this board was informal. i wasn't aware that we were required to write text book essays when posting a topic. i agree that how you communicate on paper (especially charting) leaves an impression, but people don't post on this board just to worry about being criticized if what they type isn't perfect. it takes away from the atmosphere that allnurses has provided, which is an environment that people can feel comfortable venting/discussing things they normally couldn't at work. just my 5 cents.

I'm embarrassed by the serious lack of language skills I see on this website. It appears that many of us practice nursing on the trade level as opposed to the other end of the professional continuum. When we don't have other cues, the language that you enter is even more important than ever. Is is so difficult to spell the plural of patient as patients (as opposed to patient's) I saw on another thread today. If you're too lazy to express yourself clearly then I wonder what other areas of life you express with such laxness.

zicovico · Jul 19, 2004

I have noticed from day one in here that many RNs use some of the poorest English and grammar I have ever seen. I am sure that we were required to take English as a requirement to graduate from nursing school. Did we leave it in the classroom, or is it that it was never really learned? I see from the charts I read at work that the case is the same in actual practice. I see so much chatroomease that it makes me sick to read some of the postings in here. Are we professionals that want to sound the part or simply chatroom fools? I for one at least try to sound and act professional. As RNs we have a reputation to be knowledgable and professional. Where are you?

I think you are somewhat being judgmental. It is completely wrong and incomprehensible to judge someone's ability to perform based on his or her poor English and grammar. There is a clear distinction between practical and theory. Let's get that straight. The RNs who may not have all the grammar in the world may be the very best when it comes to the practical applications of medical concepts and principles. I already sense some sentiments in a person of your nature. If I were an LPN or CNA, I wouldn't work for you.

zicovico · Jul 19, 2004

Yes, I have noticed that also, but not as much as foreign MDs and their discharge summaries! Ever read any of those nightmares? Wrong subject, wrong verb, run-on sentances, and so on. We used to laugh about them in the nursing home where I worked! If we can't enforce English as a language, we most certainly can't assume that it will be used in a professional way!

Why the attack against foreign MDs? I guess you are talking about their accent or their way of communicating. "We used to laugh about them in the nursing home where I worked!" It is professional and ethical to laugh at somebody because of the way he or she talks? I think such unprofessional and primitive behavior should be shun in the Nursing profession.

zicovico · Jul 19, 2004

We have debated this topic ad nauseum over the years....Many of us use this forum to relax-think "nurse's lounge" Taking shortcuts in our posts does not mean that we are un-professional in our charting and communication in realtime...There seems to be 2 groups here-the first thinks that we should be able to say anything here and the second thinks we have to "front" because the public does have access to this site...Personally I don't feel that proper grammar and correct spelling is really what makes a good nurse....I do think that being as non-judgemental as possible IS important....

"Personally I don't feel that proper grammar and correct spelling is really what makes a good nurse....I do think that being as non-judgemental as possible IS important...." I am 100% with you on that. It is people like that that discriminate and habor bitterness and resentment to fellow employee because who they are. "Whatsoever you would that man should do to you, do ye even the same to them."

zicovico · Jul 19, 2004

As a medical consumer, I find the notion of semi-literate healthcare professionals extremely scary. How can I trust people who are sloppy with the written word when discussing their profession will not be equally inattentive to detail when practising it? I want to know that whoever is providing my medical care will query anything which is ambiguous or which seems unusual - I don't want them assuming that they "know" what was really intended when they come across an apparent error in my notes and deciding to take actions based on their interpetation. I sure as heck don't want someone who is imprecise about the written word to be actually writing up my notes, either. If you can't spell the name of the drug, then you most certainly should not be allowed to administer it.

Remember, we are talking about grammar here not SPELLINGS!!!!

CHATSDALE · Jul 19, 2004

If we were to go to come other country i would think that we would be required to be able to communicate on a written and spoken level. I have worked with mds who after a time i could understand them and i could tell the pt what was said...but i feel that they ( the mds ) had not endeavored to improve their english skills after they reached a certain level...if you are going to really learn a second tongue you have to put a lot of effort into it....look at the foreign actors who as a group are not mensa members but their income depends on the way they communicate and they do what is necessary

zicovico · Jul 19, 2004

I need to get one thing clear. I am not a foreigner neither am I black. I always like to call a spade a spade. Foreigners should be given a break!! I have worked with many nice, respected, and intelligient foreigners. They are the most pleasant people to work with. Please Fellas, let's give them a BREAK!!

mother/babyRN, RN · Jul 19, 2004

Twas just a question, was it not? I noticed in college papers my son has written, that spelling errors are forgiven much more than they ever were when us oldies were in school. That might be because some years ago when my son was in grade school, the trend then was to have the kids spell things the way they sounded rather than teach them memorization or phonics. Unfortunately, in some kids, that was not a good plan....I am teaching my little ones the way I learned as a kid and they can spell pretty well.....This is not a debate about the good or bad points of phonics vs the other way they taught things back then, but a personal observation and choice. PLUS, at least for me, when typing quickly or when fired up or just plain tired, I notice spelling errors in my case, that would not have otherwise occurred...