Asked if I had speech coaching

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Hi, I wanted to know if anyone could provide me with some insight. Yesterday my clinical instructor told me she had to ask me something and to not read into it. I said ok and she asked me if I had speech coaching? I said no why would you think that.

She said that the sound of my voice was unusual and that she has had patients with serious medical conditions that sound like I do and were given speech coaching.

I asked her what she meant but she couldn't really explain it to me except my tone was unusual. I asked her if she thought I wasn't speaking clearly or with a slur and she said no that was not it.

I have never in my life been told that my voice is unusual or abnormal in anyway but this is really bothering me as to what she would think was wrong with me.

I told some of my classmates what she said and they were taken back as much as I was by the comment. Can any one help?

Specializes in ICU.

How odd. Did she say what kind of "serious medical conditions" her patients had?

No she didn't say what it was. Everyone I have talked to said how odd of a comment it was for her to make and they never heard me speak in a tone that was abnormal or odd in any way. I'm really at a loss as to what she would be referring to.

I wouldn't worry about it, you know you are fine and it was not kind of her to imply something and then not be forthcoming with answers when you asked for them. She shouldn't have said anything if she couldn't elaborate, and she is inadvertently (I hope) distracting you from what you should be focusing on which is school and clinicals. If she says anymore I would tell her I don't wish to speak to her about it further. Just my :twocents:.

Specializes in PCU Regional Heart Unit.

Hi Stacy,

I agree with Beth. Kind of inappropriate for her to mention a concern and then tell you not to look into it. You are nursing student for goodness sake. You didnt need that yesterday. I would be concerned too. IMO distracting and not nice.

Thanks everyone. I'm not going to focus on it any longer. At 36 years old I think that it would have been brought to my attention a long time ago if something was wrong with the way I talked. I'm still a little curious as to what she meant by the comment.

I approached two of my previous clinical instructors about her comment and they just laughed and said that the comment was ridiculous and she didn't know what she was talking about. They said there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way I talked or anything else about me.

tell her you went to your doctor and he said you were normal with the exception of a potty mouth. LOL...

I wouldn 't worry about it. Maybe she's the one with the speech impetiment.

Specializes in PCU Regional Heart Unit.
tell her you went to your doctor and he said you were normal with the exception of a potty mouth. LOL...

I wouldn 't worry about it. Maybe she's the one with the speech impetiment.

LOL :chuckle

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

It sounds like it was more personal for her. I know she said she had pts, but her lack of information sounds like her pt might have been much closer to home. Just my :twocents:

Indeed , maybe something happened and something in your voice triggered the memory.

No need to be taken aback or offended. Maybe it brought up a memory and she was concerned or maybe it was nothing but a fleeting thought.

Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

I think my biggest issue with her comment is her refusal to turn this into a teaching opportunity. If your speech pattern is indicative of a certain condition or illness, this would've been a perfect time for her to make it part of your education. That she declined to share what triggered her comment is a bit odd to me.

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