English as Second Language Nurses!

Jonathank · Mar 22, 2011

It sounds like you're already working on what you want to work on. Don't be so hard on yourself. English as a SL is hard because of the strange mixture of Latin, Germanic and Norse influences, and all the irregularities. I wouldn't even dare to try to learn Chinese, so I have to admire your spirit.

GM2RN · Mar 22, 2011

Native English-speaking people don't have always have the best grammar either, but if you hadn't stated that English isn't your first language I wouldn't have known based on your post. You have written it quite well overall.

Since you obviously want to learn the language better, allow me to correct a minor error in your post. I believe that you meant to say "I have strived to be the same as everyone else."

I don't really have any suggestions for you except to remember that you are new to nursing and allow yourself some time to get comfortable with the whole process. It will take a year or more to get there but that's normal. Keep working at it like you have been and I believe you will do well.

brownbook · Mar 22, 2011

Many words can be pronounced at least two different ways and both are acceptable (route for example) but also some medical technical words and even names of medications.

I am many generations USA born and bred. I still mispronounce medications and some Dr's names. I have a mild hearing loss which I guess ?? maybe part of my problem, but my point is many people have a similar problem for various reasons.

I still can never pronounce phenytoin.

I work with a charming foreign born nurse. She stumbles over many words and names but we all lover her, her patients love her. She is a good nurse. She loves to come to us with "how do you pronounce this word," and we love to help her.

I know my grammar is often bad and thank goodness for spell check!!!!!

purse · Mar 22, 2011

"I have a problem related to pronouncing doctors' names and medications that I haven't seen before."

Story of my life. :banghead:

nervousnurse, ASN · Mar 22, 2011

I would love to give you some support--!! :yeah: You are doing all you can to learn meds/ pronunciation, etc....!!!

I have actually been precepting a new nurse from China, and she is having the same

problems as you, and it saddens me that she feels *some* of our coworkers are rude

to her because of her ethnicity.

((( hugs ))) to you, and I hope you love oncology nursing!!! :nurse: :redbeathe:)

Old.Timer · Mar 22, 2011

OP, I don't have any advice for you but wanted to let you know that I very much admire your hard work and perseverance. My very best wishes to you.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 22, 2011

Kudos to you OP! For what it's worth, I think your written grammar is superior to many of our native speakers here on AN - LOL.

Just a thought - have you sought assistance from a speech therapist or language coach? Here in Houston, we have a vibrant community with immigrants from many areas of the world who are working hard to become acculturated and overcome the challenges of dealing with a heavy accent. These services are not hard to find - some of them even specialize in the petroleum or high tech industries to make sure that their students blend into their chosen work environments. Speech therapists may be a bit pricey, but you can locate language (dialect) coaches through your local theater group or maybe through a local university that has a theater program. They know how to help people 'learn' a specific type of accent - including sounding more like a native American. Of course, your "mileage may vary" but they seem to achieve very good results.

Best of luck in the future.

GM2RN · Mar 22, 2011

Language coach--fabulous suggestion!

0907 · Mar 22, 2011

I can not thank you enough for all of your support. I am blessed with my job opportunity. So far, it has been a very hard transition. I know it might be hard for some of my co-workers to relate to me but most of them are very supportive. It is hard to admit that I do have a problem. It does bring down my confidence in myself and at work. However, I made a huge step today to speak to some of my co-workers about my situation. One of them was my old classmate from college. I clearly remembered one time I was giving her a report and she asked me, "what was holding me back?". I paused without an answer. Today, I finally gave her an answer. I told her and other co-workers about my problem and that I really have tried very hard to understand and learn whlie i am on orientation. It might take me longer to learn how to survive on the floor but I am not a quitter and I will never give up. :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

Barbara Hessinger · Mar 23, 2011

I can so relate to you.

I am German and find the medical language and its pronunciation quite challenging. I have worked other jobs and never had the language problems I seem to have as an ESL nurse.

Hang in there, you will be ok.

BluegrassRN · Mar 23, 2011

I feel so incompetent compared to another new nurse who has started with me.

You're bilingual, and most of them are not. You should not be the one feeling incompetent. Be proud of your efforts and your accomplishments. In time, you will gain confidence in your pronunciation.

I'd like to point out the myriad of threads here about new nurses lacking in confidence. It's a fact of life for new nurses. If you weren't worried about your language skills, you would probably be worried about something else. Fact is, you and all the other new nurses are in a new, stressful environment where you are inexperienced and ignorant. Time will give you what you need.

I think it's great you are working so hard on your days off to learn new terms, meds, etc. You'll be a better nurse for all your effort.