ethnic question

[firstclass]

what is the best way to respond to patients who ask about your ethnicity. i am a very private person. i have an accent but am trying my best to assimilate. what is the best way to not answer the question and also not appear rude?

[azerrn]

I traveled to Maine last fall from AZ. My husband and I were delighting in the local accents. And, the locals were laughing at my accent and speech pattern and all of us were as american as apple pie.

Point being, I think the patients asking the question re accent and/or ethnicity are just making conversation. I find if I am talking with the patient re what's going on with them and what I am doing to and for them and why, the patient and family usually are too overwhelmed with information to be thinking about my accent. Ah, hmm, I do have an odd cadence to my speech and a southern Bronx accent, quite unusual, if I'm honest about it.:chuckle