Mispronouncing a word makes you less of a nurse

rn/writer, RN · Mar 27, 2009

I was in open lab practicing things from my lab the day before. I was talking to a classmate and I mentioned the word larynx but I pronounced it wrong. It's a new word for me so I'm not going to be perfect at pronouncing it. The professor there noticed I pronounced it wrong and corrected me. Then he went on to give me an example of if I were a nurse and he brought his kid to me and I mispronounced a word to him I would be little less of a nurse. In the sense that I was not as competent as a nurse who could pronounced words correctly. He understood that it shouldn't make you less of a nurse but to him it does. I know it's just his opinion and opinions are like mouths everyone has one. I just didn't like the comment nor did I expect this from him. What do you guys think?

I'm amazed at some of the reactions and reasonings in this thread.

Strikes me as ironic that some of the very people who are bemoaning the professor's lack of sensitivity were so quick to call him names, jump to unfounded conclusions, decide he was harsh and out of line, and pretty much trash the guy.

He's the instructor, for pete's sake. It's his job to inform the misinformed. I don't see any indication that he was rude or tried to humiliate the OP. He simply told her the truth--that, right or wrong, saying a word incorrectly has the power to alter someone's perception of you in a professional setting. This is reality.

The professor didn't say that his impression would be correct (as evidenced by the bolded portion of the quote). He only gave an example of the kind of reaction that a patient or parent could easily form in such a situation. To take offense at this seems a bit too thin skinned. If I were a student, I would be thankful for this information--both the correct pronunciation and the knowledge that my words could have such an impact.

My take on the OP's post is that the professor wasn't judging her so much as he was trying to help her avoid being judged in the future.

Guess I'm just a little weary of people rushing to take offense when someone says something they don't want to hear. And then launching an attack, even if it's the truth.

lovehospital · Mar 27, 2009

My professor says it anGINA like in lady parts as well, is this not correct?? it's how I have always heard it and said it.

What about the name Vahina,how does one say that (a girl's name?)

lovehospital · Mar 27, 2009

I'm amazed at some of the reactions and reasonings in this thread.
Strikes me as ironic that some of the very people who are bemoaning the professor's lack of sensitivity were so quick to call him names, jump to unfounded conclusions, decide he was harsh and out of line, and pretty much trash the guy.
He's the instructor, for pete's sake. It's his job to inform the misinformed. I don't see any indication that he was rude or tried to humiliate the OP. He simply told her the truth--that, right or wrong, saying a word incorrectly has the power to alter someone's perception of you in a professional setting. This is reality.
The professor didn't say that his impression would be correct (as evidenced by the bolded portion of the quote). He only gave an example of the kind of reaction that a patient or parent could easily form in such a situation. To take offense at this seems a bit too thin skinned. If I were a student, I would be thankful for this information--both the correct pronunciation and the knowledge that my words can have such an impact.
My take on the OP's post is that the professor wasn't judging her so much as he was trying to help her avoid being judged in the future.
Guess I'm just a little weary of people rushing to take offense when someone says something they don't want to hear. And then launching an attack, even if it's the truth.

Maybe we nursing students are tired of mean instructors which reminds of the most hypocritcal instructors of all times,she was an Philipino and had very heavy accent,but no she had the audicity to suggest that we nursing students dont know the the meaning of difficult words English.LOL.

RN1982 · Mar 27, 2009

I call it Vuh-jay-jay.

rn/writer, RN · Mar 27, 2009

Here's a highly useful tip for questions of pronunciation:

Google the word itself and either "definition" or "pronunciation." Many dictionary sites will come up and quite a few of them have a little speaker you can click on to hear the word being said. The really nice thing is that these entries will often provide alternative pronunciations, most often when the American and British versions are markedly different. Sometimes there is more than one American choice, and the site will give information such as whether the difference is regional, time-related or some other variation.

I use these sites frequently as I am a voracious reader and can read and understand more words than I actually know how to pronounce. This crops up all the time on my favorite game show, Jeopardy! Contestants come up with a mangled version of a word or name they understand but have not learned to say properly. On a game show it's funny and helps to humanize the brainiacs, but in a professional setting, it might not have the same effect.

Anyhoo, I love to click on the little speakers and hear the spoken words.

meluhn · Mar 27, 2009

Maybe we nursing students are tired of mean instructors.

Maybe instead of whining about how mean they are you should look at yourself and see what you can do better. This is definitely a generational thing. In my short time as a nursing instructor(living hell BTW), whenever I gave my students constructive criticism it was met with an attitude that said, "Omg, you are such a b#$%^", instead of being used as a tool to improve the students practice.

When I was growing up and even now, if someone criticizes me, I think about it to see if they are right. This generation has been brought up in a time where everybody gets a gold star just for trying. Life is not that way. I realize this is off topic but I just had to address that comment. Nursing instructors get a bad rap, they are misunderstood and under appreciated.

SharonH, RN · Mar 27, 2009

Really?? I never would have guessed.

LOL! You're wrong for that.......

lovehospital · Mar 27, 2009

Maybe instead of whining about how mean they are you should look at yourself and see what you can do better. This is definitely a generational thing. In my short time as a nursing instructor(living hell BTW), whenever I gave my students constructive criticism it was met with an attitude that said, "Omg, you are such a b#$%^", instead of being used as a tool to improve the students practice.
When I was growing up and even now, if someone criticizes me, I think about it to see if they are right. This generation has been brought up in a time where everybody gets a gold star just for trying. Life is not that way. I realize this is off topic but I just had to address that comment. Nursing instructors get a bad rap, they are misunderstood and under appreciated.

Trust I can take a wise constructive criticism but I wont take derogatory comments,because why I should I (I'm an adult),respect is earned not granted (at least in my opinion).There are other ways to supportive,the instructor i question could have had a better approach about this,he could have say "I think knowing how to pronounce words correctly would be beneficial to your career as a nurse.

rn/writer, RN · Mar 27, 2009

Maybe we nursing students are tired of mean instructors

Understandable, but maybe some instructors are tired of students who call them mean whenever they tell an unpleasant truth. I'm not talking about instructors who scream or insult or demean--that's just wrong. I'm referring to the ones who dare to call attention to a problem or have the audacity to say something is wrong or refuse to walk on eggshells so their students' egos don't become jostled or bruised. In other words, instructors who are trying to do their jobs. When that qualifies as rude and the instructor can be called an ass or worse because he/she wasn't warm and fuzzy enough, I become quite discouraged.

SharonH, RN · Mar 27, 2009

As a nurse, you are expected to know medical terms and pronounce them correctly. That's your business.

meluhn · Mar 27, 2009

Trust I can take a wise constructive criticism but I wont take derogatory comments,because why I should I (I'm an adult),respect is earned not granted (at least in my opinion).There are other ways to supportive,the instructor i question could have had a better approach about this,he could have say "I think knowing how to pronounce words correctly would be beneficial to your career as a nurse.

I guess what you consider derogatory is anything not sugar coated and politically correct. My experience has been that telling a student the right way to do something does not ensure that they will do it right the next time, its too weak. You have to be more straight forward or they just don't get it. They will make the same mistakes over and over until you tell them point blank, "You are doing this wrong, you need to do it like this". Even then they are resistant to change. Sometimes learning is painful and nobody enjoys being criticized. Therein lies the uncomfortable relationship between student and teacher.

ERjodiRN · Mar 27, 2009

there are definitely bad instructors out there, but generally they love what they do and know what it takes to produce good nurses. i find it odd that we're critiquing an instructor based on the REACTION of a student. we don't know everything that was said tit-for-tat. everyone was a student once, and getting comments from our professors can be daunting and we may take it too personally, therein totally changing the way the story actually played out.