Mispronouncing a word makes you less of a nurse

[Unique87]

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?

[rn/writer, RN]

I'm going to make an exception to my own request because it involves the very word the OP brought up in her first post, and because it's a fairly cut-and-dried matter.

Larynx has 2 pronounciations as well. So the nursing instructor may think one way is correct, but was pronounced differently in anatomy class by that instructor.

I have never run across an accepted alternative pronunciation to "LARE-inks" for larynx. "LARE-nix" is deemed incorrect in every source I have checked.

If someone has information that would contradict this, please, share it. In this instance, it wouldn't be considered off topic.

[johnst10]

I grew up in Maine - la nex, school in Illinois - la ra nex, moved to Michigan - larnex, moved to Kansas - lar nex, then mid Ohio - laarnex. Ohio also had extra constants like 6th was sixfth, I can't even say it LOL. Am I less of a nurse or any of my co nurses less because of our regional pronunciations. Of course! Maine nurses are ultimately more informed because they have to work so much harder to stay current given their remote location. Just kidding! :wink2:

[Lucky0220]

I think all this discussion of mispronounciation might, and notice I say might, be just another indication of what sociologists have long called the "dumbing down" of America. You might just try googling this phrase if you are interested. I feel it is important to pronounce all words correctly, but that does not mean that I have to push my feelings onto others. Good teaching is never accomplished by humiliation! Feel the person out, see if they want to be corrected, and do it in private. They will be so appreciative, and will not be embarrased to ask you again if they are not sure of how to say something. I have had instructors who pronounced words incorrectly all the time. It's too bad that they might never have taken the time to look up the correct way to say the term or may not know that they were pronouncing it wrong. But as a student, it was not my place to correct them. I might say to a fellow classmate that it was wrong, and we would look it up. That is part of the love of learning. Some people have it and some don't. Medical professionals, in my opinion should be accountable for pronouncing terms correctly, but if they don't, they just may possibly make themselves look a little less intelligent in some people's eyes. It's up to each and every one of us to hold ourselves up to our own individual high standards.

[rn/writer, RN]

I grew up in Maine - la nex, school in Illinois - la ra nex, moved to Michigan - larnex, moved to Kansas - lar nex, then mid Ohio - laarnex. Ohio also had extra constants like 6th was sixfth, I can't even say it LOL. Am I less of a nurse or any of my co nurses less because of our regional pronunciations. Of course! Maine nurses are ultimately more informed because they have to work so much harder to stay current given their remote location. Just kidding! :wink2:

These may be common mispronunciations, but I have yet to see a reference tool that accepts anything other than "LARE-inks."

The issue is not whether a mispronunciation makes someone a lesser nurse. It's whether that mispronunciation could cause them to be perceived as a lesser nurse.

The way a person says a particular word probably has little bearing on their overall skill set and level of competency. But on the receiving end, it may well raise an eyebrow and create a question in the mind of the hearer.

We are constantly influenced by our perceptions, even when we are unaware that this is happening. It isn't something we can control, although we can manage the impact by recognizing our reactions and evaluating their accuracy. To rail against the reality that misusing words in a professional setting might make a patient wonder about a nurse's ability seems pointless. It happens. It's going to keep happening. Since there are many other factors at work in that situation, we can hope that everything else will contribute to a more positive image and overrule the negative.

Let's turn the situation around. Suppose a highly educated nurse moved to a part of the country where "fancy talk" was perceived to be conceited and judgmental. Might this nurse run into unfair reactions based on the idea that her natural way of speaking created a hoity-toity impression? Of course, she would! But then it would be up to her to demonstrate in other ways that, although her speech was different, she really did have the goods to treat her patients with capabilty and respect.

These same principles apply to any setting where there are differences--misinformation, speech impediment, accent, nervousness, cultural variations, appearance, age, etc. We can't stop people from forming impressiongs and perceptions. We can try to get past any barriers by offering the best of care and by finding and emphasizing the things we have in common.

That said, it's of benefit for everyone involved to attempt to manage those factors over which we do have some control. Learning to pronounce medical words correctly is one of them.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Miranda - as always, you say things so well. Thank you!

steph

[Lucky0220]

Hi Steph... I want you to know that I love reading your posts also. Just took all this time to let you know! Jo

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Hi Steph... I want you to know that I love reading your posts also. Just took all this time to let you know! Jo

Wow, someone likes me! Thanks!

steph

[truern]

Wow, someone likes me! Thanks!

steph

Are you channeling Sally Fields now?!?

[truern]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/larynx

How cool...just click the "speaker" and hear the pronunciation! Thankfully I have yet had the opportunity to use "larynx" while speaking because I would have mangled it beyond recognition with my rendition of larrynix

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Are you channeling Sally Fields now?!?

oh dear . . . you're right . . . :nuke::roll

steph

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/larynx

How cool...just click the "speaker" and hear the pronunciation! Thankfully I have yet had the opportunity to use "larynx" while speaking because I would have mangled it beyond recognition with my rendition of larrynix

No argument that "larynx" takes some practice~!

steph

[Lucky0220]

:chuckle You sound like Sally Field (from her Oscar acceptance speech!)