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?

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

The instructor sounds like a butthead (albeit with a point), but it wasn't like you were mispronouncing an obscure term, either. It's good to hear the right way to say these words now, but not quite in his abrasive manner.

[Ruthiegal]

I can't believe this kind of stuff. It doesn't make or break you if you pronounce something wrong and it doesn't make you less of a nurse. I challenge anyone to be able to pronounce some of those generic drug names that are miles long correctly every time. Kindness and compassion go further than saying words right. Besides if I have a problem with a word or drug name, I tell the patient, I haven't figured out how to say this correctly, they will laugh and say I can't either. Build rapport and quit worrying so much about yourself and it will all fall into place. It's not an indication of poor education or anything else, some words are just hard to enunciate properly!

Mydnightnurse

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I believe if you can't say a word properly you should use other words. In the medical profession if you can't pronounce the medical words, it does seem to indicate you don't know all you should know.

If your doctor couldn't pronounce the name of some part of the body he was treating in you, how would you feel toward him?

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

I had a clinical instructor who mispronounced "adventitious" lungs sounds as "advantageous" lung sounds. Several of us in class were confused until we completed the reading assignment, but some of my clasmates graduated nursing school calling crackles and rhonchi "advantageous".

Another word that made us crazy was centimeter, pronounced "SOHNtimeter". I went and looked up pronunciation in a couple of different dictionarys to see if it was an appropriate way to say the word, but I couldn't find this alternative pronunciation listed. (I still hear it all the time.)

"SOHNtimeter" comes from the French pronunciation. Cent in French is pronounced sont.

[systoly]

I couldn't agree with you more sunray12. I'm a stickler for pronunciation, enunciation and spelling. Do I make typos in my posts?-you bet. Do I have difficulty pronouncing certain words?-you bet. That doesn't mean I don't try to improve on that. However, when talking with patients or family, I prefer to use non technical terms whenever possible, voice box in this case. I do correct other people, as I expect others to correct me, but usually by just repeating the word with the proper pronounciation rather than giving a half hour lecture.

Take this forum for example. It seems to me that well written posts get much better responses than poorly written ones. Personally, I don't even respond (but who knows-that might be best ) to posts lacking any kind of grammar and sentence structure, even if I have the answer to a question.

[oramar]

I think it is totally acceptable for someone who is learning to have trouble with the medical terms. I am puzzled by anyone who would expect anything else.

[RN1982]

I think some people should get off their high horse.

[Equinox_93]

I think it is totally acceptable for someone who is learning to have trouble with the medical terms. I am puzzled by anyone who would expect anything else.

Absolutely it is acceptable for someone who is learning to have trouble with medical terms- I think part of the point the instructor was trying to convey (albeit in a harsher than necessary manner) is that it's good to learn it *now* while in school and be sure to have it correct than to become a nurse and continue mispronouncing things as it IS a perception/credibility concern/issue.

[Equinox_93]

I think some people should get off their high horse.

Are you saying that you don't think that pronounciation, correct grammar, spelling etc. are at all important? Do you not feel that they contribute toward ones perception of credibility of a nurse or other professional?

[RN1982]

No, I'm not saying that. Did I say that? No. I'm saying that people make mistakes. Fine, correct them, but don't berate them and say they would be less of a nurse. I think berating someone by saying they are less of a nurse is out of line. It is possible to correct someone without making condescending comments.

[Equinox_93]

No, I'm not saying that. Did I say that? No. I'm saying that people make mistakes. Fine, correct them, but don't berate them and say they would be less of a nurse. I think berating someone by saying they are less of a nurse is out of line.

Ahhhh- OK- gotcha. You didn't quote which post you were referencing there, and 3 pages in I tend to figure that most people are replying to posts further in. Thanks for the clarification- definately agree with you! :)

[RN1982]

Sorry, I'm not trying to be snarky. I just think snarky comments such as "You are less of a nurse because you pronounced a word incorrectly" does more to humiliate a person. That's the problem with this profession, some instructors are so into humiliating their students at any opportunity. That's not the proper way to teach someone. Make them understand why they did or said something wrong, but don't humiliate the person.