Mispronouncing a word makes you less of a nurse

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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?

The patients safety is most important that is true,but just because a practicing nurse makes a mistake in pronunciation that doesnt make her an unsafe nurse.However,the teachers in a way suppose to mentors right,build up our self esteem,encourage.

And I think the teacher telling me, as a student, prior to getting out there in the real world, that this does happen is a good thing! It is encouraging that the teacher wants to teach me this. It builds my self-esteem to learn to pronounce words correctly, spell words correctly, etc.

In those threads I linked, we cringe at how medical folks sound saying things like "O2 Stat" . .. . . gosh, I wish an instructor had told that person the correct word prior to coming to work as a nurse.

Again - I do not know how the instructor actually spoke to the OP . . .. if it was polite and informative, then I have no problem with it.

People do judge you by your speech. They really do.

steph

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No, never told anyone that story. I think that prof had some issues. She was kind of strange but nice.

Maybe someone else here had the same instructor! :rolleyes: Or there are more than one!

steph

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Alright, I do have to admit that people do judge someone by their speech. Maybe I carry myself well and speak well because I've been asked on a few occassions what my degree is in and if I have a Bachelor's because apparently I speak well.

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And I think the teacher telling me as a student, prior to getting out there in the real world, that this does happen [b']is a good thing[/b]! It is encouraging that the teacher wants to teach me this. It builds my self-esteem to learn to pronounce words correctly, spell words correctly, etc.

In those threads I linked, we cringe at how medical folks sound saying things like "O2 Stat" . .. . . gosh, I wish an instructor had told that person the correct word prior to coming to work as a nurse.

Again - I do not know how the instructor actually spoke to the OP . . .. if it was polite and informative, then I have no problem with it.

People do judge you by your speech. They really do.

steph

People judge you by your speech,looks,financial status,if I was to give a cent for every little thing a person does judge you for I will be one broken person (not that I'm not)

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Specializes in Emergency.

it's pretty cut and dry for me. if i'm going to use a technical term in front of a patient, i better know how it's supposed to be pronounced. that is a standard i set for myself, though. i just know that i would expect the same from anyone taking care of me. i'd much rather have a kind and compassionate nurse who appears knowledgeable than one who is kind, compassionate, and mispronounces medical terms. it also shows that you CARE about learning the correct way to say things. it bothers me when people continuously pronounce things incorrectly (unless in jest), after they've been told the correct way. i wouldn't want to continue to say something wrong merely because it was "easier". it speaks to professionalism....and unfortunately appearances play a part. i'm not saying that because someone pronounces something incorrectly that they aren't professional, aren't competent, and make for a lesser nurse. i'm merely saying that to me, it's an important aspect to my career.

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Specializes in None.

Oh come on! NOTHING makes you less of a nurse but getting your license revoked! Mispronouncing a word is not the end of your nursing career or life. In a sense he was correct when he told you how to say the word. The rest was BS. For your own personal reasons just practice and be sure to get the pronunciation correct because if you learn it incorrectly you will phrase it incorrectly. If you plan on eventually going into education or something you really need to focus on that skill. If not, once you pass the NCLEX is it really THAT serious? Keep doing well in your program. Success is the best revenge.:smokin:

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it's pretty cut and dry for me. if i'm going to use a technical term in front of a patient, i better know how it's supposed to be pronounced. that is a standard i set for myself, though. i just know that i would expect the same from anyone taking care of me. i'd much rather have a kind and compassionate nurse who appears knowledgeable than one who is kind, compassionate, and mispronounces medical terms. it also shows that you CARE about learning the correct way to say things. it bothers me when people continuously pronounce things incorrectly (unless in jest), after they've been told the correct way. i wouldn't want to continue to say something wrong merely because it was "easier". it speaks to professionalism....and unfortunately appearances play a part. i'm not saying that because someone pronounces something incorrectly that they aren't professional, aren't competent, and make for a lesser nurse. i'm merely saying that to me, it's an important aspect to my career.

When I'm in acute distress I just want my o2,my nitro and my bible and maybe a caring hand:))))

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Oh come on! NOTHING makes you less of a nurse but getting your license revoked! Mispronouncing a word is not the end of your nursing career or life. In a sense he was correct when he told you how to say the word. The rest was BS. For your own personal reasons just practice and be sure to get the pronunciation correct because if you learn it incorrectly you will phrase it incorrectly. If you plan on eventually going into education or something you really need to focus on that skill. If not, once you pass the NCLEX is it really THAT serious? Keep doing well in your program. Success is the best revenge.:smokin:

The reason I posted two (and there are many many more) threads about grammar, pronunciation . . is to prove that this is an issue.

The prof didn't say it WOULD make you less of a nurse . . .. he said that is the impression you leave.

steph

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Specializes in Emergency.
When I'm in acute distress I just want my o2,my nitro and my bible and maybe a caring hand:))))

which is important. if it were me...and say i had to get a procedure done or receive a critical med.....i'd want all that as well as someone who was able to explain everything to me thoroughly, and eloquently. it increases my confidence in their knowledge level, and helps put me at ease. if say, for example, the person didn't know how to pronounce the drug.....as long as they were honest about that but were still able to give me the low down of what it does and what to expect, that's fine. but someone who scrunches their forehead while they take 1-2minutes with several attempts on a word, no thanks. it would make me more anxious.

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Specializes in Emergency.
The reason I posted two (and there are many many more) threads about grammar, pronunciation . . is to prove that this is an issue.

The prof didn't say it WOULD make you less of a nurse . . .. he said that is the impression you leave.

steph

i totally agree.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I am not the best speller, I do try and use spellcheck although using spell check doesn't always help when you put the wrong word but it's spelled correctly. When I am on message boards I don't proofread my posts, if I am in a professional setting or turning in school work I do. I know I am not a dumb person, but their are some words I struggle with no matter how hard I try. the to/too, than/then/ are some of them. I know my grammar isn't the best. Again I do try but some things I just never did grasp. English wasn't my strong subject. I know compared to other languages English spelling and grammar can be very confusing.

If I had a RN/MD/Lawyer etc. that made spelling and grammar errors I would not think any less of them. Was I able to easily read and understand what they wrote? If so it wouldn't bother me. I think even with my errors my posts are easily read.

What gets on my nerves or when I tend to think lower of someones ability, is when I see a complete lack of effort. Ie:

Plz som1 set me str8 cos I prolly shld no!

That bugs me.

As far as pronunciation, if I am mispronouncing a word, I would hope someone would let me know in a respectful way, I wouldn't want to continue going around saying it wrong.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
But I also think that grammatically constructed sentences are important as well.

Really?? I never would have guessed.

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