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?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Hmm really? I'm a senior nursing student graduating in a few months and I have been to MANY hospitals/clinical sites.I had opportunity to work with many nurses who were more foreign than NOT,and if the accent would make them less competent nurse I guess I would have no nurse to work with at all!!!

Having an accent does not mean you cannot correctly pronounce words.

I agree with the OP's instructor. There is a nurse at my work who pronounces medication names, doctor's name and conditions just totally wrong and garbled. Makes me wonder if she knows what the hell she's talking about when she says they started "ame-rodeo" for a/fib.

[RN1982]

LOL amerodeo...hmmmm that'll fix a/fib.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Haven't read all the posts, but I personally have a bit of a stammer at times. I also learned to read by the sight method and have trouble with phonetics, so sometimes stumble over drug names and such. There are quite a few regional variations as well.

I hear a number of doctors and brilliant nurses mispronounce metoprolol. Also quite a few nurses and doctors have foreign accents.

[truern]

LOL amerodeo...hmmmm that'll fix a/fib.

Must be all the bronco busting wild horse riding that fixes the rhythm

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

LOL amerodeo...hmmmm that'll fix a/fib.

I dunno . . . ..ame rodeo . . brings to mind a bucking bronco and THAT might fix A-Fib!

steph

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

Must be all the bronco busting wild horse riding that fixes the rhythm

Oh my gosh . .. great minds think alike~!

steph

[lovehospital]

Haven't read all the posts, but I personally have a bit of a stammer at times. I also learned to read by the sight method and have trouble with phonetics, so sometimes stumble over drug names and such. There are quite a few regional variations as well.

I hear a number of doctors and brilliant nurses mispronounce metoprolol. Also quite a few nurses and doctors have foreign accents.

I also seen an order for AMBIN,oh ok AMBIEN:)

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I personally expect basic medical words like larynx to be pronounced correctly from medical personnel. (It's a job thing for me.) It's not like he was dissing her for boogering up Denonvilliers' fascia or de Quervain's tenosynovitis.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

People with speech impediments already feel bad. Sometimes I have trouble with speech. I think I come across as very intelligent, I'm told, because I have an excellent vocabulary. But I'm self conscious about my speaking ability.

I think people should be sensitive about this. People with speech problems can't totally help it.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I know a very wonderful local pharmacist who has a severe stammer. I think people should give others a break about this.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Also quite a few nurses and doctors have foreign accents.

Again, having an accent does not mean you cannot correctly pronounce words.

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

Firestarter - no one is talking about people with speech impediments. I would never ever correct someone for something they cannot help. :redbeathe

The op was simply talking about her professor telling her that she may be judged as less of a nurse if she doesn't pronounce medical terms correctly and told her how to say "Larynx".

steph