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]

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

Is it pronounced wrong, or is it a variation of the most accepted pronunciation of metoprolol? I routinely hear it said two different ways. Variations on pronunciation are cool with me, but outright skipping letters and sounds (like the rodeo one for amiodarone-LOL!) is not okay.

If the practitioner has an accent where they cannot physically dictate a sound present in our language, I don't consider that a mispronunciation. It's a headache when transcribing, maybe, but not a mispronunciation.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I can't speak for everyone else, but speaking for myself only, I'm not referring to those with speech impediments, and I see nowhere in the original post that suggests the student in this scenario has one.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Here's a wiki article about the various speech problems. Two of my children have problems. My 12 year old has pronunciation problems. She's a straight A student. I think it's something with the palate, she lisps. One of my sons had a pretty severe speech problem that he overcame for the most part. He is an excellent actor and is now trying to do stand up comedy on the side.

Intelligent people have speech problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_disorder

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I had a lisp as a child that was corrected with speech therapy. I am well aware that intelligent people have speech problems. Again, that's not what we're talking about in this instance.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

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

I beg to differ. My husband was from a foreign country and frequently mispronounced words.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I misread your post, FireStarter. Never mind.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I guess I'm touchy lately, but I'm very sensitive about my speech. When I feel that people are judging it I get nervous and will stammer. I think people should be patient and understanding.

For instance, in report. I hate it when people pick apart oral report. Some people struggle with oral presentations.

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

I guess I'm touchy lately, but I'm very sensitive about my speech. When I feel that people are judging it I get nervous and will stammer. I think people should be patient and understanding.

For instance, in report. I hate it when people pick apart oral report. Some people struggle with oral presentations.

Well, I've been having simple partial seizures lately . . . .and I have to stop talking for about 30 seconds. So, I understand.

I appreciate you bringing this up - to remind us to be careful.

But this still is not what the op was speaking about.

steph

[ERjodiRN]

I guess I'm touchy lately, but I'm very sensitive about my speech. When I feel that people are judging it I get nervous and will stammer. I think people should be patient and understanding.

For instance, in report. I hate it when people pick apart oral report. Some people struggle with oral presentations.

there is a HUGE difference between someone who has difficulty because of impediments, and someone who simply doesn't know, or has been taught the proper way to say something and doesn't care to correct themselves. HUGE difference! we haven't been talking about people with impediments......and none of our posts even imply that. there is no room for berating someone with an impediment.

[Equinox_93]

actually, what you have is the student's version of what the instructor said.

take it with a grain of salt!

professors/instructors don't have to be disrespectful to do their jobs. would you say the same regarding a professor/instructor who came on here and claimed that a student was being insolent in class- that "s/he was a professor- take it with a grain of salt"? to highlight "student" makes it seem as if they're too lowly to have an opinion on a situation in which they feel they were treated disrespectfully.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Well, I guess that's what nursing school is about, learning to pronounce things. I would have been very embarrassed if the teacher had used my mispronunciation as the example of unprofessional speech. She could have been more sensitive about the whole thing.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

there is a HUGE difference between someone who has difficulty because of impediments, and someone who simply doesn't know, or has been taught the proper way to say something and doesn't care to correct themselves. HUGE difference! we haven't been talking about people with impediments......and none of our posts even imply that. there is no room for berating someone with an impediment.

If someone doesn't know or hasn't been taught the proper way, how do you expect them to correct themselves??*ok correcting mistake here, I misread your has as hasn't*

As far as speech issues, unless someone tells you they have a speech problem, you might not know and just be assuming they are saying it wrong for other reasons.

3 of my 4 children are in speech therapy and I was as well when I was younger. It's not something I go around telling anyone though.