Is English required to be an RN?

[Jailhouse RN]

I have noticed from day one in here that many RNs use some of the poorest English and grammar I have ever seen. I am sure that we were required to take English as a requirement to graduate from nursing school. Did we leave it in the classroom, or is it that it was never really learned? I see from the charts I read at work that the case is the same in actual practice. I see so much chatroomease that it makes me sick to read some of the postings in here. Are we professionals that want to sound the part or simply chatroom fools? I for one at least try to sound and act professional. As RNs we have a reputation to be knowledgable and professional. Where are you?

[CCU NRS]

also this reminds me of a joke I heard

The english professor is telling his students that English is the only language in the world in which there are no two positive words when used together that make a negative statement

a student says "yeah right"

[CCU NRS]

I Think That Jailhouse Probably Meant That Everyday Speech Is Becoming Uncouth....i Think There Should Be A Different Level Of Acceptance Depending On Where You Are.....ain't Ain't Acceptable Anywhere But Regional Differances Give Us Color...e Room Anything Goes Partly Because Of Differant Levels Of Typing Proficiency And Lack Of Proofreading Before Sending

Love the caps on every word BTW

[CCU NRS]

I almost hate to get involved in this but as an ex-English teacher I find I can't help myself. My concern/gripe isn't the occasional typo or the fact that folks "talk" in a forum differently than they would in a formal document. What bothers me is the use of English in such a way as to discredit the user.

Me and her instead of she and I

There WAS twenty five patients instead of there WERE...

For better or for worse these things reflect on your abilities. As someone said earlier it's hard to have confidence in someone as a professional when they don't take the time to get the basics of the language right.

Having said that, for me it's a different matter with someone who is a non-native speaker. I give them a lot of credit for speaking a second language.

Ok, let the flaming begin!

so when Asians come to the US and they start all thier sentences with, you such as you take medicine, or you want drink or you go back to bed does this mean they are not intelligent?

[Jailhouse RN]

I am back at the end here for one reason. I must say I am sorry to Tweety. I was a bit rude and he didn't really deserve what I said. I exchanged emails with him, hoping we see more eye to eye. He really is a professional even if we do not agree. Tweety, I am sorry.

William Chapman RN NYSDOCS

[NewbieNurse2005]

This thread may have been a semi waste of time, but I really enjoy reading it. :rotfl:

[leslie :-D]

so when Asians come to the US and they start all thier sentences with, you such as you take medicine, or you want drink or you go back to bed does this mean they are not intelligent?

ccu.....nedthered gave credit to those that learned esl, so he is referring to american native-born.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I am back at the end here for one reason. I must say I am sorry to Tweety. I was a bit rude and he didn't really deserve what I said. I exchanged emails with him, hoping we see more eye to eye. He really is a professional even if we do not agree. Tweety, I am sorry.

William Chapman RN NYSDOCS

Dang, you sure know how to ruin a good flame war. Oh well, this is a moderated board anyway. :rotfl:

Apology accepted. Thanks for making it public. It takes maturity and class to apologize like that. I apologize as well for my part.

[Celia M, ASN, RN]

I find that when I am having brilliant ideas flowing at a great speed that my fingers cannot keep up with my brain and therefore errors occur. This is an informal method of communication and let's keep it that way. Reserve correct spelling and perfect grammar for formal communication such as charting. We should also remember that this is an international board and even if English is the primary language for many of the countries represented here there are differences in what is acceptable grammar and spelling. Eg: " I sat at the centre table labouring over colouring a picture for my Mummy with oedematous hands" is perfectly spelt in the Queens english!!!

[Ned the Red]

All I'm trying to say is that there are many things that make a good (or bad) first impression. I'm not the most "snappy" dresser, for instance, and sometimes show up for work a bit on the wrinkled side. I know that this works against me when meeting people for the first time. It doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doing but it can still hurt me. Good grammar skills are much the same. They don't mean the person is unqualified (unless they happen to be an English teacher) but they can surely color that first impression.

I'm old enough to remember the uproar when Winston aired their commercial "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" and people said it should have been "Winston tastes good AS a cigarette should." Everyone has relaxed a lot since then. But (again) like it or not, if you tell someone you "I ain't gonna" or you write "There cars was broke" you may create an impression you don't want and that is difficult to change.

[husker-nurse, LPN, LVN]

"palpitate" for "palpate"; "Altimer's" for "Alzheimer's"; I hear these daily by medical professionals and have given up on correcting the speaker. I know what he or she means, and I guess that works. I doubt that many of us are linquists; my suggestion is to make your charting as clear and accurate as possible so that you never have to explain it in a courtroom!

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Have any of those who criticize the English of foreigners ever tried working in a foreign country?

Working in a language that is not your own is scary. A heavy accent or incorrect grammar doesn't automatically mean that the person doesn't understand what's going on around them.

I work in France with what I feel is a good functional level of French, but there are days when I'm tired or stressed when to speak French is more difficult than on other days and I might search for certain words. My French colleagues are nothing but helpful.

You have foreign personnel because you can't recruit enough of your own, be grateful for them. And please, a little more tolerance.

[husker-nurse, LPN, LVN]

Dear David, I was referring to 100% bonafide Americans! No, I would not want to try to work in a foreign country and learn the language; my grammar would probably cause way too much confusion!