Is English required to be an RN?

diannagagnon · Jul 19, 2004

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?

I believe there is a difference between this site and actual practice since those of us who are English speaking and tyoe here to share feelings and vent a little should not be accused of being unproffessional because our typing maynot be up to par. In practice is a whole different topic , I have seen many nurses who can barely talk or give report because of language barriers and that makes for dangerous patient care. that should be addressed with DONs dont waste you time worrying about peoples typing ability on a chat room site worry about real life.

RN Zeke · Jul 20, 2004

We must speak it, write it and understand it. We are in the USA! That is very simple. English, that is.

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Jul 20, 2004

Give me a break, this is a chatroom. Why do I have to worry about offending somebody "cause" I didn't spell or use a word correctly. I majored in Nursing not English. I feel some hate in this thread......Whats the real agenda here?........ "Foreign" doctors and nurses. Perfect English does not ensure quality of care. I don't care if you if you speak perfect English but you better know what the "heck" you are doing if I go into V-fib.

brain · Jul 20, 2004

LOL!

I just wanted to say that for me the things that're really irritating include: spelling grammar "grammer" (and this happens so often I think it is spelt wrongly more often than it is spelt correctly!), spelling your "ur", and you "u". But hey, as long as it's understandable, I guess.

To the comment about foreigners, i think if you go to work in a country you should know how to communicate effectively and safely. They should learn the language to the extent that they can achieve this, if they haven't they really need to keep working at it. I don't see any reason why if you come to America you shouldn't know English.

But stereotyping foreign nurses and docs is just that, stereotyping. In my hospital, the doctors who speak by far the most elegant English are both foreigners, one from the UK, one from India (apparently went to a private school where they taught "Queen's English").

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Jul 20, 2004

The bottom line is that if you have an accent, even if you are using the English language properly, you will be judged incompetent, uneducated and so on and so on......... Dont think that applies to only foreign nurses, southern twangs, New York, Canadian accents aren't immuned. Lucky for me I've lost my accent and my English is more gooder than most.

Energizer Bunny · Jul 20, 2004

The day that I really have to worry about my grammar here is the day I leave. Get over it!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 20, 2004

Speaking as a moderator here...

There are no grammar rules in the terms of service, and no expectations that every nurse posting on this site will be perfect EXCEPT when it comes to respecting fellow posters, and avoiding personal attacks. Anyone can state an opinion, and expect to be respected. Disagreeing is allowed but attacking (IE"You are a racist") is not. Please make sure you keep within the TOS and don't worry about other people's standards for proper english. Diversity is welcome here.

BORI-BSNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2004

I think you are somewhat being judgmental. It is completely wrong and incomprehensible to judge someone's ability to perform based on his or her poor English and grammar. There is a clear distinction between practical and theory. Let's get that straight. The RNs who may not have all the grammar in the world may be the very best when it comes to the practical applications of medical concepts and principles. I already sense some sentiments in a person of your nature. If I were an LPN or CNA, I wouldn't work for you.

Excellent Zicovico!!! Did you get that JailhouseRN????

...and the sadiest thing here is that you will find pleople like that everywhere! :crying2:

leslie :-D · Jul 20, 2004

actually there's another thread going on about professionalism and nursing..

it's the total package.

i agree that a nurse can be top notch in performance but lack proper grammar. i still don't agree with it on a professional level.

i was born and raised in america, yet few have total command of the english language. the least we can do is chart/document on a high school level which includes grammar and spelling. to me that is another part of the 'professional presentation' of nsg.

as i've said already, the bb is different.

leslie

Jay-Jay, RN · Jul 20, 2004

I have no problem with poor grammar and spelling . Where I draw the line is when someone's skill in English is so poor that they are a danger to the patients. Last fall, my dad, who was in a nursing home, suffered a stroke. Just after the stroke, I found out one of the medications he was on might have triggered it (Resperidal). I tried THREE TIMES to explain to the foreign-born nurse who was on duty that day why I did not EVER want him put back on that medication again. The physiotherapist (also foreign-born, but with much, much better English skills) also tried to help her understand. To this day, I'm not sure we got through to her.

Bloody dangerous! This particular RPN's communication and interpersonal skills were so poor that my blood pressure went up a couple of notches EVERY time I had to talk with her!

WatERkoOL · Jul 22, 2004

Hi,
I'm still relatively new to this site, and I was reading this thread; I found it most interesting. I find it childish to "nit pick" about the boards' spelling and grammar. It's not as if this site is a place to show off your professionalism. It is a place to ask questions, post thoughts, and of course give your opinions to the fore mentioned things. I can see how it can be annoying to see a grammar error or two, but look at it this way; If they were illiterate they wouldn't be in this field. I know that spelling and grammar do count as one of the many requirements needed to pass practical nursing courses, so I assume the same to be true for Rn's.

i agree with u

Wanna_be_a_Nurse · Jul 23, 2004

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?

Are you talking about this board? Maybe they do not want to check their grammar and spelling because this is supposed to be a laid back message board. If it was in a college class, then yes, correct grammar and English should be presented. But this is a message board! I know many people don't pay attention to their grammar that much when they are in a message board. If they forgot a period, so what? Are you going to say that they are stupid if they do that?