I'm planning to begin a nursing career in the fall of 2007 (accl. BSN program) and was wondering about something. I have a STRONG southern accent. I'm not ashamed of it, I love my accent. I had no idea I even had one until I was 16 and while on a trip to California some people let me know. The question I have is could I anticipate any issues or trouble with my accent? Also, and PLEASE be honest, it won't hurt my feelings (much =) but what would your reaction be if you are from a place where southern accents are not common and heard your nurse have a twang to the voice?
I work in the healthcare industry and deal with RNs, Quality Improvement personnel, Administrators, Drug Reps, etc on a daily basis and most of the ladies (99% of the people I work with are female) don't seem to mind. However, I feel like a few are looking down their respective nose at me while I talk. I even had a person who thought they were on mute one time say to a group I was on a conference call with "this guy from KEN-tucky thinks he's going to teach us something". One of those real sarcastic tones. I rolled my eyes and smiled because I knew they were the ones making an a$$ out of themselves.
I'm already somewhat apprehensive about being a guy in this profession and fighting off sterotypes. I had never given much thought to any preconceived notions about my my voice though. Will I have another sterotype to deal with? Honestly, what do you think when you hear a guy (or a lady) with a southern accent? Please don't think we're dumb....
Any feedback or commentary would be greatly appreciated!
Having spent a day or 2 in the military, I have no problem with southern accents. As has been pointed out by others though is the problem some people will have understanding you. As you may know, the only people in this country that don't have accents come from here. (And it doesn't matter where here is:lol2: ) Those people from that other part of the country have the accent. So, welcome to Nursing brother and good luck with the Accelerated BSN program. I've been lucky enough to precept a couple of people in that program and I'm amazed that they get to Mental Health without needing a good shrink. Alan
I've enjoyed reading everyone's replies. You can tell when something strikes a nerve with people. There is also a big difference in how different people take different topics. I had wrote that I ran into situations where people equated southern to "stupid". Doesn't make it so, but it does mean that this is what "those people" do. Doesn't make those people anything but possibly missing out on some very intelligent people. I've experienced stupid people in every industry. Be careful, you never know when your life might depend on one of them. From the idiot at the pharmacy or the one who keys in the payment to your credit card. :)
Now onto something similar. Those same "types" equate fat = lazy. Oops, should I say "chubby, pleasingly plump", thin challenged". I'm considered "plump" but definitely not lazy. I could out run a lot of people and I'm on the go constantly. There are opinionated people everywhere.
So let's eat some B&Gs and be happier than a hog eatin' slop! (All southerners will know what a B&G is!!!!!)
I feel those that cannot get with that idea and racial harmony should get themselves on a remote island somewhere in the Pacific and go live so they won't be bothered with the yankees and others.
And those who hate the South as much as you do would probably be better off up north. As far as the racism issue, try living in a big northern city and then come back to Alabama and take an honest look at how well black and white get along in comparison. Maybe you should try to resolve this hatred of you birthplace. Those who hate their roots tend to live a very bitter existence.
OMG!!! God's country? I know you're not talking about the South, particularly Alabama. I'm from Alabama and contrary to what people claim, this is NOT the Bible Belt. I hear so much about God this and God that. Well let me tell you, God doesn't condone all the racism that is perpetuated down here. Nothing has changed. Now, instead of the Klan, we have Bible-thumping racist is business suits and judicial robes. My dad is yankee and he's a liberal. I sometimes feel that that combination is worse than being black down here. And you know what, the South lost the war. ..................... but it kills how so many people down here claim to be Christian, yet, they cannot tolerate others that are not like them.
I'm planning to begin a nursing career in the fall of 2007 (accl. BSN program) and was wondering about something. I have a STRONG southern accent. I'm not ashamed of it, I love my accent. I had no idea I even had one until I was 16 and while on a trip to California some people let me know. The question I have is could I anticipate any issues or trouble with my accent? Also, and PLEASE be honest, it won't hurt my feelings (much =) but what would your reaction be if you are from a place where southern accents are not common and heard your nurse have a twang to the voice?
I work in the healthcare industry and deal with RNs, Quality Improvement personnel, Administrators, Drug Reps, etc on a daily basis and most of the ladies (99% of the people I work with are female) don't seem to mind. However, I feel like a few are looking down their respective nose at me while I talk. I even had a person who thought they were on mute one time say to a group I was on a conference call with "this guy from KEN-tucky thinks he's going to teach us something". One of those real sarcastic tones. I rolled my eyes and smiled because I knew they were the ones making an a$$ out of themselves.
I'm already somewhat apprehensive about being a guy in this profession and fighting off sterotypes. I had never given much thought to any preconceived notions about my my voice though. Will I have another sterotype to deal with? Honestly, what do you think when you hear a guy (or a lady) with a southern accent? Please don't think we're dumb....
Any feedback or commentary would be greatly appreciated!
Y'all have a good evening!
Who cares what other people think. You've started nursing for a reason.....to help people.
I just completed a 13 week contract in Maine...there wasn't a day that went by that my accent wasn't commented on at least 20 times a day. Some of my co-workers and patients dealt with it; the true Yankees let their true colors show a little too much to my likin'. As soon as I opened my mouth my Nurse Manager treated me as though I was the dumbest thing walking. She and a co-worker asked me about makin' grits for a breakfast the office staff was having...I told them "Sorry I don't eat nor make that junk. We only feed that to the stupid Yankees who think we are all "Beverly Hillibillies"; the same ones we say "Thank y'all now y'all come on back and visit usins any 'ole time yeh hear" as we laughed all the way to the bank (after the tourons left our great state). In all fairness, when I worked in New York and Chicago my accent wasn't an issue...they respected the fact that I am a skilled professional and treated me as such.
Your accent was commented on in "Maine" I'm originally from California, and I grew up around just about every accent you can name, but I remember talking to a customer (I was not in the nursing field then, so it was a real "customer") whose accent almost dripped with maple syrup (my impression) I said, "where are you from, Maine?" I'd never heard anything like it. I think accents are fascinating. Since I've been in Georgia almost twenty years, my family thinks I have a southern accent, but people here think I'm from "up north"
BY THE WAY there is more to the U.S. than down South and up North!!
hey i am from the south and i work in a pittsburgh hospital. The majority of the people i work with love my accent as well as the patients. Personally at times I felt like I wasnt taken very seriously because of my slang. but when it came down to a crisis my actions proved louder than the sound of my voice lol
If those yankees can't understand you or don't like your accent, just come on back to God's country......we'll understand you just fine
It is rhetoric like this that alienates "the south" from not only the rest of the country, but the rest of the world. It's inflammatory. This attitude that God favors the South first, the rest of the old U.S. of A. second, and that he couldn't care less or is contemptuous about the remaining world at large facilitates all of the negative stereotypes of the south and its southerners. Quite a thoughtless comment.
And i take it that someone cannot have pride in the area where they are from or where they live w/o someone calling it arrogance, either.
Done here.
Being that you're done, I don't expect a reply. Good. Sorry, but the way the comment was phrased, little interpretation could be derived from it but arrogance.
It is rhetoric like this that alienates "the south" from not only the rest of the country, but the rest of the world. It's inflammatory. This attitude that God favors the South first, the rest of the old U.S. of A. second, and that he couldn't care less or is contemptuous about the remaining world at large facilitates all of the negative stereotypes of the south and its southerners. Quite a thoughtless comment.
Wow. I've heard "God's country" used to refer to just about every piece of real estate that anybody has felt was a great place to be. It's not meant to be inflammatory, boastful, or conceited - just a superlative. About the only thing thougthless here is the attempt to equate someone's entheusiasm with a poke in the eye.
Next up... how Kevin Costner insults the nation in "Field of Dreams" by suggesting heaven's only found in Iowa's corn fields.
Wow. I've heard "God's country" used to refer to just about every piece of real estate that anybody has felt was a great place to be. It's not meant to be inflammatory, boastful, or conceited - just a superlative. About the only thing thougthless here is the attempt to equate someone's entheusiasm with a poke in the eye.
Next up... how Kevin Costner insults the nation in "Field of Dreams" by suggesting heaven's only found in Iowa's corn fields.
I couldn't agree more. I live in the South, but my husband and I have a wonderful friend who lives in NY. Recently he was on vacation in the Adirondack Mountains and sent us a post card stating that it was truely "God's Country". Never for a moment did it cross my mind that he was insinuating anything but his awe in it's beauty. I am proud of where I am from and yes it is beautiful. Yes there is beauty elsewhere in the country, as well as elsewhere in the world, but it doesn't take away from my pride in where I am from. Just as I would never try to take pride away from someone else.
Well, I declare. This is a fine mess. Its been a coons age since I've seen the beat. No need to get the tail feathers ruffled on account of a little ole Southern pride. Its common knowledge that we're all so dumb if we threw ourselves to the ground, we'd miss. Yes, we did lose the war, things ain't never been the same.. but time'll tell. So,we'll just go back to our pot o' collards and corn pon.
We should all just make nice and mend fences. But I would be careful of crowing too loud, the self righteous have a marvelous way of tripping all over their sanctimony just when things are getting almost unbearable.
Damn that Costner fellar... don't he know the pearly gates are just up the road a far piece, between Elmers tater patch and Aunt Pollys hogpen?
MajorAl
47 Posts
Having spent a day or 2 in the military, I have no problem with southern accents. As has been pointed out by others though is the problem some people will have understanding you. As you may know, the only people in this country that don't have accents come from here. (And it doesn't matter where here is:lol2: ) Those people from that other part of the country have the accent. So, welcome to Nursing brother and good luck with the Accelerated BSN program. I've been lucky enough to precept a couple of people in that program and I'm amazed that they get to Mental Health without needing a good shrink. Alan