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!
I mean, a sweet Southern drawl has to be more pleasant than some Yankee screaming, "YOUS GUYS, WAIT UP". (And I'm half Pennsylvanian!)
That's entierly a matter of opinion, ofcourse. Personally, I've always enjoyed Geordie
However I can't help but think that the kind of people who would prejudge someone with a Southern accent as being ignorant are the same kind of people, if the tables were switched, who'd think someone with a Brooklyn or Philly accent to be a 'stuck up Yankee snob'.
Having been raised and practiced as a nurse in GA, I am very used to the Southern accent. I think you should be just fine. I am in PA now and I have no problem. If you end up practicing out of the South, you will probably lose a lot of you accent, I did. I do notice that when I am around it a lot (when I visit my family) my "twang" comes back. I get teased sometimes (all with love) by my coworkers but it is not an issue. Good Luck!
I say take pride in your drawl! Never try to change who you are to please someone else. Be proud of your heritage! I am. There were some really tough people in my family that made it through some very hard times in life, even without any education. My grandmother only went to the 2nd grade because they were very poor, and every family member had to work on the farm just so they could survive the hard times. She taught herself how to read, how to write, and add and subtract enough to pay her bills. She was a survivor and that makes me so proud. So, if anyone looks down on you or thinks you are stupid or uneducated due to your accent, just think of the things your family has done in life, been through, or survived, and be proud of where you come from! And by no means should you change who you are or how you talk just because of some "ignorant" people in this world!! If they are so much smarter than you, then tell them to figure out what you are saying. That's my two pennies!
Why is it that when a Southerner drops a consonant it's considered ignorant, but when someone from New England doesn't pronounce their R's it's considered educated?
You may have just hit on the $64,000 question... :monkeydance:
That's entierly a matter of opinion, ofcourse. Personally, I've always enjoyed Geordie
However I can't help but think that the kind of people who would prejudge someone with a Southern accent as being ignorant are the same kind of people, if the tables were switched, who'd think someone with a Brooklyn or Philly accent to be a 'stuck up Yankee snob'.
Why is it that when a Southerner drops a consonant it's considered ignorant, but when someone from New England doesn't pronounce their R's it's considered educated?
I'm also from the South. Have you ever ate possum? I had a patient ask me that once. I told her yes, today for lunch. Folks from the South are some of the best folks in this country.
I'm also from the South. Have you ever ate possum? I had a patient ask me that once. I told her yes, today for lunch. Folks from the South are some of the best folks in this country.
I as well have a thick southern accent and I do get the comment "you are not from here.. are you?" I live in the DC metro area of Virginia. I say "No maam/sir, my heart and where I grew up is in Texas but my husband has defended this country for 18 years and the military does not see state lines- home is where the air force sends you." Ending that with a very large smile! I have never had anything negative said to me after that. Your competence and knowledge will shine through and to be honest, you know what southern hospitality is and it will get you far. Respect for the person, polite behaviors and a genuine caring personality is something that many do not get to experience on the streets of what I call the "RAT RACE".
Sometime in my life I managed to pick up a mild English accent (probably because I made an effort to pronounce things distinctly). It drove my classmates absolutely insane in high school because, this being California, they were almost all accustomed to a neutral mumble. To be fair, they drove me ape-wire because there was no rhythm in their speech patterns.
Southern accents are so interesting! Perhaps it's not a true Southern accent... but I love the way Doc Holliday spoke in Tombstone.
Doc? Pssht. Listen to Sam Elliot. Rent the movie "Gettysburg" with him in it and listen to his speech on "the high ground." Mmmmmm. Still gets me all tingly just thinking about it. Of course, my ex husband wasn't too happy when he discovered the reason I liked that movie. /sigh
Ole Sam's never been able to disguise his accent, anything he plays in is as good as anything else for listening to the sweetest old southern guy's voice that we're blessed to be able to hear.
I'm coming from the opposite perspective -- Yankee born and raised, now living in the South where my accent (not to mention my unusual ethnic last name) instantly pegs me as "not from around here." It's no big deal. I have fun with it; sometimes it opens up interesting conversations with patients and families. Once in a great while, I catch some "Yankee go home" attitude, but I just shrug it off.
As long as you're giving great care, nobody with any sense is going to mind your accent. I only wish I could pick some of it up; I love the way Southerners speak but it never sounds right coming from me.
We have very diverse pts and doctors- sometimes I find myself at the patient's bedside translating from english with one accent to english with another! Say east indian accent to south philly or italian, russian, or maybe just ahhh... ebonics? Its all good as long as everyone is patient and willing to repeat. Sometimes it is good for comic relief too. I loved it the other day when the resident in rounds said that the (cardiac) pt had got his "shocks" on. Everyone thought he meant he had been defibrillated, and this is a pt who was having all kinds of trouble with his ICD. When we all realized he meant socks becasue the man had feet cold as ice- well, all the residents were rolling around on the floor laughing.
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:monkeydance:
I agree!!
Roy Fokker, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,011 Posts
However I can't help but think that the kind of people who would prejudge someone with a Southern accent as being ignorant are the same kind of people, if the tables were switched, who'd think someone with a Brooklyn or Philly accent to be a 'stuck up Yankee snob'.
:)