Hello! I took Introduction to Nursing last semester at my college. My teacher was an older women who still worked as a nurse at a local hospital. She also teaches other classes at our school. During a lecture one day, she continually used the word "retarded" to describe cognitively impaired people. It took me by surprise because I thought "intellectually disabled" and "cognitively impaired" were the appropriate terms to describe someone who is mentally retarded.
I want to make it clear that she was not saying anything negative about intellectually disabled people. But it did make me concerned that other people around me might have children or siblings who have this and it might hurt their feelings.
Is it normal for people in the health care profession to continue to use the word "retarded?" Keep in mind my teacher was older but she is still active as a nurse. Not a post bashing my teacher or people who use the word "retarded." I am just genuinely curious on the usage of this word in modern times.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Where I grew up around Boston, (50's, 60's, 70's) it was 'queer' that was used as a pejorative, instead of 'gay'. We had to tell my mom she should refer to us kids as "ODD ducks" instead of "queer ducks." She used the word queer in the old sense of 'peculiar', and din't realize the 'new' (at the time) meaning.
"Retahdid" (retarded) was used laughingly, and guys said "You are such a DINK!", meaning, comically, a tiny, retahded member (actually a nickname for Richard) which was a cross between and idiot and a fool.It seldom had connotations of hate, as it was generally used among friends. In the South it would be 'useless' and/or 'bless your heart, you ain't right'.....but it is all the same. It strikes me, in usage, as a comment much like "You throw like a GIRL."...an insult without teeth.
Language constantly changes and semantics are always a point of contention for those who let it be.*
"Cognitively impaired" for example is a description that's often used to describe anything from the effects of alcohol, to dementia.
Like I said, its definitely a bad idea to call a patient retarded to their face or when speaking with the family--i 100% advise against that simply because of the implied negative connotation people often attach to it; you can paint all the pretty elaborate ways you want when it comes to that situation. But from care provider to care provider or during a lecture like the OP said, we're all on the same page when you say mentally retarded
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
I appreciate the nuanced line that is being drawn in this discussion between how we may describe these patients professional to professional vs. professional to lay person/family/patient.
Discretion, sensitivity, and critical thinking is ALWAYS necessary when considering the words to use when communicating with our patients and their loved ones.
Cognitively impaired? That can mean a number of things. A drunk person is cognitively impaired. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what most people associate with that term. I'm fine with "developmentally disabled" or "mentally challenged" if that's the preference. I normally use "mentally challenged" rather than "mentally retarded", probably due to my age. My psych professor used "retarded" which seemed old-fashioned to me, but not offensive.
It's kind of like when my grandparents say "colored person" instead of "person of color"- it's not the preferred, modern form of the term, but neither is it offensive.
This has been an interesting discussion. I'm from the northeast and in charting, all I see is mental retardation (MR). When giving or getting report, nurses and doctors say: the patient has diabetes type 2, hypertension, mental retardation, atrial fibrillation... No one has ever said the patient IS retarded. That's an insult, but I don't think describing their medical condition is wrong.
I would feel awkward trying to use PC terms as they aren't the norm where I live. I understand the why, but I don't know if we're going too far to prevent hurt feelings. I think people at times just prefer the simple truth. Mental retardation is an accurate description of the condition.
One of my kids has learning issues and I've never been able to use any of the PC terms for that. Learning disability? No, he's not disabled. Learning impaired? Not really, some school tasks are harder for him but he learns just fine. He's pretty brilliant, so no cognitive term fits. I just say he can't do (and list his actual difficulties). Why beat around the bush?
I don't know. I'm trying to figure this out. But I definitely think a professor using retarded in lecture is wrong. I would write about it on the course evaluation.
Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck
No Stars In My Eyes
5,652 Posts
Where I grew up around Boston, (50's, 60's, 70's) it was 'queer' that was used as a pejorative, instead of 'gay'. We had to tell my mom she should refer to us kids as "ODD ducks" instead of "queer ducks." She used the word queer in the old sense of 'peculiar', and din't realize the 'new' (at the time) meaning.
"Retahdid" (retarded) was used laughingly, and guys said "You are such a DINK!", meaning, comically, a tiny, retahded member (actually a nickname for Richard) which was a cross between and idiot and a fool.It seldom had connotations of hate, as it was generally used among friends. In the South it would be 'useless' and/or 'bless your heart, you ain't right'.....but it is all the same. It strikes me, in usage, as a comment much like "You throw like a GIRL."...an insult without teeth.
Language constantly changes and semantics are always a point of contention for those who let it be.*