Soft spoken nurses

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I usually don't get offended if someone asks me to repeat what I said. I have a soft voice and I'm used it. I cannot deepen my voice to save my life, however I do make an effort to project when I'm talking to others, especially at work.

The issue is that there is one Dr at work that consistently complains about my voice. Everyone at work can hear me perfectly except her. The other day she embarrassed be so bad that another nurse pulled me aside and stated that I need to confront her about what she did.

I just blew it off, but now I'm thinking that I need to confront her and nip this in the bud. She consistently belittles me in front of others and I know it needs to stop.

Any advice or comebacks is much appreciated.

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Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

Honestly, I would pick your battles, but I know this would get to me too. I'm soft spoken and patients as well as docs sometimes tell me to speak up. I don't take it personally but I do draw a line when I'm being offended. Is the doc lashing out at you because not understanding you the first time really bothers her or is she ****** about something else and just using this as an excuse or rationalization?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

You could raise your voice and say CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?? I don't know if that was good advice, just sounds like a conversation my husband and I would have..lol

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Specializes in CVICU.

Why don't you simply say to her, "No one else has trouble understanding me when I speak. Why do you?"

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Meh...if it's just one person that has a problem, I wouldn't pay any attention to her. She sounds like she's kind of hateful. I work in a busy ER and I'm pretty sure I'm the ONLY soft-spoken nurse there. What I've learned is 1. Patients appreciate it and it's calming to them. 2. It can deescalate a bad situation quickly 3. People are forced to pay close attention to you when you're speaking. I work with mostly loud motor-mouths (don't get me wrong, I love them) but it's not real therapeutic.

Haters gonna hate. Forget em.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
Honestly, I would pick your battles, but I know this would get to me too. I'm soft spoken and patients as well as docs sometimes tell me to speak up. I don't take it personally but I do draw a line when I'm being offended. Is the doc lashing out at you because not understanding you the first time really bothers her or is she ****** about something else and just using this as an excuse or rationalization?

but there's a difference between saying to speak up and belittling or embarrassing someone in-front of everyone else. I say confront this bully! It does not have to be an argument. Just find time to get the person alone, let them know that their method is unprofessional and get it resolved like adults. Maybe the doc is hard of hearing, who knows?

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I would suggest the dr that she try to adjust the volume of her hearing aid. If she replies she doesn't have one, I would artistically raise my eyebrows like I'm in utter disbelief, and say no kidding?! bahahaha...

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As a guy I have a pretty "soft" voice. Not that i talk quiet but the pitch is hard for people that are hard of hearing. I always tell my patients that I have a pitch of voice that some find hard to hear, if you cant hear me let me know. I state this right away and for the most part they are polite about it and let me know. As far as the doctor goes I personly would bring this to her attention. Dont let them walk over you but approach it diplomaticly. If that doesnt work go to your supervisor, either way document the incident.

Im newer to the game but for the most part if you have a problem and you talk to the doctor one on one and in a reasonable manner they normaly (not always) seem to be ok with it. Thats my 2 cents.

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Maybe this person has hearing problems they don't know about yet. I know a couple of people that said others were talking too soft. It turns out they were the problem and had hearing loss.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

There were a few soft spoken docs when I worked in the ICU. I constantly asked them to repeat themselves. I know I irritated them. I did tell them that with all the other noise around (monitors, other docs, nurses, students, the NP, pharmacist, etc) was when I had the hardest time. I do have some hearing loss per my last hearing test. I only really had trouble with those two for some reason. Really hard to have a conversation when there are 10 other people in the room during rounds especially on a neuro ICU when we are screaming at pt to follow commands.

I always apologized and they told me it was ok. I had no trouble hearing them most other times. Just too hard with all the background noise.

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In an ideal world, one would get in communication with her, and try to find the button, and work with her on that button. (Speak to her in the good ear if that is the issue)

In a less ideal world, one would set limits on her behavior, and also, work on not hitting her personal buttons. The main point being to set limits on the behavior.

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Do you have a no bullying policy at work since it seems that doctor is clearly trying to bully you.

I'd suggest using some form of sign language but that would probably offend someone, too.

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