Im a 4th student nurse and I frequently have to answer phones in front of many doctors and nurses. I often stammer on the phone. I had a bad experience last week where I stammered on the phone and two doctors looked up from their work and stared at me for a few seconds before looking back down. It could have been worse yes, but it really upset me as I feel I have already got the victory over my stammering by working in the healthcare industry in the first place. You talk all day everyday, mostly to strangers. I have a mild stammer, that mostly comes up when I cannot swap around words. So when saying ward names for example, there is only one name, so I must just say it and i cant swap it to a word i can say more easily. I have been trying to deal with this feeling of shame around stammering (I go a few weeks without stammering sometimes, but it always, without fail, comes back) and for the most part i am very protective and defensive of it. I try to remember that I got myself to where i am, stammer and all. They did not have that obstacle to overcome so who are they to judge me? Secondly, they are doctors, if they do not recognise and understand a stammer when they hear it, well then they have bigger problems. Another tip: please never apologise for stammering. You can inform people you have one yes but never apologise for it. You do NOT owe them anything. You deserve to be on that ward because you worked hard for it and no one is going to get in your way or make you feel less than. This is easier said than done, I actively work on it everyday, but the key really lies in building your confidence and self worth. They cannot hurt you with something that you already accept about yourself. If a doctor does say something, a way to build boundaries without being rude could be “I have a stammer, I have no control over it”. Factual, polite, without being apologetic. I hope this helps, I have met nurses and doctors who stammer and you will do great.