How to deal with obnoxious staff

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Been working in primary care office for a while now and enjoying it -- for the most part. What's tough for me at times is working in close proximity with nurses with very foul mouths, loud voices, and just having to listen to the nasty talk, gossip and just non stop chattering while trying to work, chart, learn and THINK!! I'm also new amongst folks who have been working together for years. I'm no prude, but the non stop F-word all day also just grates on me after a while. How can I deal with this -- don't want to alienate anyone but almost not sure I can work in this office at times with it ... the doc here just seems to rise above it and doesn't seem bothered by it. They're all good nurses, but I don't understand how they can do this and not realize how disruptive it is... and here I used to be a nurse who also used to goof off big time in the nursing station!! 😂😂

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

The tone of the office comes from the top down. In my offices (which I visit occasionally) it is definitely all business. This comes from our Practice Manager (MBA) and our Operations Manager (MSN Leadership/Management). There are no cell phones, no loud talk, absolutely no swearing (fireable offense).

And our pts often comment on the professionalism of our staff/office to me and other APRNs.

Ask your Practice Manager to address concerns with staff and couch in pt satisfaction.

Specializes in medical surgical.

I am not a prude either. I also hate corporate anything that includes scripting.

That said, it would grate on my nerves. Loud people already grate on me even out in a social setting. Yet I still like a good atmosphere and laughs when appropriate, just not like what your saying.

SoundofMusic

1,016 Posts

Yep -- grates on me even more as I have to stand in a tiny room right right next to me While I chart .... í ½í¹„

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

I don't know that I might consider this a reason to leave this practice unless you can effect change. If the practice manager and/or owners won't support you, it might come down to that.

Maybe you could just speak directly to each person in private and let each one know that you are having a hard time controlling your sexual urges because you hear the F word 99 times each day.

Make sort of a joke about it. If it keeps up, start saying "copulate" a lot. Or use the Biblical "know". Or "screw". Or pray aloud to Jesus repeatedly. Can you wear earphones with a Jesus sermon?

I don't know what to advise. You're new.

The setting you describe reminds me of MASH and how Hawkeye was so obnoxious - never shut up, always being sexually suggestive, insulting to another surgeon, God, I'd go nuts if I had to work with someone like that.

Good luck.

TicTok411

99 Posts

Im taking it that you are the new kid on the block and the staff is established. If that is the case I am not sure a newbie coming and being offended by everything will endear you to the practice. If this behavior is being overheard by the patient then I can see a polite request to keep it down otherwise you find yourself the one they all hate.

SoundofMusic

1,016 Posts

Oh I know .... I absolutely cannot and will not say much if anything at this point ... just trying to formulate a coping strategy for now.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Oh I know .... I absolutely cannot and will not say much if anything at this point ... just trying to formulate a coping strategy for now.

My first thought when I read this was for you to "get immediately sick" and go home!

Wuzzie

5,116 Posts

Earplugs.

Psychcns

2 Articles; 859 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Loud noisy staff bother me too. The other day I had this happen and I found that I could play spa music with earplug headphones on my iPhone and it helped a lot and I got my charting done. I considered getting a white noise machine or wear some kind of noise cancelling headphones, industrial type like they wear for shooting guns target practice or the Bose headphones. I can usually block things out but some voices or other sounds bother me.

Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

Nonstop chatter makes it hard to think. When I did orientation for my current job they gave us an hour to work on annual competency review modules (no where never enough) in the computer room - the nurse doing the training had a loud booming voice full of cheer and bonhomie, but he never stopped laughing and talking the while time. I couldn't think straight. I tried putting my fingers in my ears, but needed them to type. Ended up just doing it at home instead.

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