How to respond to these type of nurses!?

[MikeyJ, RN]

This morning I had clinicals and while I was getting report from the night nurse, she insisted on saying horrible things about one of the patients I was caring for. My clinicals are at a county hospital, thus we see a fair amount of homless patients. As she was giving reports, she said "...this (insert explitive) is a nasty homeless man who is demanding..." and another time she stated "...last night at 11:00 he demanded pain meds and I told the (explitive) that he can wait...".

I have heard many nurses speak badly about their patients during report, but I was astonished at the nasty language this nurse used to refer to her patient. I am only a nursing student, thus I didn't respond to her because the last thing I need is to have a bad name for myself on the floor I do clinicals on.

But how do you nurses respond to nurses like this during report? I would be tempted to walk away and tell them to come find me when they were ready to give me report.

[brissie]

So many factors could be coming into play here. I am not offering excuses for their behavior, swearing is absolutely unacceptable behavior in a professional setting, yet maybe the nurse had been having a bad day or maybe the pt had been verbally abusive or manipulative towards the nurse. Anyways all I am trying to say is that I don't think that their are many nurses out there that have not thought this about a pt, yet most of us try to retain a professional demenour. I'm pretty sure if you confronted them about the bad language they would apologize and stop, often times when we are in the heat of emotion it takes an outside influence to check us and calm us down and to see reason again.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

As a professional nurse, I'm embarrased a nurse would behave like this at all, much less in front of a student.

You did the right thing as a student by ignoring it, in my opinion. However, as a nurse on the floor you may simply state "please don't use profanity around me, thanks". Being direct is the best approach. The next time this person does it, you say it again "I remember asking you not to use profanity around me, it's because I find it offensive, did you forget? Thanks for your consideration". You say it to each and every person whose language is offensive. Hopefully eventually your coworkers will get the point.

Those of us who use that sort of language know who we will and won't use it front of and appreciate when people tell us. :)

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

You will see many things like this, unfortunately. But, I feel that for now, you are trying to obtain your own license. Once you obtain that, you would have better control over the type of behavior you expect of your staff members as an RN. If there is a polite way to say how you feel, then, take the opportunity, however, I see retaliation in the mix. A thing you really don't need.

[Grace Oz]

QUOTE]But how do you nurses respond to nurses like this during report? I would be tempted to walk away and tell them to come find me when they were ready to give me report.

An acceptable and appropriate response.

often times when we are in the heat of emotion it takes an outside influence to check us and calm us down and to see reason again.

Well put.

As an older, (now retired) nurse, because of my experience, both professionally and with life itself, I would not hesitate to call this person to account for such disrespectful and unprofessional conduct in relation to a patient.

However, I can totally appreciate and understand how you must feel being a student and not wanting to, or feeling unable to, take a stand.

I would just like to share with you; "If good men and women do nothing, then evil will prosper". I think the saying goes soomething like that! :)

I'm not suggesting that nurse is evil, so no flames please!

I'm trying to express to you that sometimes we must stand up and in doing so we may take a risk. However, failure to take a stand, enables people like that nurse to continue to act in a way which is counterproductive for ALL concerned.

I wish you all the very best with the remainder of your clinical.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Those of us who use that sort of language know who we will and won't use it front of and appreciate when people tell us. :)

Absolutely. I cuss like a longshoreman with Tourettes, but I'm always mortified when I find out after the fact that someone was genuinely offended by my language.

[lil' girl, LPN]

Be very careful around this person. Maybe she was trying to see what your reaction was going to be. One never knows what they will throw at you in clinicals. Most nurses are good and maybe she was just having a BAD day. It is hard to judge someone on just a first meeting (is this your first time with her?). AND hey, only a nursing student? Well be proud of that, that means someday soon you will be Just a nurse!!

[lil' girl, LPN]

Absolutely. I cuss like a longshoreman with Tourettes, but I'm always mortified when I find out after the fact that someone was genuinely offended by my language.

Hey I'm a longshoreman with Tourettes so go right ahead!!:rotfl:

[bagladyrn, RN]

What I would advise for a student is to do as you did and not comment on this directly to the nurse. However, I would address this to your instructor, privately after clinicals. Someone using this kind of language and with this attitude really shouldn't be interacting with students and it is the instructors job to communicate this to the charge nurse or unit supervisor. And if, as some generously suggested, the nurse in question is under a lot of stress, then she doesn't need the added stress of dealing with students either.

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

Just take that information and remember that's not the kind of nurse that you want to be. I think you did the correct thing by not saying anything because of the following example:

I had a classmate/friend that was in her LTC-PN preceptorship, and her preceptor was truly hideous . I know this because I later had the same preceptor! Well anyway this preceptor nurse was rude, vulgar, verbally abusive and almost violent. My classmate stood up, told her she has no right to treat the Pt's that way. My classmate also reported the nurse to the DON & administrator. Guess what? My classmate received all unsatisfactory on her overall evaluation and permanent school record. If that's not bad enough, the other student doing her preceptorship in the same facility also received all unsatisfactory because she was a witness to the situation. The school temporarily suspended my classmates during the time to investigate. After a long hard fight, both classmates graduated but exited out of school as LPNs and unfortunately did not return to our school for the RN yr.

When in doubt, let your school handle it for you.

(PS, We did find out the preceptor nurse was rightfully fired...............)

[psalm, RN]

...when I was a student in clinicals, the first day in report one of the RNs talked on and on about Dr. X's affair with 2 nurses, and how the wife knew, etc, etc, etc. I didn't say anything to anyone on the floor, but I always wondered about Dr. X. When I assisted him with a dressing change weeks later, it was uncomfortable. I wish I had at least talked to my instructor.

[caliotter3]

These staff nurses, together or individually, have the power to see that you don't succeed in completing your clinical experience, so I would keep quiet about any criticism of them unless it is something that is life threatening. This behavior, is of course, something that can be discussed at your post clincial conferences with your clinical instructor. She will be pleased to point out to you that you are expected to conduct yourself professionally while on the floor. Don't get caught up in any floor problems. Just do what you are there to do, and keep your ears and eyes open. You will see, hear, and learn a lot. When you have your own license and are on the job, then conduct yourself the way you want to behave yourself. Always remember, that even if you complain to somebody about this unprofessional behavior, ultimately the only person you are responsible for is yourself. Be a good example to others. Good luck.