We can never assume a co-worker's intent. Someone "just joking" or "they didn't MEAN anything by it" is rarely a good excuse. The issue can be that information that is heard can be subjective. So it is really a double edged sword. It is hard to look at things objectively when you are a target. It takes a strong leader with zero tolerance to support a nurse's stance that they are the target of bad behavior. Nurses Announcements Archive Article