unprofessional behavior in RN community

Nurses Professionalism

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:nurse: I work in a small rural hospital in Nebraska,you would think the nurses here would be as professional as anywhere,or more so,wrong-wrong-wrong...we have some younger 22-30 year olds that use the f word and others I don't care to think of,at the drop of their hat..they nit-pick and make fun of others all the time...our unit manager is well aware of the problem and I think she may have had a few words with them but their behavior has not changed...does anyone out their have a solution???

In my nurses training we were taught that 1. NEVER talk about another nurse or MD

2.NEVER use foul language 3. your appearence is very important.....come on ladies this is not a hard list to follow,is it? Thanks for listening

I used to live across the street from an elementary school and the little bas****s...I mean kids, would say words that I had just learned as an adult!

My wife, a school teacher, told me about a parent-teacher conference where little Johnny had been written up for cussing. When the teacher told the mother, the mom reached over and started slapping little Johnny. "What's the hell's wrong with you, you little f****r! When I get you home, you sorry bas****, I'm going to kick your a**! I told you never to cuss, you little SOB! And we ask why?

Unfortunately, this is a pretty common problem, Zen.

A friend of mine that floated to peds. unit told me about going in to flush an INT (nothing painful here, just a little saline). Kid bit her, punched her in the face, kicked her in the knee, and called her a f*****g b**** :eek:

Meanwhile, his parents just stood there and said/did absolutely nothing - as if this was normal, acceptable behavior. :rolleyes:

I guess that's why I like babies - they don't curse me no matter what kind of trash their parents are. But if their parents start in, I call security. :)

I wonder if they would talk that way in front of their parents. I am 33 next month and if I cursed in front of my dad he would still try to wash my mouth out with soap. :uhoh21: Hate to sound sexist but there are some words that should not come out of a lady's mouth. Still not acceptable for a man to be cursing at work either or in front of the ladies. Gosh am I old-fashioned or what? It wasn't until after I married did I find out my dad ever cursed. And that is only because my husband told me.

Personally, I think we are kinda young to be old fashioned (33 in Oct) lol, but I agree with you, ANYTIME I hear curse words from a woman, I just cringe. My parents didn't do it in front of me, me nor any of my friends do it, it just isn't acceptable.

Sure blowing off steam is one thing, but when there is someone out there that may take offense to that way of talking it is just respect to not talk that way, I don't think professionalism is even the word for it, its just plain DISRESPECTFUL

Unfortunately, this is a pretty common problem, Zen.

A friend of mine that floated to peds. unit told me about going in to flush an INT (nothing painful here, just a little saline). Kid bit her, punched her in the face, kicked her in the knee, and called her a f*****g b**** :eek:

Meanwhile, his parents just stood there and said/did absolutely nothing - as if this was normal, acceptable behavior. :rolleyes:

I guess that's why I like babies - they don't curse me no matter what kind of trash their parents are. But if their parents start in, I call security. :)[/QUO

That is just sad..............

I used to live across the street from an elementary school and the little bas****s...I mean kids, would say words that I had just learned as an adult!

My wife, a school teacher, told me about a parent-teacher conference where little Johnny had been written up for cussing. When the teacher told the mother, the mom reached over and started slapping little Johnny. "What's the hell's wrong with you, you little f****r! When I get you home, you sorry bas****, I'm going to kick your a**! I told you never to cuss, you little SOB! And we ask why?

I'm sure that is just a joke, but that is exactly how it plays out

Acutally it doesn't hurt a bit! Our profession is full of people from all walks of life with all types of backgrounds and beliefs, it's not up to me to judge someone else's language unless it is expressed improperly in front of patients, families, or visitors. We all know the limits, we can all abide by them. I know some people are terribly offended by "blue" language and I try to not "offend" them. I don't understand how it is so offensive but that is just my opnion and I realize it is not shared by many people. If you want to judge who I am based on my language then base it on all of my language, as well as all of my behavior. I am not linear, I am a full rounded individual with many facets. Be careful who you look down your nose upon, you could miss out on some very important and special relationships. :stone

Not looking down your nose, but you can usually tell that if someone is going to use such language, then that is also, their behavior as well. The language is the behavior that they are displaying. Why not display a positive behavior instead.

I have never looked down my nose at anyone, and wanting or asking for respect from someone isn't looking over someone's genuine personality or who they are, its just asking the same thing that I give others. I have to get respect to give it, and talking in such a foul way isn't respectful of others. It is just plain rude. If that is the behavior that you wish to display, then you should round out a little bit more.

That is, of course presuming that these people ARE ladies. Just being female doesn't make you a lady anymore than being a male makes us gentlemen.

So very true

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Well, I'm also one of those people who does not notice a lot of cussing going on at work, but DOES notice a lot of gossiping and backstabbing, and yes, just plain meanness. I tend to be a little on the paranoid side, I'll admit, but I often feel like I'm the target of a couple of nurses on the floor who have been nurses a bit longer than I have, but think that their s**t doesn't stink.

Usually, if you hear any nurse on the floor cussing... it's me. :imbar I will tell you that I NEVER used to do it when I was a nurse's aide, but once I graduated and became an RN, I noticed myself doing it quite a bit more often. I try to be careful and do it under my breath and away from others, but I still do it.

I will also say that I don't like my job. I work on a med-surge unit and am looking to move to a different specialty in the not-so-distant future. I always enjoyed psychiatric nursing and feel more confortable in that field.

But anyway... I personally don't think there is anything inherently wrong with cussing, if one does it out of earshot of others. However, I personally do see it as a symptom that... perhaps one is a bit too stressed out and would do well to seek other employment. :)

I'm sure that is just a joke, but that is exactly how it plays out

I am a funny guy, but no joke. Here in Hawaii, many adults love the "F" word so kids think it's normal.

Sometimes its just the culture of the place and the bad language/behavior is rampant. I put up with a lot in the break room; we all need a safe place to vent. It should never occur where it might offend someone not of that ilk, and never in front of patients and families in my opinion. I've worked agency on units that the entire staff talked trash, cussed, and behaved innappropriately to each other the better part of the shift. I just thank my lucky stars I don't have to work with them every day. I tend to be very professional on the job (exclusively agency shifts now)...and that particular unit above the charge nurse apologized to me about his crew's language...I just shrugged and said "your unit not mine, none of my business''. But the fact he apologized told me he knew it was innappropriate. It may catch up with him someday.

that's why i suk as a 'business person'.

i am no-nonsense and would have a zero tolerance policy on workplace negativity.

if these people didn't respond to the progressive discipline policies, they would be out of there. period.

but you are going to find this in more place than not. if they don't act like that in front of pts/families, then nothing much can be done unless you care to have a private conversation with them, telling them they're disgraceful.

yes, i have done that. if mgmt. seems dismissive, then unfortunately, you're on your own.....

Because of your zero tolerance you would be an excellent business person.

This behavior hurts the business. It is not just the patients and visitors that management needs to be concerned about. This is an unhealthy work enviorment.

You are not on your own file a formal complaint with HR. This is may be a classified a hostile work enviroment.

You have recourse. Management needs to do more than have words. They need to put thier foot down.

Don't kid yourself that visitors and family do not notice the attitude of these nursese even if they do not hear the words. They do. This language is related to attitude.

i'm 23 and i can't imagine dropping the "f-bomb" at work...or in public! there are some things that need to be left at home...like the f word and smelly farts...

how obnoxious and bold to think you can talk like that at work where there is a very high probability that patients and families are nearby.

i'd be afraid of losing my job!

yowza!

:uhoh3:

Just curious because that is exactly what my unit sounds like (in small town NE!) Just to let you know there is another husker on the boards- pm me if you want!

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