coworker complained: I dared to say "butt."

Nurses General Nursing

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My supervisor told me about it; I was having a deadly busy day. I had just had 2 discharges and the beds weren't cold before ER called report and delivered new 2 new admits. I hadn't seen the 1st admit yet and I had to discharge a third patient, and the very second that bed goes on the board to be cleaned, ER calls with a 3d admit. I was also charge nurse and had to deal with other issues on the unit. I called the house sup who was placing these patients and asked her to back off for a minute so I could breathe, because all these admits were mine. I know what she was doing, looking at a computer monitor downstairs at empty rooms. She had no idea who was taking care of what beds. So, I spoke to her very briefly and she hung up abruptly. After a few minutes I went into my supervisor's office, and she told me, don't use any kind of slander with this house sup. Apparently I said "butt" in some fashion to her and she became offended.

Did I say I was working my butt off? I don't recall. I really don't. So my question to you all is, do you work with easily offended people? And what are they doing in nursing?

Specializes in subacute/ltc.

:yeah:

I once was scrubbed in with an orthopedic surgeon. There was a piece of equipment that I was putting together and it was defective. I got so frustrated that I let the F-word fly...As soon as it was out of my mouth, I was mortified and started apologizing. This doctor actually high fived me and said that swearing was a sign that I was involved in what I was doing, and that I actually gave a crap(his word) about what I was doing.:mad::lol2:

Finally, the justification I've been looking for to cuss!!:yeah:

n

Seriously I once accidently offended a coworker with my language. And apologized profusely....

Last night we had 3 admits, our charge doesn't have an assignment. The other floor nurse and myself stayed to assist her in finishing the admits. Subacute/Ltc admit pacets have the thickness of a phone book and are so bloody redundant....

Your house sup would have dropped down dead at our language...we were "outdoing" each other in the outrageous and vulgar department. While laughing like loons.....(for the record we were in the nursing office with the doors shut!):D

What a drag and a drain to have to consider such petty stuff, when you are busting your butt.:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

Tres

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:heartbeat

i was thinking the same thing myself today. i do 3 separate positions at one job. i am on the wound care team, the infection control team, i am house supv. twice a month, and floor nurse(at times) so i guess 4. we all need to lighten up, and some of us have a sense of humor which is much needed in this business. i know many times, i've had to laugh to just keep from crying. the word butt, is funny in many instances!!!:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:

tam in vero:mad::mad::uhoh3::uhoh3:

my supervisor told me about it; i was having a deadly busy day. i had just had 2 discharges and the beds weren't cold before er called report and delivered new 2 new admits. i hadn't seen the 1st admit yet and i had to discharge a third patient, and the very second that bed goes on the board to be cleaned, er calls with a 3d admit. i was also charge nurse and had to deal with other issues on the unit. i called the house sup who was placing these patients and asked her to back off for a minute so i could breathe, because all these admits were mine. i know what she was doing, looking at a computer monitor downstairs at empty rooms. she had no idea who was taking care of what beds. so, i spoke to her very briefly and she hung up abruptly. after a few minutes i went into my supervisor's office, and she told me, don't use any kind of slander with this house sup. apparently i said "butt" in some fashion to her and she became offended.

did i say i was working my butt off? i don't recall. i really don't. so my question to you all is, do you work with easily offended people? and what are they doing in nursing?

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Geesh, sounds like a nurse sup we used to have. I got written up one late Sunday night because I hung up on her. Manager asked me why I had hung up... I explained the conversation (too long to go into, basically the sup. was an idiot), then said "it was either hang up on her or call her a stupid *****". Dear manager tried to conceal that snicker, but I saw it! Had to write an apology. So I just said "sorry for hanging up on you". Wanted to say "sorry you're so stupid".

Okay, I speak like an OR nurse! And you know, I didn't swear (beyond damn) before I was a nurse--honestly!

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.
If someone complained about you saying the word "butt", then I should be unemployable because when I get stressed more than the word "butt" comes out at my supervisors. Of course, not in front of patients, but none the less, I have a potty mouth behind closed doors. When I'm sinking and noone wants to help me and my patients are being neglected my mouth is all kinds of dirty. Not very professional, but so far, very effective.

me, too!

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I had a simular issue my first year in nursing. I had a brain freeze during report and couldn't think of the word "groin" ( the patient was s/p cardiac cath- no hematoma at groin site...) The only term that came to mind was "crotch"-(my wife does a lot of sewing). I got a 20min lecture about being base and unprofessional in report.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I was at work one night and MRI called and I was about to be in the middle of helping clean liquid poo ( thank you kayexalayte). I asked her to call back in 15 minutes. The MRI tech cutrely told me to call her when I could. I replied "OK whatever" and hung up. I wasn't rude or nasty. I just ment whatever you want. After I was done helping the other nurse I went to the desk and the poor float clerk was upset. I asked her what was wrong and she was told in a very nasty tone from the MRI tech that she wouldn't be disrespected and wanted to talk to someone above me. The clerk let her know that I was charge. I didn't get around to calling back till later and someone else answered and we set up MRI and no big deal. 20 min later MRI tech ( rude one) called back and asked me if I was the "rude young lady" that she talked to earlier. I replied that I was who she spoke to earlier and that I wasn't rude but busy and I was about to be cleaning stool off a pt and I was sorry that she felt that way. She started to lecture me about how I was rude and she won't be disrespected. I told her that she was in no way disrespected and I was again sorry she felt that way but she took it the wrong way. I said sorry again and told her MRI was set up and pt would be ready when transport arrived.

Thank God for my coworker who took my pt for me that night. I have always had trouble with that MRI tech. She is so moody and nasty. I was glad to stay behind and take care of 3 patients.

I have to say that butt is not the worst thing out of my mouth some nights. I have dropped a f-bomb or 2 some nights. I really wasn't this bad until I became a nurse really I wasn't.

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Specializes in PACU.

Wow, some folks sure are lame. It is absolutely absurd to report someone or discipline someone for saying a word, especially outside of hearing distance of patients and families. Any sane person that was offended by such language would merely state directly to the person that uttered it that it offended her and that she would appreciate it if such language wasn't used. I'd be tempted to tell whoever reported me for saying "butt" to ram it up her . Even some of the most religious folks I know use the word butt, so it's hard for me to imagine someone being offended.

Frankly, I swear like a sailor most of the time. I have since I was a kid. I have a massive vocabulary, but there are certain situations that warrant swearing. Like when I kicked over my Coke earlier. :madface: I try to not swear at all at work, though I must confess that I occasionally do. If someone complained to my superior about me using a word that isn't even a "bad" one I'd get pretty rutting angry.

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Specializes in Education and oncology.

This post was actually longer then I expected- who knew so much could be written about "butt"? Some of the posts had me rolling "If you send me more admissions, I'll put them up your butt...etc. I have to say at our acute BMT unit, the charge nurse takes patients too, and the sup fills the beds regardless of if they've been cleaned by housekeeping. (Sorry, you don't mind waiting on a stretcher in the busy hallway while we wait for your room to be cleaned?) :no:

My difficulty as a brand new nurse so long ago was that I was a sous chef before graduating. If anyone has worked in a hot, hectic busy kitchen, they know what words get flung around on a regular basis. We screamed at the poor servers to pick up their food, dishwashers to replace our dishes, etc. Everyone had a terrible case of severe potty mouth. "Butt" was not considered a "bad word". BTW, in my house growing up, we were not allowed to say "butt, shut up etc, or anything remotely "unladylike." A few days on the job cooking took care of that! I had to learn to speak professionally- after 3 years of cursing, that was a feat! :omy:

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Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

I managed to say **** in front of a nun at work on Sunday as I was assisting her mum to the toilet before she went to hospital and went to fall head first into the television. I wasn't really concentrating 100% on my resident as I had part of my concentration on the nun who was translating for me. The nun just smiled at me when I apologised and said "I didn't hear you way ****".

That is the only time I have ever sworn in front of a resident.

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