Cussing Co-Workers

[Furoffire]

at my new job, many of my co-workers use foul four letter words. of course the patients do not hear, hopefully. i am a god fearing nurse and the language makes me uncomfortable. i do not want to be a prude and holier than thou, but how do i stop this? i know my co-workers get stressed out and the foul words are just an expression to blow off steam but frankly i cannot stand it and would like to nip it in the bud w/o being offensive. any words of wisdom? plus, there are a few doctors that have low tolerance for errors, don't blame them but i understand they use foul language over the phone with the nurses, since i am new to the dept., i am bound to make an error or two, if i get the foul treatment, how can i assertively stop that behavior as well? :smiley_ab

[Luv2BAnurse]

hmmm

If I were truly bothered by something someone was doing, I'd be direct and tell them "Hey, you know, that language is a bit offensive to some of us, would you try to say something else?" Of course they may or may not. Most workplaces have a policy in place stating that foul language will not be tolerated. If the language continues, go to your supervisor. Most people that are doing things such as that are really clueless that they are offending others, and will slow it down if not completely stop it.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

Tell them you are uncomfortable with the swearing. If they continue to swear around you then this is considered abuse. Possibly suggest a more acceptable word to use when under stress for your co-workers. And doctors can also be reported for verbal abuse....always. During orientation you should have had some training in abuse, it is required.

[TazziRN, RN]

for doctors, tell them directly, "I do not speak to you that way and i would appreciate it if you treated me the same way."

coworkers: "I know that you're needing to blow off some setam, but your language makes me very iuncomfortable. i would appreciate it if you could try and tone it down a little."

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

If you worked where I work, you'd be having just about everyone fired or written up. We have a few at work that are the same as you and they just say....You kiss your kid/husband, etc with that mouth ? Maybe try a light hearted approach to it. If it isn't directed at you, you may just need to learn to ignore it. As for the docs, we have a few that will cuss at us, but we just say, "Gasp" that wasn't nice". They get the hint.

[Dewgrl]

I promise not to swear at work if you promise never to drop the "g" bomb! I try to always say fudge or some "soft subsitute" for dirty words, but I saw that you mentioned god in your post. I have a co-worker who brings up the bible and god all to often, to staff and pt. I find this just as offensive as when you hear the "f" bomb drop...just something to think about...

[buildingmyfaith57]

sometimes it is not easy to do. the best thing to do is this try you're darnest to let it go into one ear and out the other. because i know how you feel because it bugs me. that why when i go on break, i don't sit in the same room with them,or outside with them. and pushing god onto someone is not right either.

[Larry77, RN]

I agree with the last response...too much of anything is bad!

You said at your new job...just remember as a new person to a dept, you are on their turf. You will not be accepted if you complain about the way things are right now...especially to management. I would just hang back and try to not let it bother you and just concentrate on learning the job (you can learn the language later..lol).

I myself am a Christian and do not choose to use foul language but yes a lot of my co-workers do...so be it. They have the right to use foul language just as much as I have a right to not use foul language. If this affects pt care I would surely say something to that person but in a matter-of-fact manner as an earlier poster mentioned.

I have a real issue with people who are so sensitive to bad language that it affects them personally....lighten up! Is this language actually "hurting" you? If so then go work at a church and stop judging people.

(not trying to attack the OP just got myself into a little venting there in general about judgemental Christians giving the rest of us a bad name)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'd tell them it bothers me, but i certainly wouldn't tell them why.

[Beary-nice]

As a professional, I do not use that type of language at work. I expect others considered professionals to abide by the same. If the cussing is not in the direct pt area, it soon will be if this is tolerated and a common occurance. I feel it is appropriate to verbalize your not being comfortable with it. We had this same problem where I work and after we established a non-tolerance of it, it stopped. It was getting really bad in the med room at times and every time the door opened the cussing was heard by visitors, pts, other hospital workers...very tacky and very unprofessional. As for a doctor cussing me on the phone...no way...would not tolerate it and would let them know so. I can understand stress, but there are ways to handle it and not handle it. What Tazzi told you above is very good and I hope you consider it. Good luck!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

If the cussing is not in the direct pt area, it soon will be if this is tolerated and a common occurance.

Can't necessarily agree with this. We've cursed a lot in our locker room and breakroom and still don't do it in pt. areas.

[Beary-nice]

Can't necessarily agree with this. We've cursed a lot in our locker room and breakroom and still don't do it in pt. areas.

Well, that I can understand Marie and when I mentioned that I guess I really needed to be more specific because we had this problem on the floor where cussing went from the lockeroom, to the med room, to the charting area, to the direct nurses station, to the pts rooms. I feel if it could have been nipped somewhere between the lockeroom and the med room maybe it wouldn't have gotten so bad. I'm glad you could keep it under control my coworkers could not.