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

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

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...

I agree. I get sick and tired of people making religious references at every turn. "I've been blessed; it's in the Lord's hands; I've been praying about it" blah blah blah. Knock it off, already!

[buildingmyfaith57]

yea but cussing in the patrients rooms isn't that kinda on call for? what if the co-workers were cussing in front a child? where is the respect?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Cussing is unprofessional and shouldn't be tolerated in public.

Since you are new I might go to a supervisor and just have a private chat about how to handle it. Don't complain about individuals. Just a general sense of how the organization is supposed to handle cussing in public.

You would be surprised at the way we are perceived by the public - we've gotten responses back from patients who said they could hear private conversations at the nurses's station.

Larry - loved your "fowl" reference.

Profanity is ignorance made audible - my granny said that.

steph

[tryingtomakeit, RN]

Cussing is unprofessional and shouldn't be tolerated in public.

Since you are new I might go to a supervisor and just have a private chat about how to handle it. Don't complain about individuals. Just a general sense of how the organization is supposed to handle cussing in public.

You would be surprised at the way we are perceived by the public - we've gotten responses back from patients who said they could hear private conversations at the nurses's station.

Larry - loved your "fowl" reference.

Profanity is ignorance made audible - my granny said that.

steph

Your Granny sounds like a wonderful woman!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Your Granny sounds like a wonderful woman!

Well, she was quoting someone else but I can't remember who originally said it.

My granny was from Arkansas, had a southern accent a mile long, made the best pecan pie, tuna/macaroni salad, bbq hamburgers, pot of pinto beans . . . . .

She also said "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" and "sugarfoot" instead of S%&t.

I miss her.

steph

[tryingtomakeit, RN]

Well, she was quoting someone else but I can't remember who originally said it.

My granny was from Arkansas, had a southern accent a mile long, made the best pecan pie, tuna/macaroni salad, bbq hamburgers, pot of pinto beans . . . . .

She also said "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" and "sugarfoot" instead of S%&t.

I miss her.

steph

Ahhhhhhhh! No wonder she struck a soft spot! Arkansan here as well.

[Furoffire]

yep, i'm on their turf, i shall thread lightly w/ my co-workers but i will not be abused my the m.d.'s, i shall have to retract thy claws and hiss while my back is arched and maybe do a few quick swipes. thank you, meow................................................

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

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? :smiley_ab

hmm. i'm not god-fearing since i don't believe in god. however, i cannot stand vulgar language.

what about saying something as simple as "i know you are frustrated, but i'm uncomfortable with the language. it's not going to help us work this out with me having a kerfuffle with the language - instead of focusing on the problem at hand here." i tend to think simple and honest is best. i like the words "the language" instead of "your language" because it seems less confrontational. using words like "kerfuffle" seems to lighten things up and divert attention in my experience. btw it's a maureen dowd-ism.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I have caught myself starting a four letter word in times when my brain is on overload...but typically I have trained myself to mouth the word privately and not in the presence of anyone...or at least someone I know that does the same thing...LOL (staff not pts!!!).

The only times I have really ever heard cussing outloud has been in times of emergencies...and by Docs as well as Nurses! I let those pass, because frankly...it is being said in my head as a very descriptive word about the situation too!

If I am uncomfortable around it, I would simply say "you never know who is listening...better lighten it a bit *mindful head nod*".

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I think there is a huge difference between vulgar language used when one is frustrated and just randomly cursing, like if reading a chart vs. vulgar language directed right at someone when talking to them. Important distinction.

[leslie :-D]

i too, find random vulgarity unnecessary and highly unprofessional.

i doubt very much i would say anything, being the new kid on the block.

saying something to the charge or nm would be more likely, w/o pointing fingers.

yet, if i found out a pt heard someone cussing, then i wouldn't hesitate talking to the offender.

just be thankful you have a bit more class and professionalism.

leslie

[queenie2]

Just a student here...and a Christian. I don't recall reading that Furoffire "pushes" the Bible on others. But maybe if she did, some of those co-workers may be helped. They may find other ways (meditating on The Word, for example) to "blow off steam". OR, maybe they would think twice before speaking offensively in her presence if they simply have no interest in learning about God. At any rate, because one has a belief in God does not automatically make one a Bible-toting fanatic. It simply means that we are offended by some wordly things that others may be okay with. That's all.