Doctor or Dockworker?

[Emergent]

Our ER director acts more like a rough and ready longshoreman than a highly educated professional. It dawned on me today that, I don't like my docs to act so blue collar. He drops F bombs right and left and acts like a truck driver or a roofer(not to disparage these indispensable tradesmen)

I don't know his family background at all as far as socio-economic class, but my favorite ER provider is the son of migrant farm-workers, grew up working in the fields, and is the classiest guy in the world.

I'd happen to think that educated professionals should act classy, at least in the workplace. Thanks for reading my little rant.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I too... happen to have colorful language :sofahider. Probably from all my years at a rough inner city trauma center. It has been mentioned that I have a truck drivers mouth on occasion. Then I moved and was employed at an ED in a wealthy suburb of Boston....it was....different... to say the least.

I know when to modify my language...however I do not have a good poker face. [/quote

OH, Esme, I had to laugh; I grew up north of Boston among the working class that enabled all those from generations of wealth. Sometimes they seem to expect a attitude of hushed awe from those around them.

"Oh my home is in Boston, Land of Beans and Cod, Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots, And the Cabots talk only to God."

I saw a picture in a magazine of a woman's face, exhibiting the Boarding-School clenched jaw and a quite serious facial expression. Underneath the photo was written, "Is this woman angry?......Or just from Boston?"

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Just like many people say "You can't teach compassion" because that is something that is learned by ones environment, not in a text book.

Another wise saying: "You can take the person out of the ghetto or trailer park, but you can never take the ghetto or trailer park out of the person."

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

I love cursing :)

[duskyjewel]

I think that an individual who can not, even in a small manner, tone down or modify his/her behavior, to put others more at ease, is exhibiting a lack of sensitivity that would cause me to question other aspects of their judgment.

And everyone who has said they curse also said they know how to tone it down when need be.

[Student Mom to Three]

It's all about knowing your effing audience.

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

Another wise saying: "You can take the person out of the ghetto or trailer park, but you can never take the ghetto or trailer park out of the person."

true!

I was raised in the hood now i live in a condo not far from the beach and chile im as ghetto as they come.

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

It's all about knowing your effing audience.

lol like

[firstinfamily, RN]

I think it all goes back to that old "nature versus nuture" influence. Yes, we would expect more educated people to be a little more refined, however, if it keeps the ER Director from getting totally stressed out by expressing his verbage then it is a positive release for him/her. I found once my co-workers knew I used a few colorful words they were more relaxed around me and we could share more laughs together. Time and place for everything, we need to stay professional in the work environment. Maybe use a few code words when trying to express something colorful!!

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I'm glad to see that nearly everyone in this thread is expressing appreciation for different types of personalities and recognizing what each can bring to the table. That's the way it should be. There's not one that's better or worse because even someone with a identifiable type of personality can modify behavior for the given audience in the workplace.

There's a consult at work who is Dr. Straight Face. One of my patients asked about him warily. I told her that he's brilliant (which he is). She said, "Ok, I knew there was a reason people were recommending him because it sure isn't his bedside manner!" Although I didn't say anything, I knew exactly what she meant.

So, imagine my surprise when he walked into a patient's room as I was cleaning up a failed IV stick attempt, and I said to the patient, "I'm not going to try again. I'm going to get the best IV sticker in the hospital to help me, ok?" Dr. Straight Face had a funny smirk on his face (I was already dumbfounded by his expression, by the way) and said, "Dudette, I thought there wasn't anyone better at anything than you." He said it in front of the patient! He never, ever makes asides in front of patients!

I thought I had won the lottery. I actually got Dr. Straight Face to loosen up a bit! YAY!

[Spangle Brown]

Reality check. Words are Words. Humans are the ones who decide the meanings of words. And decide what should be considered foul/ off color/ curse words. What is objected able to one, isn't object able to all. Bloody is descriptive in the states, but can be a curse word in England.

The (F-bomb) It's a choice to be offended. It's just a word.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Yup, there are somewhat coded references to patients and circumstances/conditions, though at the moment I am at a loss. All I remember is "GOMER".

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Me, new to the CICU step-down unit. Rude and egotistical doctor, but brilliant cadiologist, comes into the nurses station where I am charting, left hand holding up my head and blocking out the glare of the overhead spotlight. He drops about five stacked charts RIGHT beside me: CRASH!BOOM!, and without a word, walks out of the nurse's station. I hadn't jumped or even reacted, but the second he cleared the doorjamb, yet still within hearing range, I asked the unit secretary, "WHO was that MENOPAUSAL man?" She looked at me with a horrified wide-eyed look and moved her head in the direction he'd gone in, indicating he could hear me. I knew that.

Ever after, he was extremely good-natured with me, and the other nurses couldn't figure out why he acted nice around me, when he could ordinarily be such a truly raging butthole.