Embarrassed myself today

[Do-over]

I swore in front of a patient and a family member today. I lost control of a drain tube I was d/c'ing, and slung some blood onto to the (clean!) linens... and a "s#%t" slipped out.

After the dressings and linens got changed I did apologize to them... I don't think the patient even heard me (either time), but the family member was very gracious... A co-worker helping with the dressing, etc. gave me a good-natured hard time about it.

Just feeling tacky about it and wanted to vent. I don't like it when other people cuss, and I REALLY don't like it when I cuss!

[StudentNurse2011]

Really? I've always thought it was the sailors! I know, because I was once a Navy brat :)

I think any branch of the military is expected to have a potty mouth, so most people don't give it a second glance. We get extra points for shock value because we can hold the hand of a dying patient one minute, give off a stream of very imaginative curses the next, and in the blink of an eye, comfort a scared child. That kind of flexibility is an art form, and we honed the craft. Anybody can curse; it takes someone special to turn it off and on in no time flat.

[nursel56]

gaahhh.. . still looking for fake poop link, I fear it was in the one that is now password protected

[RNperdiem, RN]

My embarrassment in front of patients family: A patient was on CPAP and was not able to tolerate having the mask off even for a short while. He was thirsty and thought I would give him a drink of soda by slipping a straw in under the CPAP mask. Bad idea. High rates of positive pressure down a straw sent half the can of soda flying everywhere.

[franciscangypsy]

The theme from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is my happy place song for some reason. I don't alter the lyrics at all, but for some unknown reason, it makes me smile. Maybe because it's making everybody else around me groan because they know now that song will be stuck in their heads too. LOL

"A Spoon Full of Sugar" from Mary Poppins is oddly my happy song. I think I was trying to make Mucomist taste better (impossible) with some coke and started humming it to myself. Now, whenever I'm in a good mood at work, I start sing-humming (sunging?) it.

[StudentNurse2011]

"A Spoon Full of Sugar" from Mary Poppins is oddly my happy song. I think I was trying to make Mucomist taste better (impossible) with some coke and started humming it to myself. Now, whenever I'm in a good mood at work, I start sing-humming (sunging?) it.

I know I'm weird, but I don't sing my happy place song when I'm happy. I sing it to make myself happy when I'm about to go off the deep end of a redheaded temper tantrum. Who knows....maybe I sing it as a warning to those around me. LOL

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I know I'm weird, but I don't sing my happy place song when I'm happy. I sing it to make myself happy when I'm about to go off the deep end of a redheaded temper tantrum. Who knows....maybe I sing it as a warning to those around me. LOL

I just love not being the only redhead around here!

[StudentNurse2011]

I used to work with a particular doc...the very first time he met me, he said, "OH SH**! A redhead! My ex was a redhead!" We laughed about it, but he always treated me with the utmost respect. If I wanted him to do something, no arguments - he just did it. Someday, I want to thank his ex for training him for me! LOL

[franciscangypsy]

man. we brunettes don't get that kind of respect!

I had one elderly pt look at me when I walked in and say: "man, I'm tired of all these brunettes! you're all brunettes! I want two blondes and a redhead!" Yessir! Hopping right on that! I'll need to get a dr's order for it, of course...

Too bad we didn't have two blondes and a redhead working that night.

[StudentNurse2011]

man. we brunettes don't get that kind of respect!

I had one elderly pt look at me when I walked in and say: "man, I'm tired of all these brunettes! you're all brunettes! I want two blondes and a redhead!" Yessir! Hopping right on that! I'll need to get a dr's order for it, of course...

Too bad we didn't have two blondes and a redhead working that night.

I'm not sure if it's respect.....or fear. Whatever, I'll take it.

You should've asked him - are you sure about that? At least with brunettes, you don't have to worry about one going postal or making a silly mistake (no disrespect intended to blondes *grin*). That would've been hilarious, tho, if you could've arranged for at least a couple of blondes and a redhead to come in and say hi.

[nursel56]

man. we brunettes don't get that kind of respect!

I had one elderly pt look at me when I walked in and say: "man, I'm tired of all these brunettes! you're all brunettes! I want two blondes and a redhead!" Yessir! Hopping right on that! I'll need to get a dr's order for it, of course...

Too bad we didn't have two blondes and a redhead working that night.

Aww. . . funny guy. :) These happysong choices are great. Like others have said:) . hahaha at least no one has mentioned perpetually annoying "It's a small world after all, it's a . . . :nuke:

In Spanish, my fave is "La Cucaracha" but only because of the line "ya no puedo caminar" which I think means I already can't walk and I have no idea what bugs have to do with not being able to walk. . . but it still amuses me.

[triotracer]

LMAO. Thanks for the chuckle!

[nursenow]

Personaly, I WOULD beat myself up for cussing in front of a patient or family member. It is not OK and we dont all do it. It is nice that you apologized but that is to be expected of you at a minimum. I think it was gracious of the family member to smile and accept your apology, but that is an indication of their character and not what they really thought inside. Maybe it bothered them and maybe it didn't.(you will never know) I dont consider cussing to be a natural reaction, it is learned like almost everything else we do. (oh boy, i have a feeling i am going to get beat up for this one)