Inappropriate Conversations in the Workplace

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Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
While working in the emergency room, I have endured many conversations that range from issues in today's news to political standpoints. I keep my mouth shut for the most part and take care of the assignment at hand, the patient.

Today, however, my feathers were ruffled and I had to take a bathroom break to prevent a heated outburst. The conversation at hand was dealing with racism and police shootings that end with there not being any justice for the victim. The nurses and nurse practitioner was literally making fun of a particular situation that vexed me to no end. Mind you, this is the emergency room with multiple patients.

I've never engaged or actively participated in these conversations. My question is, do I go to the director about this or turn the other cheek?

ETA: Multiple patients were complaining about not having any updates about placement etc... while this could have been done while the "conversation" was ongoing.

So is the issue that your colleagues are having a conversation that makes you, personally, uncomfortable or angry -- or is the issue that patients were complaining? I don't see any percentage in going to the director about a conversation just because you disagree with the viewpoints expressed, and if the issue is that the patients were complaining -- well, the director is going to hear from them. That will carry more weight that you complaining about listening to a conversation that made you upset.

canoehead, BSN, RN

6,890 Posts

Specializes in ER.

I think your action of avoiding the conversation, and continuing with patient care, speaks well for your priorities. You won't win this battle, but you can be a good leader by NOT getting involved.

JadedCPN, BSN, RN

1,476 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

I find it interesting that it seems like you are trying to backtrack in your follow up posts. Your original post seemed to clearly point to the issue being the conversation itself; I mean even the name of your post suggests that same thing. But then you added the patient care delays as an afterthought or addition almost rather than the main focus.

NurseVal93

19 Posts

Patients being neglected.

If you want to go to the boss for the staff talking and not doing their jobs, that's one thing. I feel though that if you were to bring up the subject matter in addition to that in your complaint, that they too, would feel that the root issue is that you do not agree with the viewpoint they hold. On the other hand if you let them know the other nurses aren't pulling their weight, and they are catty-cathy's, your boss will probably be more likely to f/u on the complaint as it is an issue of them sitting arouns VS a personal issue with the other nurses, which is what it seems to be to most of us.

BrendaH84, BSN

148 Posts

Patients will do the complaining for you. I've never found I had to say anything the people with the big mouth always get themselves in trouble

Qing

104 Posts

I don't think talking to the director will make anything better. If anything, a lot worse for you and your colleagues will not see you in the same view. Patients will complain if they want to about your colleagues. Rather than setting yourself up as a target with your colleagues, it might be better to do the best you can for the patients you are assigned to and not get involved with their political discussions. Its not right, but almost anything is made so political or twisted. All you have to say is the wrong thing or someone to not like what you said. You don't have to say anything at all, because big mouths will get themselves into trouble one way or another.

Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
Perhaps you have an in-service coordinator at your workplace? Maybe the coordinator can give an in-service for the department about customer service, emphasizing on professionalism. We recently had it in mine, and the coordinator mentioned "not to discuss personal issues in front of the patients."

Ironically, not a week later we had a meeting about this. I kid you not, it was so surprising and the topics that were presented by the CEO/CNO etc... was right on track with my concerns. The environment seems so much better now. There's no loitering or anything in the ER anymore.

We're being incorporated into a larger health system in the surrounding area, so a lot of new rules has taken place. For the better. Thanks.

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