How to handle cussing nurses?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

I work on a very busy acute care med/surg unit. I began doing charge several months ago. I make out the assignment for the on-coming shift. Yesterday they called me from the break room and began cussing at me about the assignment. We aren't no d.... f....ing super nurses, and yada yada.

Later I heard from my co-workers, several who were in the breakroom at the time, that they were cussing about me amongst themselves before they called me. They were saying how I shouldn't be in charge if I don't know how to make out an assignment. The whole deal was that they were starting out with 6 pts each. They are allowed to have up to 7 each on nights. We frequently start out with 6 pt each on days. I hate to sound stereo-typical but I know for a fact that from 11 pm to 5 am they sit on their butts. One of our day nurses went to nights and also I used to work nights so I know. Anyway, they come out to the desk complaining. They were still cussing and fussing. I said come on I know you're not overworked ! They were like well on days at least you have discharges. Yeah and we get another one right back ! Plus we deal with direct admits, three meals, more meds, frequent med changes, Doc's around all the time wanting us to help them, family members and visitors interferring all the time. The patients on the call lights all the time. Give me a break !!

My nurse manager tells me she thinks I'm doing fantastic in the charge roll.

I'm not intimidated by these nurses I just think they are so rude, I often hear them cussing amongst themselves at the station. I know occasionally the patients must hear them and how does that reflect on our hospital? Our nurse manager is aware but is not willing to start replacing them because they are very reliable as far as always being there and always willing to work overtime. She has asked me several times to work a night shift and I have told her that I won't work with "potty mouths" I cuss when appropriate, don't think I'm a prude, they just seem so lower class to be around. There is always such friction between the shifts. I know this is very common. Should I send an e-mail to the entire night shift? Any opinions appreciated.

fergus51 · Oct 11, 2004

If the manager isn't willing to do anything about it I think a group email would be a bad idea. That would just fan the flames!! If I were you, I would just deal with rudeness when it is directed at you. I would respond to people swearing at me by telling them it's unacceptable, but trying to change the whole unit without the support of a manager is going to be impossible.

I've only had one incident where a coworker was really foul mouthed with me and I just said "I will speak with you about this problem when you can do so profesionally" and walked out of the room. Conflict resolution works best when people can focus on the conflict and not eachother. I would also avoid any other topics if possible, like which shift works harder. That just makes people defensive and clouds the issue.

fergus51 · Oct 11, 2004

If the manager isn't willing to do anything about it I think a group email would be a bad idea. That would just fan the flames!! If I were you, I would just deal with rudeness when it is directed at you. I would respond to people swearing at me by telling them it's unacceptable, but trying to change the whole unit without the support of a manager is going to be impossible.

I've only had one incident where a coworker was really foul mouthed with me and I just said "I will speak with you about this problem when you can do so profesionally" and walked out of the room. Conflict resolution works best when people can focus on the conflict and not eachother. I would also avoid any other topics if possible, like which shift works harder. That just makes people defensive and clouds the issue.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

I've been a charge nurse many years, and recently resigned a charge nurse position giving up .50 cents and hour. It's not worth the aggravation to me.

You can either ignore it, take it with a grain of salt knowing that you aren't every going to make them happy. Or call them on it. Talke to them, ask them how they would do it differently that you're open to feedback, that cussing is immature and unprofressional, etc.

People don't realize how we charge nurses agonize and the thought that goes into making a fair assignment. I hate when people walk in and before they even get report on their patients start cussing and complaining. That angers me to no end.

A lot of times people who cuss are open to the idea that it offends some people. I had a CNA use foul language at work and when I talked to her about it she agreed she should cuss at work and was very nice about it.

Sorry, I definately feel your pain. Good luck. :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

I've been a charge nurse many years, and recently resigned a charge nurse position giving up .50 cents and hour. It's not worth the aggravation to me.

You can either ignore it, take it with a grain of salt knowing that you aren't every going to make them happy. Or call them on it. Talke to them, ask them how they would do it differently that you're open to feedback, that cussing is immature and unprofressional, etc.

People don't realize how we charge nurses agonize and the thought that goes into making a fair assignment. I hate when people walk in and before they even get report on their patients start cussing and complaining. That angers me to no end.

A lot of times people who cuss are open to the idea that it offends some people. I had a CNA use foul language at work and when I talked to her about it she agreed she should cuss at work and was very nice about it.

Sorry, I definately feel your pain. Good luck. :)

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

If you do choose to send a group email, send it to EVERYONE, not just the entire night shift. Either single out the offenders, or send it to everyone, because I guarantee, there's a dayshift person guilty of the same behavior. You only send it to nights, you're inciting even more of a shift war.

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2004

If you do choose to send a group email, send it to EVERYONE, not just the entire night shift. Either single out the offenders, or send it to everyone, because I guarantee, there's a dayshift person guilty of the same behavior. You only send it to nights, you're inciting even more of a shift war.

weetziebat · Oct 11, 2004

You can either ignore it, take it with a grain of salt knowing that you aren't every going to make them happy. Or call them on it. Talke to them, ask them how they would do it differently that you're open to feedback, that cussing is immature and unprofressional, etc.
People don't realize how we charge nurses agonize and the thought that goes into making a fair assignment. I hate when people walk in and before they even get report on their patients start cussing and complaining. That angers me to no end.

Ditto! Man, it used to piss me off soooo bad when the staff would come in and start complaining, like I'd purposely given them the worst assignment possible. I used to spend forever trying to make it as fair as possible, but there is no pleasing some people. Some times one person would wind up with a slightly more difficult assignment, but there was no getting around it. I finally told them if they could come up with a better assignment amongst themselves, just let me know about it. Of course, that never happened.

The other thing that would drive me insane was telling someone they were getting an admission and being told "give it to someone else." Oh, being in charge is not worth the extra money.

Can't help with the cussing. Where I work now, we have one woman who can't say "Good Morning" without adding the "f" word. But the program manager put a stop to that. Too bad your manager is unwilling to do that.

weetziebat · Oct 11, 2004

You can either ignore it, take it with a grain of salt knowing that you aren't every going to make them happy. Or call them on it. Talke to them, ask them how they would do it differently that you're open to feedback, that cussing is immature and unprofressional, etc.
People don't realize how we charge nurses agonize and the thought that goes into making a fair assignment. I hate when people walk in and before they even get report on their patients start cussing and complaining. That angers me to no end.

Ditto! Man, it used to piss me off soooo bad when the staff would come in and start complaining, like I'd purposely given them the worst assignment possible. I used to spend forever trying to make it as fair as possible, but there is no pleasing some people. Some times one person would wind up with a slightly more difficult assignment, but there was no getting around it. I finally told them if they could come up with a better assignment amongst themselves, just let me know about it. Of course, that never happened.

The other thing that would drive me insane was telling someone they were getting an admission and being told "give it to someone else." Oh, being in charge is not worth the extra money.

Can't help with the cussing. Where I work now, we have one woman who can't say "Good Morning" without adding the "f" word. But the program manager put a stop to that. Too bad your manager is unwilling to do that.

mattsmom81 · Oct 11, 2004

The way I dealt with complaints over assignments was to say "I did the best I could, I don't decide how many nurses your shift gets, YOUR charge nurse is free to change assignments if she wishes."

I would tell them matter of factly if they feel the need to cuss in the breakroom, just keep it down...but if you ever hear it outside of there, halls or nursing station, they can expect a problem. And I would follow through.

Direct hostility should never be tolerated. Document. I wouldn't send a group email without your director's full support, though.

Sounds like you have a bad bunch of night shifters and I'm sorry you're having to deal with this...almost sounds like 'hostile work environment' to me. Good luck.

mattsmom81 · Oct 11, 2004

The way I dealt with complaints over assignments was to say "I did the best I could, I don't decide how many nurses your shift gets, YOUR charge nurse is free to change assignments if she wishes."

I would tell them matter of factly if they feel the need to cuss in the breakroom, just keep it down...but if you ever hear it outside of there, halls or nursing station, they can expect a problem. And I would follow through.

Direct hostility should never be tolerated. Document. I wouldn't send a group email without your director's full support, though.

Sounds like you have a bad bunch of night shifters and I'm sorry you're having to deal with this...almost sounds like 'hostile work environment' to me. Good luck.