Profanity in the Breakroom....???

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I am not a person who is easily provoked into profanity. However, yesterday I had an awful episode with a resident's family. I was steamin' mad. When I went into the breakroom, two of the aids that I work with were eating lunch. I told them about what had happened. I don't remember what I said exactly, but I am pretty sure that I said something along the lines of "***?" Or "I really just wish they would go the F away." I really don't remember. I just know that I was blowing off steam and trying to calm down before I went back out on the floor.

At the end of shift I was called to the DON's office and suspended for "using profanity" in the breakroom pending the outcome of the investigation. My DON said this is a firing offense in the organization I am in. I expect that Monday will come and I will be fired.

The thing that sickens me most about this situation is that the person did not come to me and tell me that they were offended before they complained of it to my DON.

Has anyone else ever been in this situation? Anyone have any advice beyond not trusting anyone and not blowing off steam until I get home at night. This really makes me feel dirty and is really humilitating. Anyone have any suggestions on how to woo the DON into allowing me to keep my job? This is a first offense for me. And it isn't like I was cussing someone out. I know I was wrong and I am ready to make amends to whom ever I offended.

Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
mjlrn97 said:
If your employer can fire you for throwing a single "F"-bomb, in the staff lounge, out of public earshot........well, you don't want to work for them anyway, because if it isn't this, it'll be something else.:madface:

Is it my imagination, or are employers just hell-bent determined to get rid of anyone they want to, these days? What is going on, here, anyway?? This is getting ridiculous!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have known of nurses being fired for cursing. It is not suprising that it is a fireable offense. We are professionals and should act accordingly even in a break room.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
Tweety said:
That's the way people are, they'd rather complain behind your back than to your face. I hope they're happy on their high judgemental horse if you do get fired.

They are also Cowards. I found that out last month, when the same people who had me fired from my job were no where to be found, when I received the call from the Agency to clean out my desk and leave. A

despicable act of cowardace, both coming and going. :madface:

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Pompom said:
I have known of nurses being fired for cursing. It is not suprising that it is a fireable offense. We are professionals and should act accordingly even in a break room.

You've got to be kidding-I am not perfect-I have feelings,I get frustrated and sometimes I need to vent.That's appropriate in the break room.I KNOW many ,many professionals let their guard down now and then.I think your standard is impossibly high for mere mortals....To the OP-check that policy book then call a lawyer unless profanity on the property is punishable by immediate dismissal.I wonder if the 2 that complained realize you may loose your job? If not then maybe they would accept an apology from you and stop the madness by going to the powers -that- be and speaking out on your behalf.I am betting that this type of thing has been the subject of numerous lawsuits-some may consider it creating a hostile environment-just like sexually explicit talk.I have worked with people that read their bibles in the break room during lunch.The rest of us censored ourselves so as not to offend them-we heathens were very un-comfortable.But-when we talked to management we learned that their rights cancelled out ours. Seems we lost our right to free speech Good Luck-keep us posted

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Then again, I wonder if they did tell knowing that it could get someone fired.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.
Marie_LPN said:
Then again, I wonder if they did tell knowing that it could get someone fired.

I don't know. I really can't imagine that happening. I thought I had a GOOD relationship with all the aids. If ANYONE from work dislikes me, I don't know it.

I spoke with one of the aids that was in the breakroom, and she said she had nothing to do with the complaint. When I told her I expected to be fired on Monday, she said that would be a shame b/c I have been one of the better nurses that she has ever worked with. She went on to say that if they did fire me she would never feel safe to vent in the breakroom or anywhere else for that matter.

I am trying to find the stuff I was given over a year ago when I was hired as a CNA. I have not been able to find anything in the employee handbook that relates to cursing or speech. Now that I have gone from CNA to LPN and now RN, do they have to re-orient me?

The DON said something while she was talking that kind of made me think that I was some kind of sacrificial lamb. That maybe an aid had been fired for cursing to a nurse and now, the aids were getting back at the nurses through me. It was kind of creepy really.

Oh well, all is not lost. I will find another job if I am fired and I may anyway even if I am not fired.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg- Risk Mgmt.

What about the Disney idea of 'on stage' vs. 'off stage'? For them it means that when out and about the mickey mouses are in character. Once off stage they get to be people again. I think the same principal should apply here. We are all human after all. If you went into an 'off stage' area, it shouldn't be a crime to let off steam as long as you don't hurt anyone. Nursing is really intense sometimes and there are plenty of times my 'off stage' utterances would curl the hair of a truck driver. Everyone needs a place to speak freely. Isn't free speech a part of the constitution? Oh and by the way, do you have a union or union rep to go to for help? If not, a lawyer who specializes in workers rights should help. I'd call what your hospital is doing harassment unless they explicitly forbid that language and you voluntarily agreed to abide their rule. Stick to your guns and protest the punishment!

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So sorry you are being reprimanded for being HUMAN!!!

As for overt religious practices at work...I stopped that by announcing that I was a Devil worshipper and would be exercising my right to practice my faith at work, same as the Christians (I threatened to hang Pagan decorations even). Hmmmm.... funny how fast the Holy Rollers toned down their praise and worship in the work setting.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
barbyann said:
So sorry you are being reprimanded for being HUMAN!

As for overt religious practices at work...I stopped that by announcing that I was a Devil worshipper and would be exercising my right to practice my faith at work, same as the Christians (I threatened to hang Pagan decorations even). Hmmmm.... funny how fast the Holy Rollers toned down their praise and worship in the work setting.

Sounds like a pleasant work environment all around.:rolleyes:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

OT: Love the new avatar, Marie!:p

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Thanks, I was leafing through pictures on Yahoo and found this one. I love William Wegman photos.

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

I detest this kind of BS. Can you imagine a physician, a lawyer, or a CEO in a closed door breakroom ever getting a warning much less being terminated ???

This is the femfatale of nursing that makes me sick.

I am not a curser nor do I like it however I understand there is a mechanism and place that some folks need to let off steam. In a unit / in front of or to family or patients -- never -- but in a break room -- this ridiculous.

It speaks volumes that this "charge" is even being entertained.

No matter what happens -- leave this place . It is not worth a resignation. I bet they wont give you a two week time if your terminated.

And they wonder why is there a shortage? LOL

Marc

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