Profanity in the Breakroom....???

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Wow. If nurses were fired for one F-bomb in frustration out of the ears of patients where I work there wouldn't be anyone working there! :rolleyes:

I agree with others. Even if this does not result in termination, I would get out of there.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
silentfades said:
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.

LOL

Marc

I agree----and maybe it does have it's roots in our predominant "female-ness" I think it's a crock of **** (ooops) We deal with some pretty awful situations-really,really crappy things happen to people and that does NOT bring out the best in them or their loved ones.Yet some feel we must act like this is Victorian England and we can't show our ankles or our true feelings? It's stupid...Sometimes there are just not enough words-only a succinct "F-bomb" will do.....I have always believed that only a real classy lady can curse properly (and appreciate good beer) I am sure the "f" bomb is dropped in many boardrooms and at the highest levels of the government (OK-maybe not in the Oval office-we will never know because they would never cop to it)

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

I am kind of swinging back and forth on this.

One minute, I want my job. I work in a LTC Facility. I truely love the people that I serve. I like most of the people with whom I work. I like my dayshift hours. I stay b/c I love the people and it is convienent. It is two minutes from home and close to my son's school and daycare. So if I am needed, I can be there pretty quickly.

In Our Facility, the CNAs have a union, a SEIU Membership, whatever that means. The person who made the complaint was a union member and made through channels.

Anyway, The next minute I say to hell with them. I'll go to so and so and make more money and have a better situation. But then that money is whittled away in Cost Of Living, transportation and daycare expenses, Plus the additional hours of being on the road away from home. Then there is the time away from my son.

I am truely torn b/c I love geriatric care and I have become attached to the people that I have been working with for the last three months.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

I would be sad to see you leave LTC-we need good and caring nurses.As for being "the sacrificial lamb" you should try to find out the particulars of incident you mentioned.If a few cna's were fired and the cause was "profanity" I am betting it was in the context of in-subordination (just a hunch) and that has NOTHING to do with your situation ...Do you have any concerns at all about the accuser? Any reason why she would want to retaliate against you? Maybe a co-worker knows something that you don't..It can be very difficult for a new nurse working in LTC with experienced cna's-they can put you through the wringer if you let them...They often resent being told what to do-no matter how diplomatically you handle yourself....

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

That sounds like a good idea. I kind of get the feeling that I don't know everything that is going on. I am not close with anyone and it is hard being the odd person out in such a cliquish group. But I don't NOT get along with anyone. I can't imagine what I have done to piss anyone off other than rise from CNA to RN. But that was all through my hard work and determination. They had their opportunities and didn't take them when they could have.

Anyway, I will know more tomorrow. I have decided to take the wait and see approach.

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Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.

I'm not from a union-friendly state originally, so I don't know if I'm right about this or not, but here's a thought:

if the CNA's are protected by a union, and one of them decided to, as you suspect, 'get back' at the nurses by reporting you, the facility might be going along with it so they don't have massive issues with the union. Think 'hostile work environment'. If you really feel like this is a facility where you don't want to work anymore, you might want to have your resignation letter typed up to turn in at the meeting on Monday. If they're going to fire you, beat them to the punch. You'd lose your ability to draw unemployment, but it's also possible they could claim gross misconduct when (if) they terminate you, which would negate your eligibility for unemployment anyway.

I mean, crap, what the %^&* would happen if everyone reported everyone else who said or did something that offended their personal sensibilities? I had a job where the break room got taken over for bible study before day shift- I was offended that I couldn't go get a cup of coffee in peace, y'know? What about people whose political views are the antithesis of your own? Or they want to talk about how Grey's Anatomy is the best tv show EVER? It's silly, and I'm mad as H E double hockey sticks for you.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

Okay. I am not fired but I got reprimanded. It will stay in my file for TWO years! :( I was told that the profanity would have been a firing offense, however, it was not in a patient care area, and was not directed at any specific person. I was then told that I had made a malicious statement concerning a resident and their family member, which I did. I said, " I wish she would just die." At the time I was very angry and pretty throughly fed-up with the resident's whole family and her manipulation. I didn't really mean it. Point of fact, I went right back to trying to help them.

So anyway, I have decided to quietly begin looking for a new place of employment. Hopefully something will come along that will be just what I need.

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive, I really appreciate it.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
WhimsieRN said:
But I don't NOT get along with anyone. I can't imagine what I have done to piss anyone off other than rise from CNA to RN. But that was all through my hard work and determination. They had their opportunities and didn't take them when they could have.

Anyway, I will know more tomorrow. I have decided to take the wait and see approach.

Okay. I am not fired but I got reprimanded QUOTE) That's great news! I think you are smart for looking for another job.Getting along with everyone and working your way up from cna to RN is enough to breed lots of jealousy and resentment..It's hard to work as a nurse with the same crowd you worked with as an aide.I have never tried it but have seen many co-workers run off by former peers.

I hope you can find something in LTC-it seems like that's your niche.....Good Luck

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I think my eyes would get a little big if I heard another RN say she wished someone would just die... Holy hell. I might say something like that at home, to my husband, who understands what I really mean and don't mean, and would never use such a statement against me... but in front of people I work with? No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I get where you're coming from, but you've got to start practicing some discretion or you're going to go through this kind of thing again.

As far as the F word. I hear that word more times at work (on the floor, at the nurses station, in the breakroom) from doctors, nurses, aids, and visitors than I've ever heard before in my life. If that were a firing offense at my hospital, they'd have to shut the place down.

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Specializes in Peds.

Hi,

Getting into trouble for using "one" inappropriate word in a not-so-inappropriate setting?

Now where have I heard that before?

Oh yeah, my first job :rolleyes:

Glad you didn't get canned for this "offense" Whimsie :)

Thanks,

Matthew

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

Virgin ears and the faint at heart are NOT allowed in our break room! haha.

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Specializes in Peds.
asoldierswife05 said:
Virgin ears and the faint at heart are NOT allowed in our break room! haha.

Hi,

That just sounds... soo..... dirty :D

LMAO. Just joking with ya :p

Thanks,

Matthew

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