Profanity in the workplace

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In the ER, F bombs are not uncommon. How much is too much?

Wuzzie said:
I am proud to say I have brought out the "inner-sailor" in my co-workers and we are all the better for it.

Sometimes, cursing is the only appropriate response.

Like when DSS sends the baby back home with it's abusive parents.

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

I can say that I never dropped an F-bomb in front of a patient, but sometimes when I was alone in the med room I turned the air blue with profanity. The feelings had to go SOMEPLACE, and it was better than cutting loose where patients could hear me. The word I use most is the S-word...it's very utilitarian as it works in almost any stressful situation, and it's not as foul as some others. I don't really mind the F-bomb and am not outraged when someone uses it, and I've been known to let one fly every now and again when no other word will do. But never at work, and never in front of people I know don't like it.

There is one word I despise, and that's the vulgar term for a lady's private parts. It's the only swear word I've never uttered and never will, it's that offensive to me. It doesn't even have to be directed at me...I'm insulted on behalf of women everywhere. But other than that, swearing in a healthcare setting doesn't bother me as long as it's not within earshot of patients.

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Maybe "too much" has to do with the effect it is having on the people around you. Are you scaring, intimidating or upsetting anyone? That'd be a red flag.

Some of our domestic violence patients have a problem with certain words - words they've heard in bad situations that trigger horrible memories or feelings.

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Expressing an oath towards a situation isn't a big deal to me, especially considering I grew up in the Navy. Swearing directed at people is where I draw the line.

After all, you might be "happier, healthier and more honest" if you do swear:

People Who Swear May Be Happier, Healthier And More Honest | HuffPost Life

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I use the F word like a comma - not in front of patients of course...

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I'm not a big swearer myself, and I actually spoke with another coworker recently about their language because staff had concerns that the constant F-bombing in a very open unit where patients and family are usually within earshot of the nursing station, sounded very unprofessional.

That's being said, when I looked at the monitors and saw my first 3am V-tach arrest, one coworker did hear me drop an F bomb and I didn't even realize it.

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Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.

I don't swear around patients, and I REALLY try not to around co-workers, unless it's someone I know well. (Outside of work, I swear like a sailor, but that's another story.) But in stressful situations (which we have been having a lot of lately), it sometimes slips. Usually I mutter under my breath. I was an EMT-B while I was in nursing school, so I spent enough time around EMS/Fire folks that if I'd been inclined to be bothered by swearing, I'd have gotten over it. It doesn't bother me personally, unless someone's cursing around patients. (Professionalism and all, even if the patients are cursing.)

However, the co-workers who know me well now know what I'm REALLY thinking when I say, "It's time to sing the 'I Love My Job' song..." (Taught to me by an EMS Captain, many moons ago...)

"I love my job, I drive a truck, I do not really give a...darn."

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Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.

To directly answer OP's question, "too much" is probably when they're inserting the f-bomb into the middle of words or average more than 1 per sentence... ;)

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I started crocheting little stuffed bombs with bright red F stitched into them. We let them fly in the er all the time. I wish I could figure out how to upload a pic for y'all to see.

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If cussing and foul language offend you, don't come to my unit, we'll make your ears bleed. As if Quitin Tarantino made a film about Nurses.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Depends. Are said F bombs being dropped by patients or staff?

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Specializes in Hospice, home health, LTC.

By who...the staff or the patients? You can't really control the patients, but personally, I hate co-workers' foul mouths. Come on...take the high road and be professional. Yeah, we get that circumstances may stink but be professional. Some of your co-workers (and your patients) are counting on you.

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