Question about Cussing on the job.

Nurses Professionalism

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As a Nurse has anyone ever raised their voice and cussed at a CNA when you feel they crossed the line with you. If so how did it play out and did you get in trouble with the BON? can you lose your license for Cussing at a fellow coworker?

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Hopefully the BON has bigger fish to fry. Most of the reasons cited for RNs/LPNs who have lost their licenses in my state are: physical/sexual battery of patients, financially exploiting vulnerable adults (one was her mother -- not necessarily a patient), conviction of a sex crime, and substance abuse issues with failure to comply with the state's monitoring program.

That said, it is highly unprofessional, and you could have issues with your employer.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN

5,879 Posts

You're probably not going to lose your license, but you could certainly lose your job.

HeySis, BSN, RN

435 Posts

Specializes in PACU.

No, I never have out loud. I may have cussed in my mind at someone, but I feel there is no room for that in the workplace and it can be considered bullying/workplace violence/hostile work environment. So I'd say yes you could be fired for it.

I would go to said person and apologize for raising your voice and cussing. I would then explain using "I" sentences (I was frustrated... I feel) your point of view of what happened and then reiterate that it still did not justify you cussing at them. I would then invite them to tell the experience from their point of view and listen. Then see if you can figure out a way together to handle it better in the future.

This way does not leave the CNA "off the hook" if they were doing something wrong. But it provides a conversation that can lead to change, for both of you, where yelling at someone doesn't. If the same behavior that frustrated you happens in the future, you can then approach the CNA calmly and bring up the fact that you have discussed this before and go from there... continuing to hold them accountable.

nutella, MSN, RN

1 Article; 1,509 Posts

As a Nurse has anyone ever raised their voice and cussed at a CNA when you feel they crossed the line with you. If so how did it play out and did you get in trouble with the BON? can you lose your license for Cussing at a fellow coworker?

No.

That is known as workplace incivility.

Besides that - what does that even mean "crossed the line"??? Usually when there is a conflict people talk about it. If somebody crosses boundaries or does not "do what they are supposed to be doing" "cussing" is not the way to go and can result in disciplinary action and loss of the job.

Roda dendron

23 Posts

What exactly do you mean by disciplinary action?

nlitened

739 Posts

And WHY are you cussing at others???

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
What exactly do you mean by disciplinary action?

Generally "disciplinary action" refers to verbal coaching, written warning, suspension, termination. What your manager would do, none of us can say.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

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

I think a write-up is in order here. Swearing at a co-worker is unnecessary and unprofessional. That being said, as a manager I wouldn't fire you based on one incident. I hope that doesn't happen to you, but also that you never do anything like it again.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Yup. But they curse first OR are truly disrespectful such as calling me or someone else names.

macawake, MSN

2,141 Posts

did you get in trouble with the BON? can you lose your license for Cussing at a fellow coworker?

I'm not a US nurse so I don't really know how the BON would deal with this but I would be very surprised if cussing at a coworker could lead to a revocation of one's nursing license. Your employer on the other hand might decide that you aren't performing according to standards they require/expect of one of their employees. If don't know if and which disciplinary action your employer might take if this is the case.

OP, why did you raise you voice and cuss at your coworker? Did you lose your temper or did you think that it would be an effective way to present your message? If it was the former, all you can do is learn from it and try to keep your temper in check in the future. It's not a good way to behave in the workplace and may land you in trouble and also cause coworkers to lose respect for you as a professional. If it was the latter, yelling and cussing is generally not an effective way to discipline someone or to make them change an undesirable behavior or subpar performance.

As a Nurse has anyone ever raised their voice and cussed at a CNA when you feel they crossed the line with you.

Never. Apart from it being unprofessional, I equate yelling and cussing to loss of control. If I'm extremely unhappy about how someone is behaving I tend to close the distance between us and lower my voice for effect. Just be aware that can be interpreted as threatening/hostile behavior though so it's not something I necessarily recommend, it's just something that I do.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN

4,530 Posts

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Seriously? If you cannot find a better way to deal than cussing you have far bigger problems than the CNA.

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