sexual jokes in the workplace

[penguin2]

I'm all for having a few good laughs at work, but I'd like an opinion on this. We have a new male RN and he frequently makes comments that can be taken sexually. He has been there less than a month, so we don't even know him yet, and last Saturday he commented to one of our new grads who was about 15 min. late to work (car trouble), "Well I guess your husband detained you in the bedroom this morning, huh?" she laughed it off & seemed unoffended by it, but a couple of us found it inappropriate. Our charge nurse told us that unless the person he directed his comment to found it inappropriate that we should ignore it. ???? No matter how I look at this, it seems unprofessional to me!! comments??

[TazziRN, RN]

Um...........lemme guess.........you're not at work? :rotfl:

[firstyearstudent]

At home? I'm not at your home. I'm on a professional website where the moderators tell us CONSTANTLY to keep our posts professional. I guess no one here is capable of taking offense at what you might say? And the site is open to the public, so plenty of people are capable of "overhearing" what the nurses are saying. But I guess since this is anonymous you're off the hook. Or maybe you just don't have the strength of your own convictions.

[TazziRN, RN]

First Year, the difference between this site and the workplace is, at work one may not have a choice about hearing something deemed offensive. Here, one can choose not to read a thread.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

Um...........lemme guess.........you're not at work? :rotfl:

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :thankya: :thankya: :thankya: :yeah: :lol_hitti

[firstyearstudent]

First Year, the difference between this site and the workplace is, at work one may not have a choice about hearing something deemed offensive. Here, one can choose not to read a thread.

And at work you can choose to walk away when you hear a conversation that offends you, instead of listening in, noting every word and then notifying your supervisor (who will then be in a position of telling you not to be a busybody).

[TazziRN, RN]

You can't always walk away, and you can't always choose not to listen.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

And at work you can choose to walk away

Can you? I don't think so. What kind of nurse is that?:trout:

[firstyearstudent]

Can you? I don't think so. What kind of nurse is that?:trout:

The kind who minds her patients instead of her co-worker's business.

[TazziRN, RN]

Hmm, let's see......I'm sitting at the nurses' station with a pile of charts in front of me, and Mr. New Hire joins us and starts making comments that make me uncomfortable. I'm going to gather up all those charts and try and find someplace else to finish my charting.

Or, I'm in the break room eating, and Mr. Hire comes in with one of the other staff members and is making a comment offensive to me. I'm going to gather up my half-eaten lunch and find someplace else to eat.

I don't think so.........

[jill48, ASN, RN]

But I guess since this is anonymous you're off the hook. Or maybe you just don't have the strength of your own convictions.

Professional website. Hmmm... what does that mean. Is this your job? Are there visitors with you? Are you in a patient's room right now? You don't have to read anything here that you don't want to. This forum is for debating issues. And, my dear student, you really have no right to question my integrity. Read through all of my comments. I'm a strong, proud nurse who stands behind everything I do, even though sometimes I seem to have different opions than the majority. But you know what? If you work under me you will behave professionally and you will respect me for MY behaving professionally. I'm afraid you still have alot to learn:nono: . It will be your responsiblility to provide a safe, professional work area for your team, your patients, and all other visitors that you may encounter. If you can't do that, then you will not have the respect of your fellow nurses. What kind of example will you be setting for the nurses you will train (and you will, b/c we all do)? Please take the time to read the entire thread before you make remarks that make no sense.:trout:

[jill48, ASN, RN]

The kind who minds her patients instead of her co-worker's business.

It's not her "co-worker's business" when it is purposefully put out for everyone to hear. And minding her patients is the whole point of not being a potty mouth. Also, when you are a team leader, your co-workers business is your business when it is brought into work.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

instead of listening in, noting every word and then notifying your supervisor

Who said anything about notifying the supervisor? This is not McDonalds. In the real world you are the team leader and you deal with these issues. Like the supervisor has time for this:uhoh3: . Part of your job is taking care of these situations by yourself and putting a stop to them before any harm is caused.