Swearing: hugely unprofessional, mildly irritating or a normal part of speech.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 8, 2012

Hugely unprofessional.

Waiting for rain · Feb 8, 2012

In small groups of people you know well, used sparingly, maybe. But around patients or colleagues/students you aren't close with, totally unprofessional.

heelnurse · Feb 8, 2012

If you're with your friends and its your norm--sure.

In a hospital setting, schoo, at work, in a professional setting...and ESPECIALLY in your own professional setting-- absolutely unprofessional.

anonymousstudent · Feb 8, 2012

It depends on the culture. It seems that most nursing floors are tightly knit. So are most schools. Never in front of a patient. But I don't think it's so simple to say it's unprofessional in a peer group setting. Especially in this type of job. They aren't bank tellers. Due to the job, and the experiences it brings, this is not simply a profession. It has the capacity to form and change you. It also requires you bring a great deal of yourself to the table.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 8, 2012

I try, but am not always successful in avoiding the use of curse words in the break room. Most of them talk like truck drivers---and my boss is the worst offender of all of us! But then, they're all younger and they're used to tossing around the F bomb, while my generation tends to view it as the ultimate Bad Word and saves it for the end of the argument. :lol2:

However, I have rarely if ever used foul language in front of patients/residents. Their generation was much more formal (AKA well-mannered) and they don't want to hear that stuff, especially from a woman. I think it's disrespectful as well as unprofessional, and with the exception of the time I swore after knocking a full urinal to the floor in the middle of a night shift, I've managed to avoid it.

At home.......well, as my father used to say, "I need to stop that d*mn cussing---it sounds like crap!" Which is why I'm going to try giving it up for Lent. We'll see how well that works for me. :rotfl:

Despareux · Feb 8, 2012

As long as it's known when NOT to use it, then I could not care less in other people's choice of words.

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Feb 8, 2012

As long as it isn't used in front of a patient, then I have no issue with it. I'm in nursing school, and everyone in my group (except about three people) swears like sailors. I've heard this type of language at clinical, but it's always when we are alone in the stock room looking for something, in the break room, in the med room, or doing something away from a patient's room. I would have a huge issue if it was used in front of a patient, but other than that I have absolutely no issue with it at all. I'm guilty too, so I can't stand in judgement of anyone.

allnurses Guide · Feb 8, 2012

I try, but am not always successful in avoiding the use of curse words in the break room. Most of them talk like truck drivers---and my boss is the worst offender of all of us! But then, they're all younger and they're used to tossing around the F bomb, while my generation tends to view it as the ultimate Bad Word and saves it for the end of the argument. :lol2:However, I have rarely if ever used foul language in front of patients/residents. Their generation was much more formal (AKA well-mannered) and they don't want to hear that stuff, especially from a woman. I think it's disrespectful as well as unprofessional, and with the exception of the time I swore after knocking a full urinal to the floor in the middle of a night shift, I've managed to avoid it. At home.......well, as my father used to say, "I need to stop that d*mn cussing---it sounds like crap!" Which is why I'm going to try giving it up for Lent. We'll see how well that works for me. :rotfl:

Yes...The f-bomb truly was "The Queen Mother" of dirty words... Still is to me... But there are times where saying "fudge" doesn't quite convey the way I feel!

allnurses Guide · Feb 8, 2012

Yes...The f-bomb truly was "The Queen Mother" of dirty words... Still is to me... But there are times where saying "fudge" doesn't quite convey the way I feel!

I'm with Hygiene Queen on that one! Of course you never use profanity around a patient! (Although conjuring up scenarios about which combination of cuss words you might use in a given situation can make you laugh and that is a stress-reliever) Your teachers swear around the patients? :eek:

loveoutloud · Feb 8, 2012

yes. Rather than calling it a bum, butt or buttom, i have been with a nurse that called it an a$$. Or if something doesn't go in it's that d, f'n or stty thing. Like not swearing at someone, but they will use it in casual conversation around patients too. One of my teacher's also swears quite often in casual convesation in lectures.

I actually don't respect these nurses/teachers quite as much as I view it as massively unprofessional and it just sounds kinda uneducation to be repeatedly using swears as verbs.

Columnist · Feb 8, 2012

I agree........totally unprofessional. No need to use language that may be offensive to patients and others. And for the teacher to use that type of language????? Even worse, in my opinion.