unprofessional behavior in RN community

You folks that comment about certain words being inappropriate for a lady to say - do you really think that its appropriate for a man to say??

I don't think they sound any better coming from men, nor do I think it is more acceptable for men to use them, so it just struck me as odd that people singled ladies out. Profanity is profanity - the gender of the speaker does not change a thing about the words.

I think it should not be used by anyone at work. But if it is just a room full of men outside work, I am pretty sure there is some cursing going on. Completely politically incorrect but yes it does sound worse coming from a woman. I believe in equal rights for women and that we can do the same job. But I am not a man and still enjoy having my door opened and shown courtesies that are given to women. That includes me not cursing and men not cursing infront of women. I for one like being treated like a lady and that means that there is a distinction between what sounds okay for a woman to say and a man. But cursing is never appropriate at work.

I imagine this nurse looking at a blood gas report and deciphering the pH, PCO2, and HCO3. That takes skill, yet she uses the word "sh***" which almost negates all her intelligence that she displayed deciphering the blood gas.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to agree with you here, I don't appreciate it when either gender starts cussing at work. Although, come to think of it, this really isn't a problem where I work. Can't say I've had to deal with this issue a lot, if at all.

Now gossipping and cliques, well, that's another story....you're gonna have that wherever you are. And it doesn't matter if it's men or women. There are groups, cliques, etc, everywhere! Not just nursing.

I don't like the singling out of "ladies" and inferring that we (women) should behave better....

You folks that comment about certain words being inappropriate for a lady to say - do you really think that its appropriate for a man to say??

I don't think they sound any better coming from men, nor do I think it is more acceptable for men to use them, so it just struck me as odd that people singled ladies out. Profanity is profanity - the gender of the speaker does not change a thing about the words.

I am a social worker (M.S.W.) and current nursing student. In my 12 years of working in the health care industry and working side by side with nurses, I have never witnessed nurses using foul language or engaging in such unprofessional behavior regarding patients. What I have witnessed unfortunately is a high rate of unprofessionalism (downright meanness) towards each other. I can't tell you how many times I've observed nurses talking bad about each other. All this does is create a negative workplace atmosphere and low morale.

I have never been treated poorly or with disrespect by a fellow social worker, however, my experiences with nurses have varied from outstanding to awful. I do believe that there is much truth to the saying that "nurses are the only professionals who eat their young!"

Health care is a very high stress profession and much of this stress could at least be alleviated if we were more kind to one another. Workplace negativity can ruin a job.

Cursing should never occur in front of a patient. Personally when I am frustrated, angry or just downright disgusted with behavior of my fellow nurses I will resort to potty mouthy mode, but only in the confines of my office and only in front of those who are not offended by my words. I am not so concerned with the words a nurse uses in the nurses station as long as it is away from patients or family. I am more concerned with the care and compassion she shows her patients and coworkers. I have had potty mouth for a long time so I am not offended by curse words unless they are directed at me. Like others have said here, it's a way to blow off steam and relieve stress, and sometimes there are just not other words that are as expressive.

All you can change is your own behavior/response. If it bothers you, tell them that it does. It can be tough, and you might have to just know that you are going to be part of the topic of conversation in the breakroom if you don't handle how you confront the behavior in a professional manner. Act professionally yourself, model professional behavior, and don't let them get you down. Talk with your manager if it's out of control. Look at when/where it's happening - in the breakroom, venting about their assignments? In emergency situations where the way a person is used to dealing with stress shows its true colors? Or in front of patients and families? I agree, this behavior is not professional and doesn't put nursing in a very good light. But again, just look at your own behavior and be a consistently professional, excellent nurse. Get another job if it gets you down so much that you start to hate it there.

One of the best coping strategies in my opinion is "I see nothing...I know nothing" (Schultz from the 1960s TV show "Hogan's Heros." With regards to gossipping which can be so destructive to employee morale, my motto is that I do not participate in such behavior. Sometimes it is difficult to avoid these situations. I always find myself in situations where my female colleagues (I am a man) come to me to unload their feelings (and gossip) about their co-workers. All I can do in situations like this is listen but not respond.......cause what I say will surely come back to bite me in the *** at a later time.....since the person that comes to me with her gossip will most likely go to other people and repeat what I said!

I will never have to apologize for something I never said.

It's so hard not to get sucked into that. I want to know what's really going on, but I have found that you just don't win by talking about others behind their back. I still struggle with it and sometimes I'm better than others. I used to use this technique with a really viscious gossip (who was a GUY, by the way) at work. When he would share his "insights", I would respond with "gee, that hasn't been what I've observed." or "gee, I don't pay attention to what Joe/Suzie does". You get the idea. It worked with him, he found me a boring conversation partner and stared leaving me alone. Unfortunately, when it's true friends of mine who aren't viscious, when they start sharing secrets I am not as good. But after reading these posts, I am going to work on it.

I wonder if they would talk that way in front of their parents. I am 33 next month and if I cursed in front of my dad he would still try to wash my mouth out with soap. :uhoh21: Hate to sound sexist but there are some words that should not come out of a lady's mouth.

That is, of course presuming that these people ARE ladies. Just being female doesn't make you a lady anymore than being a male makes us gentlemen.

This is in reply to KAT911, thanks for your input,I do,however have to disagree,

nurses are intelligent people and an intelligent person [ male or female] will be able to "vent" without being foul, again, these words are heard at nurses station

report room,halls ect. If you want to go in your office,shut the door,and vent in this way,it sure can't hurt anyone,just you.:imbar

Acutally it doesn't hurt a bit! Our profession is full of people from all walks of life with all types of backgrounds and beliefs, it's not up to me to judge someone else's language unless it is expressed improperly in front of patients, families, or visitors. We all know the limits, we can all abide by them. I know some people are terribly offended by "blue" language and I try to not "offend" them. I don't understand how it is so offensive but that is just my opnion and I realize it is not shared by many people. If you want to judge who I am based on my language then base it on all of my language, as well as all of my behavior. I am not linear, I am a full rounded individual with many facets. Be careful who you look down your nose upon, you could miss out on some very important and special relationships. :stone