Sunday, January 25, 2009

Foul Language

I got a comment on another post basically saying that I cuss too much. So I read back through my posts from the beginning and I will have to say she was right. The question remains though - will I change?

Probably not. I work in an environment where cussing is a native language. I don't know a single one of my co-worker who has not uttered a foul word, even the "good girls." We are faced with people cussing us out almost on a daily basis because we won't give in to their demands for pain pills, work excuses, or other things. We get cussed out by people who have no medical training telling us that we are doing our job wrong. We get called bitches, fuckers, and the Queen of the mean - c.u.n.t. Why? Because we care.

We come to work ready to save lives, dress wounds, set broken bones, run our butts off all for the sake of getting called names when one person is unhappy because their morphine shot had to wait until we were done with CPR in the next room.

Are these valid excuses? Not really. But I tell you one thing. You will never catch me cussing at a patient or their family members. Never. I may cuss all day long on my little blog-a-roo here, but I will be respectful and professional with you if you are seeing me as a patient. I will probably continue my use of shit and such here, but I suppose that will expose you (my 12 readers) to the world I work in every day that I put those scrubs on my butt.

Welcome to the ER....... it's the place to be.

10 comments:

Braden said...

Sorry to ruin your theory, but I work in the ER and I don't swear.

For that matter, most of my patients are very receptive when I politely ask them not to swear. They just assume it is a way of life around here. It doesn't have to be.

Anonymous said...

That must be nice... I would say 90% of my patients are fine, but the 10% like you described, Julie, suck the life out of me. I never cursed before working in the ER, but I curse like a sailor now. In the last month I have been screamed at that I'm an F-ing b and c... some of our staff have been threatened to the point of needing heightened security measures... I'm determined to slow down my potty mouth. Regardless of the kindness I have displayed and courtesy I have requested (e.g. "There's kids here, they do not need to hear that kind of language"), some people are just too messed up to care.

~HRA

Braden said...

Yeah, there is nothing you can do for the messed up ones. I just tell them that I'll come back when they are able to talk to me like an adult, which sometimes does the trick.

My brother always said: "Profanity is the feeble attempt of a weak mind to express itself forcefully." I would add something about the intoxicated mind.

Anonymous said...

What ER do you work in? Somewhere in Oz? Very good that you don't swear, and that you can leave them until they behave according to your standards (they must not be that sick), still I work at many ER's and your experience is very out of the ordinary. And the next time a drunk guy that's assaulted someone else to near death swears at me, I'll quote your brother to him and hopefully he won't come back and shoot me.

Anonymous said...

I think the fella up above must work on NBC's ER. As you all are aware the FTC has issues with foul mouths on TV. Good for you Braden keep up the good work!!!

I hate anonymous comments and have no issue at all leaving my name.

Regards,

David Mc

'M' said...

I believe you've earned your right to curse. I may not be a nurse but I've been in and out of hospitals and know what you amazing workers have to put up with everyday. Kudos to you :]

heartrnb said...

Not sure what ER you work, maybe I just work in a disrespectful commmunity but I have been called everything. I would never say what your brother thinks that would cause a major problem. I could get killed or the shit beat out of me. Maybe 50% of the people we see in the ER are nice the rest want there drugs and treatment yesterday.

Brenda

The Skinny B said...

I want to work in that happy curse free place. I rarely see a day where I am not screamed at and verbally and often physically assaulted. An occasional swear is a tension breaker. So is humor which i use even more often. When all else fails....Fuck it!

Anonymous said...

I don't have effing time to come back when (you) can behave. Language is language, words are words. It's not that big of a deal. I too choose not to cuss in front of my patients but believe me the F bomb is flying under my breath. Why? Because I can!

Anonymous said...

Kudos for professionalism... a little cussing (self-expression) on your own time goes a long way.

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." - Mark Twain