People who feel called to work in nursing often feel passionately about their careers. They don’t just count down the days until they retire. They want to work to help others until they cannot do so safely anymore.
Nurses may retain their licenses long after they cease working full-time and may continue moonlighting occasionally at a local hospital or medical office. Their services can help reduce the pressure on health care facilities and younger professionals. Continuing to work can also supplement the nurse’s financial security during retirement and give them a sense of personal accomplishment.
All of that can be at risk if patients start taking issue with a nurse’s bedside manner. As culture evolves, language changes too. Older nurses may use terms and words that younger people find offensive. They may end up accused of offensive conduct or discrimination, which might put their licensing at risk.
Seemingly benign phrases have dark connotations
Common words and phrases that people use every day may actually have roots in problematic beliefs or historical practices. The people who grew up using certain terms may not think much about what they imply to others. They might then make statements that offend other people and result in complaints against them.
Examples of words and phrases that people may find racially offensive include:
- cakewalk
- blackball
- uppity
- grandfathered in
- peanut gallery
Even terms that have roots going back centuries, like “call a spade a spade,” could result in people becoming offended. Nurses who have long made it their priority to provide care and support to people regardless of their characteristics or backgrounds could face significant, possibly permanent career consequences because other people misunderstand them.
Offended individuals can submit complaints to a healthcare facility or possibly even to the California Board of Registered Nursing. A nurse might end up facing professional consequences up to the suspension or revocation of their nursing license over the way that they communicate in a medical setting.
Responding assertively to pending disciplinary action can help nurses protect their licenses and their careers. Even those who have retired or scaled down to part-time work generally want to preserve their licenses in case they need them in the future. Nurses who have help when facing disciplinary action have a better chance of preserving their licenses.
