- Title
- Profanity, expletives, swearing and offensive language: all in a day's work?
- Creator
- Stone, Teri; Francis, Lyn; Levett-Jones, Tracy
- Relation
- HNE Handover for Nurses and Midwives Vol. 2, Issue 1, p. 12-15
- Relation
- http://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/nursing-midwifery
- Publisher
- University of Newcastle, Hunter New England NSW Health, University of New England
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2009
- Description
- Background: Most clinical nurses regularly have to deal with offensive language, including swearing. Of the growing body of literature on the extent of verbal aggression within healthcare settings little relates to swearing, and even less to its legal aspects which may affect nurses. Graduates often feel ill-prepared to deal with this behaviour, and policy and law with regard to swearing and offensive language remain vague. Aim: In order to familiarise nurses with the legal position, this paper will explain the law as it relates to swearing and offensive language, with particular attention to the Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW); case law, legislation and the Zero Tolerance Policy. Finally there will be a discussion of the management of offensive language in Australian health care settings. Conclusion: Research is needed to identify and evaluate interventions to deal with swearing within a healthcare setting.
- Subject
- law; nursing; offensive language; swearing
- Identifier
- uon:7977
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/916357
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