AIBU to think I don’t singularly have the power to fuck up the ward?

[PeachPRC]

disclaimer: I KNOW it’s ‘unreasonable’ to say the q word as a HCP. My question is whether or not it’s actually literally stupid of me to say that word, ignoring the superstitious element of it.

A relative has taken a place on a nursing course starting soon and it got me thinking about my own nursing degree many years ago.

as a student I made the hideous mistake of saying ‘it’s quiet this afternoon isn’t it?’ and had my head bitten off by multiple registered nurses (for non HCP; mentioning that ‘it’s quiet’ is a mortal sin because that apparently ensures that the ward will suddenly become unmanageably busy). I hadn’t realised until then that mentioning the Q word was an absolute no no and I laughed along and apologised.

this happened maybe 3 times (in different departments in 2 hospitals so no overlap of staff). Honestly, by the 3rd time, I said the Q word on purpose just to see the reaction of everyone else. Each time, I was scolded by the staff because they insisted that me saying that word would ruin the rest of the shift by somehow making it become very busy. I said it once at approx 9am and by afternoon still had a (until then very pleasant) nurse giving me filthy looks across the treatment room. The first time I said it as an ignorant student I was properly told off, almost shouted at, by experienced nurses.

I have nursed for approx 20 years and know now that no one should ever say ‘quiet’ but that’s only because you’ll have your face snapped off by other nurses/ doctors, not because I genuinely think the myth of invoking a bad shift is true. This post isn’t about the jokey ‘haha don’t say that word!’ colleagues, it’s about the staff that TRULY believe that saying a word out loud can ruin a shift. I’d love to hear the reasoning behind that!

To this day, I’m still so surprised that HCP GENUINELY believe that a colleague saying the word ‘quiet’ out loud can wreck the shift and I’d love to know if another HCP can explain why they think that?! I nearly didn’t bother posting this because I assumed I’d get lots of ‘OP don’t you dare ever say that again 😉’ posts, but I’m interested in responses from HCP who truly believe the Q word can destroy a good day. Because as far as I’m aware, that’s a ridiculous thing to think.

I'm inclined to suspect that memory editing is going on here. That and random distribution of busy occasions. Though possibly busyness isn't random but tends to cluster around certain days of the week.
Thus, there are quiet days when no-one says the word and nothing happens
There are busy days when no-one says the word, and people are too busy to notice.
There are quiet days when someone says the word and nothing happens, and because nothing has happened, memory deletes that the word was said.
There are busy days when someone has said the word and people remember.

I suspect that, given the existence of the belief, there are many more busy days when no-one has said the word, than there are when they have. And they are not remembered.

I seem to recall that research has been done on the full moon association, possibly in South Wales*, and it was not supported.
*South Wales may have been involved into similar research into people dying on a falling tide, again, not substantiated.
It was a long time ago I read this stuff, sorry, can't provide citations.

Irritating and dull based on this thread

Just don't say it when you know it pisses folk off. You sound deliberately annoying

HTH

It's just a jokey saying here. I work on the counter at a community pharmacy, you can only get so much mileage out of "the weather", "the kids/grandkids/dog/..." so if someone says "it's quiet", there is always the "noooooooo, don't mention the q word" with lots of laughing on both sides... lifts the spirits.

Honestly we don't really believe it. We avoid saying it, yes as educated medical professionals we know this cannot influence a shift. It's just a team thing, a bit of fun. I have never heard anybody get any response other than a bit of ribbing at best. If, you have had an extreme reaction to this word then there are other issues at play which, sound quite unpleasant. I cannot imagine spending my shift glaring at someone for saying the 'q' word. It's a bit of fun, a bit of bonding god knows we need it in the NHS.

I do however think it's quite unpleasant to deliberately say it. Just why?

I work in a supermarket and it’s a word that we aren’t “ allowed “ to say either

It's just a silly comradely thing isn't it? Something the who team or even organisation are all in on the same "in" joke.

I work in policing, my role is affected by whatever serious incident happened with the last day or for very serious stuff the last few hours.

About a week ago "Ben" said (at about 11am) "it's been Q" today, everyone immediately Shhhh'd him just for saying the letter Q in a good natured jokey way. Literally 2 hours later a murder happened, so we all blamed Ben!

Now obviously Ben saying Q didn't cause the murder , but when you work in jobs when quiet times AREN'T the norm because there's always chaos and serious stuff going on, when there are quiet times it's a in joke that everyone can relate to not to rock the boat by tempting fate by using the Q word.
It's ingrained in all emergency services culture I believe.

I'd say you either took the ribbing the wrong way, or the person doesn't like you and used it as an excuse to be bitchy with you. But if you've experienced it several times, I'd think about why your getting that reaction when everyone understands it's a bit of fun.

We all know it's a superstition and results in joking teasing. OP's experience is absolutely not the norm. Almost like it's something that when you know, you know. You're in the HCP club. Good for camaraderie. Something needed in the profession where you have to deal with crap (both literally and figuratively) in every shift.

Plus there's definitely a memory aspect behind it. The full moon and the utterance of the q word provoke unusual responses in others. Even if only in jest. So if you have an unusual shift after that it sticks in the memory more than all the other unusual shifts you've undoubtedly had. I know I definitely had awful shifts with dementia patients on full moons. But then I know I had equally bad shifts when the phase of moon was not as notable. But I don't remember them quite as vividly.

Used to be the same in security services. When anyone said the Q word it was pretty much guaranteed to kick off.

Then whoever had said it was on tea/coffee duty for everyone after that. Or sent to a gate hut to work alone for the shift as punishment 😂

Replies aren’t “just superstitious “ though are they-you’re just ignoring them despite cut and pasting the response from @MrsTerryPratchett There’s also the response from @CoalCraft both of whom explain it well.
also-very glad I don’t work with you as you sound like an arsehole.

The “Q” word is the healthcare equivalent of the “Danish Prince” to actors, or “G..d L..k” to opera singers. (We say “Toi, Toi, Toi!”)

Superstition I'd a loaf of old nonsense and nothing like someone's religious beliefs.

It's perhaps similar to saying "Macbeth" in a theatre, or saying that your child sleeps through the night. Either way it's ridiculous for people to be so upset by it.

I was a student at a performing arts college. We went around the theatre saying MacBeth all the time, because we thought it was stupid. But I guess the stakes aren't very high in a college theatre production.

YANBU

It's statistical. If it is quiet now, it cannot get more quiet. It will either continue in the quiet state or get busier - reversion to the mean.

When it does get busier (inevitable really), anyone who mentioned quiet will be cited as the trouble maker.

I hadn't heard of this superstition before. Obviously it's stupid, and you'd hope medical professionals would be rational enough to see that.

Our brains do struggle to process randomness, and consequently we are naturally inclined to be superstitious. Superstition isn't stupidity, it's a natural response to randomness that reason needs to override. There was an experiment with pigeons (I think) in which small amounts of food were automatically deposited into their cage at random moments . The pigeons developed elaborate rituals to make the food come, based (I think) on what they thought they had done previously to cause the food to appear. I suppose it was the pigeon equivalent of a rain dance.

Considering the sneering attitude you talk about your colleagues with Im not surprised you’re getting strong negative reactions from them.

You aren’t rejecting superstition because you’re smarter than them

You are rejecting the social connection of an in joke and alienating people

It might seem stupid to you but after working 20years in HC some of my worst shifts have happened after people have said the Q word in relation to the shift..... I don't know if its just that you relax too much when you think that about the shift or the expectation when you say it is that its going to continue!
I get that being trained professionals that following superstitions might seem silly but really after seeing some of what I have I don't know how you can not have some superstitions after working in this field. Also the banter between staff is sometimes the only thing that keeps you going during the tough times so I don't see the harm in it!!

Yanbu.

Ward sister was adamant no one said the Q word and used to shout if you did.

we used to say it’s dragging a bit instead 😁

This. It’s noticeable that nobody in this thread has experienced anything except jokey reactions, whereas OP, who goes out of her way to say it, meets genuine annoyance and anger.

I would laugh along with somebody saying the Q word ordinary. But somebody turning up to each shift and saying “hey it’s quiet! Did you hear what I said guys? Q.U.I.E.T! Quiet! Really really quiet! Qui-et!” just to get a reaction, would honestly get old after about five minutes, and I’d be telling them to shut the fuck up as well.

I think because people may feel like they can't just 'enjoy' the quieter spells. If you have been run ragged all morning then your band 8 comes in and says 'oh it's quiet in here this afternoon'

1. you will probably have a staff member moved elsewhere which nobody wants
2. it looks as though you're having a lovely easy day, despite the mornings mayhem
3. sometimes after running a ward on a wing and a prayer you just want to enjoy the nicer part of your day without people making comment on it! (And it's nearly nightfall which bring out all of the sun downing so you know peace and serenity won't last)

I would never mention anywhere being quiet - superstition or not. Let me enjoy it for as long as I can!

Also full moons are notoriously busy - no idea why but they are.

It's the same in the theatre with the word Macbeth, you'd respect that

This. It’s noticeable that nobody in this thread has experienced anything except jokey reactions, whereas OP, who goes out of her way to say it, meets genuine annoyance and anger.

are you British, @Changechangychange ?

(i am, for what it’s worth, but I have a good reason for asking).

Exactly right.

People are taking this way too seriously! The Q word is avoided at all cost in case you jinx an otherwise calm night!
it’s a superstition, it’s usually said in a jokey way …. It’s not science and we know that !
Sounds like OP was being annoying tbh and it was on purpose, that’s why colleagues got annoyed with her, I’m annoyed with her and never met her 😐