Fun Hospital Memory ... being careful what words we use to highlight change that may be needed to improve things ....
Pic: Public Domain
As we have all heard sometimes, "The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions!"
In the past, when I worked at a local hospital, our Nurse Manager was hoping to quell some apparent rumor mongering that was going on by some members of our health team that was bad for the morale.
So she posted some rather large conspicuous reminder signs on the unit that unfortunately could have surely used some free "Proofing Services," as the message didn't go over too well with our physicians:
Now that's funny! My faux pas wasn't. I was working with two black women developing a work order system for the University. When addressing them, I would sometimes say, "You gals should" or similar that is a common way of address women from my upper Midwest upbringing. I was careful not to call them, "girls." Because they weren't and I knew that it would be demeaning. Still, one of them, Barbara, would give me a sour look like she didn't want to do what I was asking (improving her workload?). Finally, one day, she stopped me and asked me if I knew what that word, gal, meant. I told her. And then she said, "That's what they called us when we were slaves… It's a very bad term. I didn't quack that word again around any of my colleagues.
The true story of Cheryl Pierson Cuccio who made headlines in 1986 and her husband Rob Cuccio. Cheryl was abused sexually and physically and Rob died for 43 minutes on Cheryl's 43rd birthday.
Rosetta was born in 1909 as the youngest of ten children. The family had more laughter than money and neighbors would knock on their door to ask, "Can we come in and laugh, too?"
Pic: Public Domain
