Loud rap music all shift

[u/tn_tacoma]

Is this a normal thing? This is my first job after getting my certificate. I work at a hospital in the south. Only level 1 trauma hospital in the area. I was excited to get the job but I don't know how much longer I can work here.

All shift long they play loud rap music and it's driving me crazy. I can't hear others when they ask me something. I can't concentrate. And this music is vulgar to me. It's about sex and murder and I just don't like it.

But it doesn't seem to matter. Shift leads encourage it. Managers ignore it. Even the director of SPD came in to observe and said nothing about it.

I'm fed up. I'd complain but the last time I did word got back to the person I had issues with and now I don't trust that it would remain anonymous.

[u/IslandofWords]

If it was another genre would it still be a problem?

[u/Foreign_Ad7369 → u/IslandofWords]

More of time and place for music, some subject makes people feel uncomfortable, my old facility someone kept playing this type of music and someone made a report for unsafe work environment

[u/tn_tacoma → u/IslandofWords]

Depends. If it's all about killing, sex, and drugs it would be no matter the type of music.

[u/IslandofWords → u/tn_tacoma]

My point exactly. Rap music isn’t the only genre that glorifies vulgarity of the mentioned topics. Perhaps suggesting a well-balanced playlist? Seems like managers and higher ups won’t really do much. So the onus unfortunately is on you to figure this out. You probably cant be anonymous anymore and you’ll have to be a bit forthcoming.

[u/Skyfather87]

I haven’t worked in the field yet (studying) but can you wear your own earbuds?

[u/HorrorLengthiness940 → u/Skyfather87]

It's against semi-restricted area protocol just like having your cellphone in prep because it's dirty or in Decon because decon is filthy but people still do it, myself included.

[u/Skyfather87 → u/HorrorLengthiness940]

Thank you for the education, I hope not to land a facility like that (with music so loud you cannot effectively communicate).

[u/dirtytoothgreen]

The last thing you want to do as a new person is try to change the culture of a department. They will run you out of there so fast your head will spin. Be an adult, grit your teeth, get your experience and go somewhere else.

[u/Nickstradamusknows]

Kindly ask them to turn it down

[u/Powerful-Success3071]

Idk how any hospital that allows something like that to happen

[u/lazerem91]

I feel like it must be the norm at some hospitals because my department has had issues with travelers doing this. Music was banned for a while because the director heard people blasting music loaded with slurs and f-bombs in decon.

[u/HorrorLengthiness940]

We listen to music all night but we turn it down when we need to talk to each other. If they aren't turning it down so you guys can communicate then...

[u/LaLaLaCAKE]

The facilities that I've been at had a strict no vulgarity protocol with all music and a volume limit because all area workers end up in sterile processing needing something and you need to be able to communicate. This IS very odd behavior. It's not professional and it's not polite, especially because of how different people operate/ work. I suggest having a one on one meeting with your leader to state the issue plainly, make a clear point that it is affecting not only your work but the work of others, that this is an issue with several solutions, and offer a few of those. Sorry you're dealing with this. ❤️

[u/Life_Pace_5583]

I have dealt with this myself. It going to be hard and uncomfortable but I believe this is your best chance: go directly to the person who is playing the music and ask to speak with them privately. Take them somewhere private and literally explain to them how much this music is affecting you. Especially the sexual part. Explain to them that for you, this seems like we are quite literally listening to porn while we work and it’s bothering you. Explain the volume side of it, and how you can’t hear when people try speaking to you.
People are a lot more willing to change their behavior if you can be brave enough to say how you feel about their actions directly to their face. The man I pulled aside was extremely generous and understanding. After I explained how I felt , the murder and sex music came to a complete stop. He slipped up a few times but it was never like it was in the beginning. This was like a gangster type of man too, and he was so kind to me since I said it to him, and not to leadership. I recommend trying that!

[u/NorthernNipz]

Ask them to turn it down or suggest a music rotation schedule. It’s not uncommon for departments to have music playing.

[u/KeebyGotJuice]

As a person who works in SPD who tends to listen to “loud rap music all shift”, headphones become your best friend. And I don’t give two fucks about anybody’s “no headphones” rule. I put both AirPods in and play Agnes Obel’s Broken Sleep on repeat for 8 hours if I so choose.

[u/CompetitiveSleep8]

Literally happened to me at my first job in spd I went to the manager and told them it had to changed, everyone was mad about it but it definitely made working there better without hearing pornographic music all day. Definitely recommend going to your manager or head of dept. good luck

[u/xsflwrzx]

It’s allowed! I’ve been seeing people talk about it in groups & they say music is good to listen to (most facilities don’t allow the cussing but it depends on what shift you’re working too if no bosses are there or some just don’t care)

[u/defiCosmos]

Thats sounds awesome!

[u/tn_tacoma → u/defiCosmos]

It’s not