Confronting Sexual Harassment Assignment
Part 1:
Confronting Sexual Harassment
You are a new female employee at Valley Medical Center’s intensive care unit and love your job. Although only 25 years old, you have been a nurse for 4 years, and the last 2 years were spent in a small critical care unit in a rural hospital. You work the 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM shift. Ever since you came to work there, one of the male physicians, Dr. Long, has been especially attentive to you. At first, you were flattered, but more recently, you have become uncomfortable around him. He sometimes touches you and seems to be flirting with you. You have no romantic interest in him and know that he is married. Last night, he asked you to meet him for an after-work drink and you refused. He is a very powerful man in the unit, and you do not want to alienate him, but you are becoming increasingly troubled by his behavior.
Today, you went to your shift charge nurse and explained how you felt. In response, the nurse said, “Oh, he likes to flirt with all the new staff, but he’s perfectly harmless.” These comments did not make you feel better. At approximately 7:00 PM, Dr. Long came to the unit and cornered you again in a comatose patient’s room and asked you out. You said no again, and you are feeling more anxious because of his behavior.
ASSIGNMENT:
Outline an appropriate course of action.
- What options can you identify?,
- What is your responsibility?,
- What are the driving and restraining forces for action?,
- What support systems for action can you identify?,
- What responsibility does the organization have?
Be creative and think beyond the obvious. Be able to support your decisions.