Is this legal?

[Rocknurse]

I work in a University State Hospital in the ICU. I came into work tonight and was handed what looked like a name badge but it just had a number on it. I was informed that it was a nurse tracking device, and will show the person watching the monitors where each and every nurse it at all times, how long we spend in each room and how long we spend in the bathroom. On a monitor next to the EKG monitors, the screen shows each person's initials as they move about the unit, and each time you enter a room a little light goes on outside the door triggered by an infra-red beam. I was told it was introduced to "cut down on noise" so people don't have to yell to find co-workers. I don't believe this and think it's goig to be used against us and some point. I was not informed this was going to be introduced and feel I have no choice but to wear it. Surely this infringes my rights? :angryfire

[palesarah]

I have to agree with you. I wonder what the doctors would say if they were told they had to wear one?

Actually, the doctors and midwives at my last hospital did wear locators. It was a safety measure.

The system was never used for punitive reasons though, so no one had an issue wearing them. It was actually quite inconvienient when people forgot to wear their locators or the batteries died.

[nan1993]

The hospital I work at the floor nurses uses these " locators " with their badges. I work in the neuro intensive care, we do not have them. But when we get pulled to the floors we have one assigned to us with a pager. I do not like it at all. I do feel like it is " big brother" watching us.