No Internet access at work

Nurses General Nursing

Published

At my hospital, we are not allowed internet access. The computers are on line, but everything except the American Heart Association is blocked. There never has been access, so it's not that it was taken away for misuse. A lot of us feel that access to the internet would be well used for researching diagnoses, treatments, pt education, etc... We ask and ask and get no answer. We can't even e-mail our manager from work. I'm wondering how many of you have access, how is it used, how often is it used, how is it monitored? Do you feel that having access enhances your ability to care for patients? The only other reference material we have are some old books donated (not provided by the hospital) by doctors and some of us.

Responses would be well appreciated!!

We had it and it was taken away because of employee abuse. Downloads with viruses and links to Media sites. Soooo, because of a few, the majority cannot have it.

same thing where i work! Lousy part is I never got to use it :uhoh3:

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

Thanks for all your replies! We have decided to compile a list (a long one LOL) of sites that we would find helpful. Everybody is going to come up with a few. I just can't see them turning us down if that's all we want - not total access.

Specializes in MDS coordinator, hospice, ortho/ neuro.
Thanks for all your replies! We have decided to compile a list (a long one LOL) of sites that we would find helpful. Everybody is going to come up with a few. I just can't see them turning us down if that's all we want - not total access.

There are programs out there that can severely restrict internet access and use. If your facilities computer geek should know how to implement this. There are also programs to track who is doing what on the net. I can't believe that any facility allows unrestricted computer access without password accounts! Thats just asking for problems!

I can't imagine not having it. Our director made sure to get us all on email, just to cut WAY back on all the paper notices all over the breakroom, the bathroom door, etc. Instead, we just email the unit, read notices, etc. That ALONE is invaluable!! As for the internet, I use it to look up specifics on meds, diseases, syndromes, side effects, I've used it to look up Vitamin K foods to print up for patients on coumadin when I couldn't find a coumadin pamphlet, I've used it for drug and lab calculators, I've even been known to use it for the online translators!! If we have a patient that doesn't speak English and I just have to ask them to do something simple, like "Please lie down" or "Do you have pain" I'll just run it through a translator, print it up and give it to the patient! Only simple things of course, translations aren't alway exact, but with simple things it gets me by!! Only professionals for complicated stuff. Let's see, what else? The hospital intranet is also very valuable, we sign up for continuing education, BLS and ACLS through it, our policies and procedures are on it, COUNTLESS things can be accessed!! Our library is also online through the computer! Good luck with this!! :)

The former Dr's office I worked in up until recently is owned by a hospital and each one of us had our own computer and email, and internet access..We would read the local newspaper on line during our lunch break or another coworker would be scoping out the weather channel to see what the weather was like where his son was stationed.

I do not believe any of us abused the privilege of having internet access, and I can't tell you how many times I depended on it daily when one of the Drs wanted a disease looked up and printed out.

I am now in a Drs office where 3 of us share the computer amongst us and we aren't supposed to so much as look up anything on the internet. My Dr requested a print out on OSHA concerna Cilica dust the other day and I did do it and sent my manager a message to let her know that I did go there per Dr request..I felt like I was doing something dirty and wrong.

I do think it is sad that a few people downloading games/Media etc have to ruin it for everyone, but truly thats been going on ever since I was in kindergarten! lol

Anyways, the moral is I feel lost without my own computer and ability to surf freely for 'medical reasons'.

Jenny

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I'm curious as to what everybody considers abuse..

I think of internet/computer abuse at work as 1) using it for general surfing while there is other work to be done 2) using it to download anything at all 3) using it to view inappropriate material including but not limited to Media

I don't see using it, during break or downtime to read news, weather, or just surf around as abuse. After all, what's the difference between that and reading newspapers, magazines, or books?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Ours is password protected....using Windows NT. That way, those of us using the net can access what we need and yes, it is tracked. It seems reasonable to me. Why everyone is not doing this is a puzzle to me.

Never have worked where the general nursing staff had internet access on the floor computers. Only managers and a few selected computers were on line. There were always emails regarding internet abuse and such. I never used the connected computers except to take ther required skills tests every year. I do think there is a valuable tool being overlooked but sadly a few instances of abuse stopped general access for all of us. :o

I Agree That Nurses Need Internet Access. I Have Come Across

Many Incidences When I Needed Further Information on Updated Information About Diagnoses And Treatment Plan.

We Can't Rely On The Resident To Know Everything Now Can We? Also I Do Not Understand Why Nurses Aren't Allowed Access To The Library During Off Hours. We Are Limited To Accessing Information. The Doctors Have All The Special Privleges ,When The Nurses Are Implementing The Treatment Of Patients

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