Should Staff At Nursing Homes Be Banned From Having Cell Phones With Cameras?

[chase4myheart]

After reading and listening to the news about staff taking nude photos of residents at Waddell Nursing Home in Galax Virginia, I am sickened by the thought of how anyone could do something like this. Two staff members (CNA's) took nude photos of residents without their knowledge. Police are unsure yet if the photos actually made it on the internet. As a nurse, I am wondering how do I protect my residents from this where I work? At least 99.9% of the staff where I work have cell phones with cameras on them, and how easy would it be for someone to snap a picture without the nurse or supervisor's knowledge. Our policy is that cell phones are to be turned off or placed on vibrate while in the building, but I think that I'll just suggest that cell phones not be allowed in the building. If there is an emergency, staff can be contacted by the facility phone. I just can't stand the idea of my resident's being violated in this manner. Anyone else have any feelings on this?

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

Save me from the people who leap to judgement with such busy sanctimonious rectitude.... isn't there something about judging not lest ye be judged in USAmerica's holiest book?

Our constitution set up a judiciary branch of government. Judging is okay. :wink2:

[caliotter3]

I once worked with a nurse who took a resident's personal radio/CD player to another room so she could listen to music and the radio fell on the floor and broke. When I mentioned something to the resident about why the radio was in another room and broken, he said that the nurse did not ask permission to use his radio. Stories of resident belongings being stolen by employees are common, so it is not out of the ordinary to think that those who would slip this or that into their pocket or take the radio to another room for personal use, could go so far as to take unauthorized pictures. It takes all kinds. I would not try to enforce a ban. I would however, advocate for harsh penalties. Most employers just fire someone. I think charges should be filed and reports to the Board for the serious infractions. Don't just push the problem out the door to the next employer.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I personally would be fine if they forced everyone to keep their cells in the locker room or leave them at home/in the car. Then maybe the stff could get some work done.

In many (if not most) places that I have worked, they were not used responsibly.

(And I have now made myself veeerry unpopular w/this BB)

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

I work at a facility that requires all cellphones be left in the car or at home. None in the building. The problem is, it's next to impossible to enforce. Even some nurses keep them in their pockets. And I have way too many things to do to be worrying about it. Unless it's interfering with someone's work, I tend to look the other way.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

All the places I've worked let staff keep their phones in the building but they have to be off during work time. I'm all for that, since then it doesn't interfere with work, but still provides communication to and from work. Walking in the dark and driving in the snow are much more comfy if one has a cell phone available.

Those who take pictures of patients, especially the ones the OP mentioned should be fired and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, in my opinion.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

Cell phones were not allowed when I was in high school but you better believe I had one on me at all times. I'd do no differently if my hospital banned them. Many nurses have families and it's WAY easier to call a cell phone and step out to take the call than to call the unit secretary and have them hunt you down when we have about 40 nurses on at a time and take up a whole floor of the hospital..and our SpectraLink phones don't work half the time.

If someone REALLY wants to take a picture of a patient, they are going to find a way whether camera phones are banned or not.