texting?

tewdles, RN · Sep 14, 2011

I phone my patients. But, I am not certain how texting their cell is any less secure than phoning their cell...you always have to be cautious about names and details over the airwaves.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2011

Not a HIPAA violation, but I don't give my pts my phone number. I know they get it from caller ID, but I have put all my pts (and POA's) names and numbers in my phone (so I get a name and not some random number). I don't answer for them, unless I just called them and left a msg. My v.m says, "You've reached Hospice Nurse LPN, please do not leave me a msg about a pt. Please call the office @ -------".

I am usually at my home pts about the same time and I visit on the same days each week. If I'm running late, I'll give them a call.

curiousauntie · Sep 17, 2011

Our hospice does not allow texting, but it is due to the $$$ of enabeling the texting on our work cells. The only texting I do is with my personal cell to one specific MD who is impossible to reach unless you text him.

As for letting patients have your work cell number, our policy is that if you give them the number, you must keep your cell on 24/7, something I WILL NOT do. I have a couple of "high maintenance" families that I use *67 prior to calling them unless I am at the office to keep the cell number from them as I would get numerous calls at 11 pm on a Saturday for the emergency of...chux! My voice mail says I am available Mon to Fri, 9-5, and if it is any other time or it is an actual emergency, to call the office at such and such a number. The patients who do have my cell are frequently told if they call and I don't answer, to call the office if it is an emergency or leave a message that I will get the next time I work and turn on the phone. I also make sure to let them know which on-call nurse is on that week if they do have an off-hour emergency. It seems to put them at ease, knowing who will be calling if they call the service.

caliotter3 · Sep 17, 2011

My client texts me often because she says she can't get hold of me otherwise. I have stopped trying to explain that I do not normally answer my phone (unless I see it is her and I want to talk at the moment). Of course, almost all of the time the contacts have to do with scheduling, she has never called me to chit chat. This is the chance one takes when one gives out their number. It is difficult to enforce a "no number given" personal policy with a long term client. Reinforced by the agency bad habit of not responding.

Ginapixi, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2011

we had a pt with an extreme weak voice, she could not be understood over the phone so we would text on occasion; usually I do not; not sure what the rest of our nurses do when it comes to pt calls/texts; but we nurses will text each other, mostly to coordinate visits on evenings;

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2011

Ginapixi-

You reminded me of a PCG we had one time who was deaf & mute. She had all the nurses numbers & we gave her a call schedule Q month so she would know who was on call. she never abused it, though.

Ginapixi, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2011

I kept thinking about this last night and i must say i concluded i would prefer text messages over phone calls! they are easy to triage, especially if people just call in for med refills; i think it could save time - then again cannot text while driving.... guess i can't have my cake and eat it too :)

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

I kept thinking about this last night and i must say i concluded i would prefer text messages over phone calls! they are easy to triage, especially if people just call in for med refills; i think it could save time - then again cannot text while driving.... guess i can't have my cake and eat it too :)

My DON would have a fit if PCG's were calling in for refills. Our nurses stay on top of meds and refills and get a royal chewing if we don't.

Ginapixi, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2011

My DON would have a fit if PCG's were calling in for refills. Our nurses stay on top of meds and refills and get a royal chewing if we don't.

we always have one or two families who "do not need a nursing visit" on their scheduled day and then call after hours that they need refills.... they higher the census the more likely it is, however the one family we have had for quite some time and it still happens, usually when they did not want a visit or after the son gets home, come to think it has not happened in a while LOL:D