Texting while doing patient care?

Nurses Relations

Published

  • Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

You are reading page 11 of Texting while doing patient care?

edmia, BSN, RN

827 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
Completely unacceptable and there is never a good enough reason to have your phone with you on the floor. If there is some kind of family emergency, they can contact you through your work number.

That's actually not an accurate statement anymore. I "carry" my reference books and drug guides with me on shift as well as a calculator. All are apps on my smartphone and absolutely needed when I'm working.

I don't answer the phone or text during work though, that's just not OK. My family knows the unit number of they absolutely need me. They know not to expect an answer if they text until my next break.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

I use my smart phone all the time at work to communicate with our doctor and my manager when they are not in the building. Of course I do not use patient names.

Guest372004

425 Posts

I work with a nurse who gives out her cell # to a patient once in a while when the patient is very needy and concerned about something. It is interesting because when she does it, they seldom if ever call her. She tells them if the call light is not answered in 5 minutes or if it is an emergency to call her and it puts them at ease.

Specializes in PACU, OR.
I work with a nurse who gives out her cell # to a patient once in a while when the patient is very needy and concerned about something. It is interesting because when she does it, they seldom if ever call her. She tells them if the call light is not answered in 5 minutes or if it is an emergency to call her and it puts them at ease.

Has she ever had to change her number because a patient or former patient starts harassing her? It sounds like a very kind thing to do, and as you pointed out, has a calming effect on the patients, but don't you think it's potentially risky?

Guest372004

425 Posts

Oops this response may be a repeat? Anyways, my co-worker who gives out her cell # to certain nervous patients, never has had a problem. In fact, they turn into "no problem patients" because they are not anxious that their needs will not be met. I, myself, have not done it as I do not want to take the chance of some patient who I will totally forget after a bit, will call me!

maelstrom143

398 Posts

Specializes in PCU.

Using a personal cell phone while on duty is totally against our policy and a firing offense at the first sighting (not that anyone is enforcing it, unfortunately). Taking a picture w/said phone could be a HIPAA violation.

cdsga

391 Posts

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

I would think giving your personal cell phone to a patient would be dangerous for the nurses' security. You just never know about people. I don't think this is a good idea, and I would not do it myself-just like I wouldn't give any personal information to a patient.

lilhelper

26 Posts

Specializes in volunteering!.

One time I did use my phone with a patient. In pediatrics, there was a boy who was about 7. He was on droplet precautions. Another nursing student and I had to do an assessment in the morning. We went into his room and he was sleeping. As instructed, we were going to listen to his heart & lungs while he was sleeping. As the stethoscope touched him, he woke up and there we were all gowned and masked. He started crying. I started speaking in a quiet voice. I asked him if he ever saw Happy Feet. He was still crying, but I could see a change. I talked about the crazy penguin who danced. I asked if he knew about that. He was still crying, and pulling away, but he was listening. I told him how I had been to the zoo earlier that day and got video of a crazy penguin--just like the one in Happy Feet. I asked if he wanted to see the video. The crying stopped by this point. I told him that we would watch the video while my partner listened to him. Everytime I went in the room, I would show that video and a couple of pics of the animals, and he was pretty happy to see me.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

VERY unprofessional!!! :nono:

It *is* against policy to keep our phones on us during working hours (they should be in our lockers) but no one complies with that. I admit, I keep my cellphone on me *but* it's on silent. I wouldn't dare dream of taking my phone out in front of a patient to answer text messages.

That would not fly with any patient I have taken care of or fly with our supervisors, manager and director.

Guest372004

425 Posts

I would not give my # to a patient. never ever never

Guest372004

425 Posts

we signed forms that said we would not carry cell phones. But no one follows it. Even the manager has her phone out and the charge nurse has hers at the desk. It is how it is these days. Unless it is interfering with care, I do not care anymore. How about the patient who is on her/his cell phone when I go into the room to assess or to give meds and they just chat away and ask me to come by later. As Bob Dylan said "The times they are a changin"

+ Add a Comment