Texting while doing patient care? - Page 5

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  1. May 22, '12 by
    At the hospital I work at a lot of people have cell phones that they have to answer because it is a work cellphone. When the er does a bed request the computer sends a text message to the appropriate person. All the department heads, trauma team members, resp techs, supervisors, and charge nurses have cellphones. At some point they decided cellphones were better thab beepers.So it's not so unusual to see somebody openly texting or cellphoning at my hospital. I think this is a trend. At the same time you need to use common sense and decorum, if you have a work text or call explain to the pt that this is a hospital phone and please excuse me but I have to address this. Excuse yourself out of thr room if it is an actual phone call. Don't just blatently do personal text on and on in front of pts though.
    merrywhiterose, Not_A_Hat_Person, and Purple_Scrubs like this.
  2. May 22, '12 by
    This was definitely her personal phone. I know the hospital is not passing out smartphones.
  3. May 22, '12 by
    dont think its right to be texting right then when you're assessing the patient. but not being able to use your smartphone at all during 12 hour shift is stupid, you buy smartphone to be connected afterall. Its not like we are living in the 90s. but guess people get peeved over anything these days
  4. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from ocnrn63
    ​would i report it? big time.
    Quote from ocnrn63
    there. are. no. words.

    if that had happened to me, i would have brought the hammer down on her. i would have asked for the medical director, and i would have made them get him/her for me. i'd have reported exactly what happened and there would have been a come to jesus meeting--immediately.

    what is the matter with people? how did we live before there were smartphones?

    i'm trying to think of a word more extreme that "appalling." i'll come back when i do.
    wow i think you need to simmer down big time. how can anybody work with people like you? sure hope i don't meet somebody like you at my hospital
  5. May 22, '12 by
    I'm surprised everyone is so angry about this. I agree that it's unprofessional, but if it had happened to me I don't know think it would have bothered me at all.... especially since she kind of "included" you in on the texting by making a comment instead of just ignoring you. It seems less rude that way.

    I'm saying this as someone who NEVER brings her phone on the floor.
  6. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from canadiandude
    dont think its right to be texting right then when you're assessing the patient. but not being able to use your smartphone at all during 12 hour shift is stupid, you buy smartphone to be connected afterall. Its not like we are living in the 90s. but
    guess people get peeved over anything these days
    But you bought that phone to use on your personal time.. Have to look at it from the employer's perspective. If you are taking x amount of time out of each hour (or shift or whatever) for personal text messages, phone calls, etc. they are essentially paying you not to work. And anyways, all I hear on this forum is how nurses stay 2 hrs late because there is so much to do.. how does anyone have time to text?? I know in clinicals we are not allowed to have our phones with us but even if that weren't the case I would not have it with me. It would be uncomfortable to carry in my pockets (maybe not an issue for men who routinely carry wallets or keys in pockets I guess..) and would probably continually fall out ( as does my pen and scissors when I bend over haha) And this is being said by someone who while working as a front office assistant at an oral surgeon's would check her phone occasionally.. however the boss (Dr's wife ) had her phone out on the table with ringer on and answered in the front office.. so it wasn't discouraged. However, I had my phone 9/10 in my purse under my desk on silent (NOT vibrate) That stupid vibrate is more annoying that the ring tone! Others had them on the desk or in their drawer (If I was alone or expecting texts from the boss then I would have my phone in the drawer so I could hear it go off) But in general it certainly is not appropriate to be texting while being paid to do a job period. Just as it isn't appropriate to sit there and chat all afternoon with a co worker or read the paper, etc.
    Last edit by boushie87 on May 22, '12 : Reason: Can't really store my purse in my purse :p Spelling error
    merrywhiterose, Ruas61, and anie10 like this.
  7. May 22, '12 by
    Quote from Purple_Scrubs
    I believe the best approach is to speak to someone directly if you have a problem with something they are doing. In this case, the OP stated she did not know the employee's name, and I don't think she should have to run around trying to find her. IMO the next best approach is a general one. My bet is the nurse in question is probably not the only one who could use a refresher on the hospital policy regarding cell phones and professional conduct. I try to think how I would like to be treated. If somone perceived my actions as inappropriate, I would hope they would speak to me directly and not run to my boss as a first line of action. Of course, I would never text in a patient's room, lol, but if I offended someone for any reason I would like the courtesy of them addressing me about it. You would be surprised at how clueless some people are...this nurse probably has no idea her actions are inappropriate.
    I agree with you. It seems like most peoples first instinct is to sue or get people fired. Most people on here are either nurses or aspiring to be one and imagine all your hard work wasted because you made a dumb decision. We are all human and I'm sure that all the people being so judgemental have done something that maybe they shouldn't have done and never got caught or in trouble for it. If you have such a big issue about something maybe you should say something to them vs getting them in trouble. I couldn't see myself on the phone during assessment but you don't know where that persons head was. Maybe she didn't think you would trip about it. We ALL do what we can get away with.
    Purple_Scrubs and fuzzywuzzy like this.
  8. May 22, '12 by
    [QUOTE=canadiandude;6514416]WOW i think you need to simmer down big time. How can anybody work with people like you? Sure hope i don't meet somebody like you at my hospital[/QUOTEThere have been so many violationswith cell phones pictures it's ridiculous.Cell phones should not be allowed inpatient care areas...period! I wouldreport her or anyone else who I seewith a cell phone when I am a patient.
    merrywhiterose likes this.
  9. May 22, '12 by
    And to the people making it seem like texting at work takes away so much time and money........its called multitasking. Some people can do it well while some can't. People probably shouldn't hold conversations that's not work related because that's taking away time and money also
  10. May 22, '12 by
    This is how it is and doubtful it will change. Just a "change of the times". We had to sign a form that we agreed "no cell phone usage unless on break" and that lasted about 2 months. I see the manager texting too. What happens is that it just becomes normal. I actually think taking a photo of the vital signs was brilliant. How about going into a room at beginning of shift, finding the patient on the cell talking of nothing of importance and not caring that the nurse is there? This happens to me. Now I just tell them what I am doing while they are discussing the weather or the news and take their vital signs. No one has complained and if they do it will be easy to tell them nicely that since they did not get off the phone for me, I had to do what I could and not wait till they were ready.
    canadiandude likes this.