What is it with nurses and cell phones? Just a vent.

Nurses Professionalism

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Recently my hospital has upgraded or introduced multiple new computer programs that have required almost every level of nurse from bedside to administration to attend class in order to use the new technology. I have assisted in teaching numerous classes and before each we ask that cell phones be silenced and put away, that if anyone must make or take a call or text to please exit the room and return when done, and not to text while in class or you will be asked to leave. Despite this every class we have multiple violators and the majority when asked to leave are not embarrassed but become angry when asked to follow rules and be respectful of educators and classmates. I can't say it's any one age group since I've had 22 year olds to 70 year olds as the culprits. Sometimes I just have to shake my head at what passes for professionalism these days. This is just a vent, not looking for validation. Have a great day!

You are right. The hot button issue isn't the device itself, but the disrespect that underlines the behavior.

I still disagree with having a no cell phone policy but that's because I am always present for the person in front of me. That may be my patient, co-worker, employee at a store, instructor in a class, my husband, whoever! Simple courtesy is something you can't make rules for, so those of us who are respectful and would use our devices appropriately, are dumbed down to the lowest common denominator: the ignorant amongst us.

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I agree. People can and should be able to use their smart phones for work-related business. That's a separate issue.

You know, places wouldn't take extreme positions on such things if there wasn't abuse or lack of courtesy in the first place.

No way should nurses have to lose the use of their smart phones for work-related business--reviewing lab parameters, medicines, calculations, etc. That's just ridiculous.

Just cut out the childish misuse of the phone and use courtesy, and we're all good!

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Again, it's about obnoxiousness. Is it really hard to stay away from over-dramatization and condescension?

That's kind of my beef...everyone has to come out person after person and tell us just how extremely important their role as parent is...one person says "I need to be there if they go to the hospital!" The next person says "I'd abandon my patients if MY kids were in a car wreck!" The next says "I once jumped out of a moving hovercraft into the shark infested Indian Ocean when I got a text from the babysitter that my kid's nose was runny!"

Yes I'm exaggerating. But it really does go like that, like every time this comes up. And it generally comes up where it really wasn't relevant. Case in point the girl who complained about the mandatory evacuation policy in her Gulf Coast hospital. She was mostly fussing about not getting any bonus pay and having to room with her coworkers overnight if they were forced to stay...she never said one word about children, but yet the thread degenerated into "The Most Important Job in the World trumps a bunch of sick people lying helpless in a hospital during a hurricane," times ten.

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
To answer your question, nothing changes. To a certain degree, those who feel the need to "stay in touch in case of an emergency" know this too. But, see...........its not about helping the situation so whether they actually can help or if they are powerless to do anything is a mute point.

There is a very specific personality type that insists on "keeping in touch in case of an emergency". As you read the posts by the people from this group, you will find they all sound very much alike. Read their posts only, skipping over the comments by other people, and you'll start to think they are one person posting under different accounts.

That personality type would be OCD (using the term in a slang, non-clinical way). The issues relating to the need for control OVER EVERYTHING AT ALL TIMES bleeds from their words and actions. Heck, even if you use the clinical definition of OCD, one of the symptoms is "REPEATED CHECKING" lol. You'll also notice a theme amongst this group concerning their inability to let anyone else handle a problem that arises. I counted two who said their spouse lacked the "common sense" to handle emergencies hence they needed to be available to coach them through things. Practically made it sound as though their spouses were one burnt brain cell away from collecting disability or something. But, again its about control, not about helping the situation. Letting the spouse handle the situation would be relinquishing control. Can't do that, they wouldn't get their fix. Much better to belittle our spouse and treat them like children also.

Truth is, its not about being concerned for a loved one or wanting to help with w/e situation that arises. Its about wanting to "be in control", and being at work on the job or at the doctor's office/clinic is not going to stop them from getting their fix. There is no focus on anyone else's needs in their actions. Any parent who is focused on what is best for their child and family would not use the "I'm going to be on my phone when I need to be, get over it, I have a family" approach in life. People get fired for less. From what I understand, unemployement is not something that helps family functioning. Maybe they have found some way to handle homelessness and still care for their loved ones.

The really sad part is, what these people consider "emergencies" and what comes to mind for us when they use the term are................completely different. I have many co-workers who are constantly handling family business and "emergencies" at work. From what I can tell, none of it is truly anything to get excited about. Most of it is an emergency of the "You need to take out the trash" or "We are low on milk" variety. But, remaining completely in touch in case there is an (lol, cough, ahem) emergency satisfies their need to be in control so.............good luck explaining to them how far over the line they've gone. They need the feeling of control more than they need your approval.

If I could like this 100 times I would. And I almost peed at "Practically made it sound as though their spouses were one burnt brain cell away from collecting disability or something. "

If I could like this 100 times I would. And I almost peed at "Practically made it sound as though their spouses were one burnt brain cell away from collecting disability or something. "

:D

If spouse is not good at emergencies, why not sit down and teach spouse how to handle emergencies? It's pretty important, in my opinion.

ABC and call 911.

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
My question to the single Moms: Why is there no other parent?

Barring being widowed young, the victim of rape or incest, having an unfaithful/abusive spouse that one gets divorced from, there should be another parent there.

Yes, some people choose to adopt as singles. This is not optimal FOR THE CHILD, and they should have thought this through ahead of time. Others choose donor sperm either through banking or the "he looks really hot and I looooovve him ssooooo much" method. Again this is not optimal FOR THE CHILD, and should have been thought through ahead of time.

And some have chosen single parenthood by choosing to marry/ be intimate with those that were very poor choices ..... And choosing to break up with them when they are no longer so "in looove with them". Leaving their children in a less than optimal situation, that they did not choose.

Roughly 70% of filings for divorce are initiated by women. The vast majority are not for domestic violence. Barring those for infidelity, domestic violence or desertion, there are a large number of women choosing to go it alone as parents. Which means they are deliberately putting their children and themselves in the single parenthood conundrum.

I am truly sorry, if you did lose a spouse young, if you were in an rape/incest/abusive relationship that left you as a single parent, and will offer you support as best I can.

But there are many who make their own choices that lead to single parenthood, or shut out the other parent, or choose a spouse that is poor parenting material, and then complain of "lack of compassion" from coworkers.

I agree with a lot of what you say, but that's a wholllllllle nother subject, and it's probably going to get the thread closed down.

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Given that I am the one that usually is asked and generally relents to changing my schedule (inconveniencing me and mine) or picks up when they have to leave early.

Well you SHOULDN'T! You should get all self righteous about how your cat is sick or something.

Specializes in ICU.
Well you SHOULDN'T! You should get all self righteous about how your cat is sick or something.

Cats are people too.

Specializes in ICU.
:D

If spouse is not good at emergencies, why not sit down and teach spouse how to handle emergencies? It's pretty important, in my opinion.

ABC and call 911.

Indeed. And who better to do the teaching than a nurse?

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Cats are people too.

This is true, and I'm the best cat mother EVUR. I would cut my manager's ankles off and run out the door if my husband called me at work and said my cat was puking. My cat NEEDS me.

Specializes in ICU.

This is true, and I'm the best cat mother EVUR. I would cut my manager's ankles off and run out the door if my husband called me at work and said my cat was puking. My cat NEEDS me.

Hahahaha

Specializes in ICU.
This is true, and I'm the best cat mother EVUR. I would cut my manager's ankles off and run out the door if my husband called me at work and said my cat was puking. My cat NEEDS me.

Forget cell phones. Telepathic homing devices that allow you to hone in on your kitty's rumbling bowels so that you can respond with the utmost speed and efficiency are much more practical - and ESSENTIAL!

My cat gets lonely when I'm at work. My employer should be more family friendly and pay me to sit at home with my cat.

And to stay on topic: Then I wouldn't have to use my phone at work to get on Facebook and share pictures of my cat.

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