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

Nurses Professionalism

Published

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!

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I feel the same way Esme. I just don't get it. I hate being tethered and available all the time.

I know it is a younger generation thing for the most part, but I would be interested in understanding it more. So you young'ns with the wired in 24/7 status please help us understand.

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU, Public Health.

No one is texting while putting an Iv in...texting while driving is dangerous because you're taking your eyes off the road to text.

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU.
No one is texting while putting an Iv in...texting while driving is dangerous because you're taking your eyes off the road to text.

I can see how not being alert to your surroundings/what's going on on the unit due to texting might cause harm to a patient...A lot can happen when you're not paying attention.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
I still wonder who in the name of God people are texting at 3am on 3rd shift...... I'll never understand texting culture, and I'm glad I don't.

One girl on nights calls and texts around her neighborhood constantly, because she leaves her 11 year old to be supervised by neighbors, then spends half the night looking for the kid who claims she's at this neighbor's or that neighbor's, or with this or that friend. Yes, ELEVEN.

0 Votes

I love my phone. The texting service is one of the best ideas. When I CANNOT answer a phone call I am still reachable via text. I was in my nursing program and everyone had their cell phones out. Especially when our instructor couldn't answer a student's question shed ask one of us to look up info on our phones. During post conference she sometimes answered her phone via text if it was urgent. Shed make you put it away if you were actively texting but other than that she didnt mind. Heck! the RNs and MDs during our clinicals have kids and they answered their phones discretely. Noone should be made to rely on the "work phone". Now they are also implementing work cells. My mother has a work and personal cell and i always was able to reach my shadow nurse by using the desk phone to call the work cell. People can be so uptight. Lighten up! It's life and cell phones aren't going away and it does make life a little simpler. Just my 2 cents worth.

0 Votes
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Nobody is saying cell phones should go away. Ill-mannered people using cell phones should go away. It would be nice if common sense about these things prevailed, but with some people it doesn't. My kids who are in their twenties know the difference between responsible use of a convenient technology and being rude and annoying with it. Sometimes the older "uptight" person is the obnoxious cell-phone user. My son works as a cashier - lots of full of themselves business people wait until they get to the register to start looking through their phones for a coupon while everyone waits.

0 Votes
Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
I am not being mean.....I am really curious. Many nurses find it difficult to find time to drink water and use the facilities...catch a deep breath. Where are you finding the extra time to type and communicate...carry on conversations....with people during work hours.

It has been proven that distracted driving impairs you to a greater extent than alcohol...in fact many states/cities are passing legislation about texting and driving because of the impairment/distraction it causes........how do you feel texting does not impair you nor the care you deliver to your patients.

Personally, I work nights on a unit that can have quite a bit of downtime between 0100-0330ish. Most of my coworkers bring ipads to read with or even watch movies, cellphones etc. Just because many nurses have jobs on very busy units doesn't mean that all nurses do.

There's a huge difference between using technology during down time and using it to distraction.

0 Votes
I love my phone. The texting service is one of the best ideas. When I CANNOT answer a phone call I am still reachable via text. I was in my nursing program and everyone had their cell phones out. Especially when our instructor couldn't answer a student's question shed ask one of us to look up info on our phones. During post conference she sometimes answered her phone via text if it was urgent. Shed make you put it away if you were actively texting but other than that she didnt mind. Heck! the RNs and MDs during our clinicals have kids and they answered their phones discretely. Noone should be made to rely on the "work phone". Now they are also implementing work cells. My mother has a work and personal cell and i always was able to reach my shadow nurse by using the desk phone to call the work cell. People can be so uptight. Lighten up! It's life and cell phones aren't going away and it does make life a little simpler. Just my 2 cents worth.
I don't know.... my mom was a nurse for years in the time before cell phones. Somehow my sister and I managed to survive not being in constant 24/7 contact with her.... Just sayin'....
0 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Personally, I work nights on a unit that can have quite a bit of downtime between 0100-0330ish. Most of my coworkers bring ipads to read with or even watch movies, cellphones etc. Just because many nurses have jobs on very busy units doesn't mean that all nurses do.

There's a huge difference between using technology during down time and using it to distraction.

I know this is going to sound old fashioned but......on your down time....there is NOTHING you can be doing? Like up dating care plans, cleaning the fridge, cleaning the med room? I know that makes me sound like the pain in the behind boss.....but, you are at work I am sure there is work to do. As a long time night worker....I get that the I pads, phone etc.....and they are fuine...in moderation......but they all do distract from the task at hand.....possibly hearing that LOL (little ole lady) who just snuck OOB without help

They are useful resources and means to look up things....but that isn't what is in question here. Why do people feel the need to have instantaneous, constant, unrelenting contact with the outside world. there is very little that can't wait at least a little while before being compelled to reply.

I teach my kids patience is a virtue.....I do not understand the constant stream of one line communication that ADLs are affected.

I am just trying to figure it out.

0 Votes

Yes I survived without cell phones back in the day when my mom worked L&D nights as a kid. That doesn't mean that we need to continue the old-fashioned way. You don't see doctors or nurses recommending birthing mothers to bite roots or to continue doing practices that are old-fashioned. The argument of "well we survived" is moot. Yea, they amputated wounded soldiers' legs, arms, etc without anesthesia, THEY survived, but does that mean we need to continue that? What I'm saying is lay off the whole "we survived" bit. I'm sure we'd survive without cell phones, but life would be a bit harder. Just saying...

0 Votes
Specializes in ER.
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.

.

Since I posted on this thread and I was a single mother for a long time, my ex husband was unfaithful multiple times throughout our 7 year marriage. I assure you that as a paralegal who worked on divorces for years, most people are not single parents by choice. They leave behind less ideal circumstances for single life for a reason, not because they are a glutton for punishment.

Still using my cell phone at work. Am a hardworking employee and use it with discretion AND expect respect from my boss.

0 Votes
Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
I know this is going to sound old fashioned but......on your down time....there is NOTHING you can be doing? Like up dating care plans, cleaning the fridge, cleaning the med room? I know that makes me sound like the pain in the behind boss.....but, you are at work I am sure there is work to do. As a long time night worker....I get that the I pads, phone etc.....and they are fuine...in moderation......but they all do distract from the task at hand.....possibly hearing that LOL (little ole lady) who just snuck OOB without help

Stocking/cleaning -- not as often as you would think. We're a very small unit. I do think that some nurses choose not to stock (which is technically the aid's job) in favor of being lazy, but as an older nurse, surely you've seen nurses who will take any excuse to be lazy.

I'm not entirely certain that doing busy work decreases distraction. If I'm cleaning the med room, how am I going to hear the LOL get out of bed? (Preferably, I'd have the bed alarm on to begin with and everyone would go running when it sounded.) I'm in the med room. Cleaning.

What *is* truly the task at hand? I work on a mixed-acuity unit. Last night, I had an ICU and a tele patient. Both very stable. Around 0100, I settled into pt-sleeping mode. Flipped through a Nat Geo and browsed AN a bit. Kept an eye on the monitors. Everything was stocked and clean where I was. (Did a basic cleaning around 0500 - take out trash, etc.) I could have stared at the monitor for 3 hours. I also could have fallen asleep staring at the monitor. Y'know?

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment