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

[fakebee]

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!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I "get it" I really do.....I have worked at the bedside my entire career. Even when I was management I worked in my beloved ED agency on weekends now and then. I get down time. I get boredom. I have loved nights....forever. I have read books on a 1:1 while sitting in the door way. I am not talking the occasional time out I am talking the constant obsession to be "in touch" txting and posting as if the very world will end if they don't respond to their friend, family, e-mail.

I find that it isn't that "down time" that distracts and yes lazy staff will be lazy whether they have a cell phone or not. I find it unprofessional to stand at the med cart or walk down the hallway texting away...oblivious to their surroundings. I find this the more common behavior.

I love my phone. I love technology....but there is a time and place and the workplace is not one of them. I know....they are used to look things up....I get it I really do. When I ask staff for their phones....as they text and walk down the hallway......I never find research.

When people texting walk into fountains in the mall....there is a problem. I am just curious.....why? Why the NEED to be constantly "in touch?"

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

When people texting walk into fountains in the mall....there is a problem. I am just curious.....why? Why the NEED to be constantly "in touch?"

I actually walked into a wall while flipping through a patient's chart with a fellow nurse.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I text all the time at work Guess what I am still a good nurse!

Are the med carts stocked? Are the IV trays stocked? Is there garbage that needs to be changed? Are your patients dry and comfortable? Are your patients' rooms tidy and organized? Have you helped your co-worker settle her new admission? Is the UC overloaded and needs some help entering orders?

I have a co-worker who texts all the time too. I have absolutely no idea if she's a good nurse or bad nurse, mainly because I have yet to define that for myself or others. I can't STAND the sound of the call lights going off, so I get up from charting or whatever at the desk and answer them if no one else gets it. It gets a little annoying when I have interrupt my work to answer bells, but she can't interrupt her texting because she thinks call lights are the techs' job.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Are the med carts stocked? Are the IV trays stocked? Is there garbage that needs to be changed? Are your patients dry and comfortable? Are your patients' rooms tidy and organized? Have you helped your co-worker settle her new admission? Is the UC overloaded and needs some help entering orders?

I have a co-worker who texts all the time too. I have absolutely no idea if she's a good nurse or bad nurse, mainly because I have yet to define that for myself or others. I can't STAND the sound of the call lights going off, so I get up from charting or whatever at the desk and answer them if no one else gets it. It gets a little annoying when I have interrupt my work to answer bells, but she can't interrupt her texting because she thinks call lights are the techs' job.

Someone who can't interrupt her texting because she thinks call lights are the tech's job is not a good nurse. You said it yourself. Are the med carts and IV trays stocked? Garbage to be changed? Patients dry and comfortable in tidy rooms? Have you helped out your co-workers? If she's sitting and texting while others are busy, she's not a good nurse.

[Butterfly6890]

Ruby Vee: who are YOU to say who is and isn't a good nurse? For all you know she may be a GREAT nurse.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Ruby's usually spot on...I'm with Ruby on this one...she may have fab technical skills, but letting stuff that isn't ' her job' go because she won't put down the phone? Bad personal nursing.

[Butterfly6890]

Really? I'd say look at your own faults. Many times I've sat down literally WAITING for call lights so NO it isn't impossible to believe that a nurse may be using a cell phone while waiting.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Either you're deliberately missing the point or someone has crawled you before on this... the post clearly stated that the person in question was ignoring call bells and stated that answering bells was the job of the techs.

No one is denying faults. No one's making this personal. Ease up, hun. You're going to pop a vessel if you're not careful. No one is bashing anyone. Just observations and opinions.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Yes, there is downtime. Especially on 3rd shift in LTC. I stock the med room, check every chart and do rounds at the beginning of the shift. If there's nothing to do at the moment it's fine to text, or read or play solitaire or watch TV quietly. But I WILL say that if you're sitting and texting while your aides or another nurse are busy working then, yes, you are a bad nurse and a bad coworker.....

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Ruby Vee: who are YOU to say who is and isn't a good nurse? For all you know she may be a GREAT nurse.

I'm a nurse. I've been a nurse for a long time. And I can assure you that someone who is sitting at the nurse's station playing with her phone for prolonged periods of time is not a GREAT nurse or even a good one. I'm sure there must be an uncomfortable patient, a med cart that needs stocking, a new grad that needs questions answered or a clin tech that needs help with a bed change. That nurse may be competent, but she doesn't excel at nursing. At texting, maybe, but not nursing.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

I'm in my last year of nursing school and we've always been aloud to use our phones in clinical as a clinical tool or reference. I am so thankful we can. If it is obvious that we aren't using are phones APPROPIATELY, then we will be told to put it up or receive a clinical infraction. We cannot talk on our phones, and our instructors use their phones as tools during clinical or to text instructors in other floor or back at school. My instructors aren't extremely young either, 3 out of 5 are over 52, all of them are over 32 (which is still pretty young) . These are people who have been in nursing 10, 20, and 30 years.

In our informatics lecture we learned that nurses should taking advantage of the technology around them.

I need my phone for various reason it is very helpful to me. I see nothing wrong with an employer, who may have a minute or 2 to spare, sending a message. I agree that this should not take place at the desk or during conversations with people.

On night shift, I feel just checking your phone for the time or a message is ok, even at the desk. You've got to use common sense when it comes to technology, don't let it be your downfall or cause people to lack your professionalism.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

Actually texting is very beneficial. I work PRN at a local hospital and we implemented blackberry text and email orders from the hospitalists. I think it is perversely ignorant for one to make a judgement on someone who may text at various times. If the time or location when an individual texts doesn't jeopardize patient care, safety, and privacy and the credibility of the organization, what's the big deal.

I agree that some can go overboard. However, I think an honest self-evaluation is necessary when this "issue" comes up. ANA code of Ethics provision 5.2 says

"Continual professional growth, particularly in knowledge and skill, requires a commitment to lifelong learning. Such learning includes, but is not limited to, continuing education, networking with professional colleagues, self-study, professional reading, certification, and seeking advanced degrees. Nurses are required to have knowledge relevant to the current scope and standards of nursing practice, changing issues, concerns, controversies, and ethics"

So being open to the fact that the works if nursing and the world I general are constantly changing, we MUST adapt eventually. When creatures and humans don't adapt and learn tolerance they become obsolete. Now this doesn't mean that everyone has to text everywhere and everything, but it means things are changing and no matter how bad we try to resist that change will effect us.

We are at a heightened time of communication and information! We are also in a time where everyday the world become a little less safer place to live ( I totally understand why people want to constantly check on their kids even if it seems too much).

In conclusion, technology MUST be kept in its place, but we must also true with it. Also, if it is not effecting patient care and I'm not paying the bill, what can I do, but report it to the appropriate officials and continue to strive to do my best and uphold my profession? There are too many people that need to be taking care if because someone is offended or irritated by a co-worker or whatever being in a cell phone. If they are putting patients or the profession in harms way, do what you can, but then move on.