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!

I am a single mother of two although i agree with the respect issue, I must say that i keep my phone on all the time unless i am testing if i am in a meeting or at school i put my phone on vibrate. its never a time that i wont respond to a text from my kids even if its not right away i will determine if its unimportant . i don't need a Dr or a Np to tell me when i can and cannot use my phone. especially when i am paying their salary. As far as work goes i have common sense to use the phone on break or asked to be dismissed for an emergency. I wish a dr or and np would tell me i couldn't use my phone. i bet after i finished with them they wouldn't do it again. i am in nursing school and my instructor answer they phone.

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Actually after you finished with them they would probably(politely) provide you with a list of health care providers and encourage you to find a new one more in sync with your values.:)

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After reading through pages and pages of these posts, I've concluded that there are STILL two kinds of people. There are the ones who are considerate and respectful of others and there are those who seem to believe that they're much better or more important than everyone else. So important that they're above mandatory meetings and simple courtesy.

Or...

So important that they demand their staff waste THEIR time in mandatory meetings that could be handled in a 10th of the time and at a time actually convenient to the staff rather than convenient to the educators.

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"To me, it comes off as high-schoolish--childlike."

" You really do appear childish and unprofessional by texting your fingers off--glued to your cell." QUOTE

Agree. The word immature came to my mind.

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Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..
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!

Just don't let anyone in if they are late for class. I am sure all nurses can relate to that from nursing school. As for cell violators i would introduce a penalty of 20 min out of class if they can't follow the instructions to either silence or put the phone on vibrate. I am sure they would catch on very quickly. Good luck and my apologies you have to deal with it.

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I just wonder what in the name of god people are texting about for hours on end. Why would you need (or want) to be in constant contact with someone 24/7? Are you the president's personal assistant in your spare time? Are your friends movie stars or superheroes or someone whose life is *that* exciting? And who are you texting at 3am on third shift? Other third shifters? People in other time zones in Europe or something?

And, no, I'm sorry. You don't need to be in constant contact with your children. Unless they are in the ICU or something there is no need for any mother to be in constant text communication with them. We all grew up without our moms having cell phones and, somehow, through some miracle we all lived to tell about it.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am a single mother of two although i agree with the respect issue, I must say that i keep my phone on all the time unless i am testing if i am in a meeting or at school i put my phone on vibrate. its never a time that i wont respond to a text from my kids even if its not right away i will determine if its unimportant . i don't need a Dr or a Np to tell me when i can and cannot use my phone. especially when i am paying their salary. As far as work goes i have common sense to use the phone on break or asked to be dismissed for an emergency. I wish a dr or and np would tell me i couldn't use my phone. i bet after i finished with them they wouldn't do it again. i am in nursing school and my instructor answer they phone.

I very much doubt you are paying the salary of a physician and an NP. Are you really that wealthy? Or are you just paying for their services?

And in case you were wondering what "Bullying" looks like, I've underlined it.

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I wish a dr or and np would tell me i couldn't use my phone. i bet after i finished with them they wouldn't do it again.

Yeah, and after you finished I bet you'd be looking for a new DR or NP because they'd be firing you from their practice.

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I am a single mother of two although i agree with the respect issue, I must say that i keep my phone on all the time unless i am testing if i am in a meeting or at school i put my phone on vibrate. its never a time that i wont respond to a text from my kids even if its not right away i will determine if its unimportant . i don't need a Dr or a Np to tell me when i can and cannot use my phone. especially when i am paying their salary. As far as work goes i have common sense to use the phone on break or asked to be dismissed for an emergency. I wish a dr or and np would tell me i couldn't use my phone. i bet after i finished with them they wouldn't do it again. i am in nursing school and my instructor answer they phone.

Are you taking an English grammar course in your program?

If not, I would highly recommend taking one.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
I am a single mother of two although i agree with the respect issue, I must say that i keep my phone on all the time unless i am testing if i am in a meeting or at school i put my phone on vibrate. its never a time that i wont respond to a text from my kids even if its not right away i will determine if its unimportant . i don't need a Dr or a Np to tell me when i can and cannot use my phone. especially when i am paying their salary. As far as work goes i have common sense to use the phone on break or asked to be dismissed for an emergency. I wish a dr or and np would tell me i couldn't use my phone. i bet after i finished with them they wouldn't do it again. i am in nursing school and my instructor answer they phone.

And the second you made a move to 'finish with me' after I asked you to put your phone away, you'd have me, my staff, and probably a few waiting patients playing "Dog Pile on the Rabbit". The rabbit being you. After that, the police would put pretty jewelry on you and escort you to new accommodations. And I would pay to see you tell THEM that you weren't gonna give up your phone.

On the chance that you meant you were going to lip off to the Doc or the NP (me),well, you'd be dismissed from my practice and barred from the premises. I tolerate cell phone use to a degree. I refuse to tolerate a smart mouth with a sense of entitlement.

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baby2009, you picked a very apt userID.

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And the second you made a move to 'finish with me' after I asked you to put your phone away, you'd have me, my staff, and probably a few waiting patients playing "Dog Pile on the Rabbit". The rabbit being you. After that, the police would put pretty jewelry on you and escort you to new accommodations. And I would pay to see you tell THEM that you weren't gonna give up your phone.

On the chance that you meant you were going to lip off to the Doc or the NP (me),well, you'd be dismissed from my practice and barred from the premises. I tolerate cell phone use to a degree. I refuse to tolerate a smart mouth with a sense of entitlement.

baby2009 is a single mother of two, so I can understand her feeling the need to answer her phone/make calls when she is at the doctor/NP, although I don't condone her comments towards doctors/NP's in regard to her using her phone. I hope that there would be mutual respect and co-operation on both sides.

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