Surveillance cameras in pedi patient's home?

[lovelane78]

I have been working this case for my 8 year-old private care patient for a few years. Her other two nurses have been there longer than me. We are considered family by her parents and they are very demanding about her care for understandable reasons. Today we were informed that they were getting a new security system installed and they decided to put video cameras in her bedroom and living/nurses area. They can watch us at any time they choose remotely. I have nothing to hide but the idea is bothering me quite a bit and I'm not real sure why. The other nurse is bothered as well. Any opinions?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Absolutely, the law has not kept up with the technology. Taping has held up in court so far as long as it is viewed by the family only but they have been only Nanny cases so far. The courts held up firings/prosecutions for what the camera revealed. None have been home health cases. The supreme courts have also held up surveillance videos in nursing homes and assisted living situations. The minute limitation I believe is in some states for public surveillance like shopping malls and stores.

I think if you are working for a family they should tell you they are taping. But because nurses are for the most part upstanding good professionals there haven't been any cases, not that I could find.

[kdavispn]

I am not clear about why you are upset. I was just asking for a reference that you had the right to refuse to be taped and stay in the home. Of course you have the right to refuse any case if you aren't comfortable. I didn't say it was a problem that you don't like to be taped, I didn't question your license and I don't think you are sinister.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, any indication from me that you don't is a complete misunderstanding. I'm the first one to protect every-one's opinions.

If you look at my profile....I am a nurse for 34 years. I am not a lawyer. I am a parent and I have worked pedi home health for vented complex children (well a vented child for about 12 years) I don't mind being taped as long as it doesn't end up on YouTube. I have worked around surveillance cameras for a long time being an ED nurse. But that is just me.

I referenced and quoted the law in my response about what parents are legally allowed to do in their home. I never once said you HAD to go in that home and I never said you could not refuse. I have always felt that, for me, knowing the law would keep me on the right side of it and protect me from lawsuits.

I am truly sorry that you got upset for that was never my intent....... "assuming there is nothing to hide" was a quote from a legal site. Peace

I'm not upset. Kudos to you for your experience as a nurse. I'm sure we all can learn great deal from you.

On this issue, I stated my opinion. Sometimes it's difficult to determine the tone or position of a person with text only.

I consider myself to not always be right, but to at the least, be able to provide a rationale point of view.

Perhaps, I misunderstood your position because it seemed you were saying that there was "no right or assumption of privacy"

Additionally, that nurses needed to defend the point of not wanting to be taped, because they should have nothing to hide.

Nursing is ever evolving. I've been a nurse for over 3 years. It's almost a family tradition. As I many of the ladies in my family hold charge, and director positions in nursing.

My aunts who have been nurses for over 30 years have forgotten more than I know, but evolution has also afforded me a few nuggets of my own that they not know, as well.

I hope you, and other nurses like tothepointlvn continue to share your gifts with those of us who are beginning, learning,receptive , appreciative, of you talents, respectfully.

[kdavispn]

I think the thought of being videotaped covertly just instinctively feels wrong. My husbands boss spends his lunch zooming in on people on the surveillance watching people as the chew.

Looking over the statues and such like they only one I could find was the one covering the audio which was not originally conceived to allow nanny cams. What I couldn't find was anything that says you can videotape only the minueta of it. Well probably start to see legal cases surrounding this start to trickle through and start providing some prescendence.

If I was working directly for the family and being paid by the family I might understand but if anyone if going to record me at work it should be my employer and have them be in control of the tapes. This is a stretch comparison but its like the customer having control of the store security camera's while shopping.

I totally agree. Watching you while you chew?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

It is difficult sometimes and that is why I wanted you to be sure I meant no disrespect. It's all good. Your Aunts and I are from the same cloth.

[kdavispn]

Absolutely, the law has not kept up with the technology. Taping has held up in court so far as long as it is viewed by the family only but they have been only Nanny cases so far. The courts held up firings/prosecutions for what the camera revealed. None have been home health cases. The supreme courts have also held up surveillance videos in nursing homes and assisted living situations. The minute limitation I believe is in some states for public surveillance like shopping malls and stores.

I think if you are working for a family they should tell you they are taping. But because nurses are for the most part upstanding good professionals there haven't been any cases, not that I could find.

Clearly, this issue is important to all nurses. If I misunderstood what you said, and responded in error, accept my apology, but however, at no point was I angry with you or any other nurse. I think that defeats the purpose of the forum. -Peace

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Clearly, this issue is important to all nurses. If I misunderstood what you said, and responded in error, accept my apology, but however, at no point was I angry with you or any other nurse. I think that defeats the purpose of the forum. -Peace

I know you weren't angry.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I totally agree. Watching you while you chew?

This website creeped me out. Cameras disguised as smoke alarms or cell phone chargers anyone?

Nanny Cam

I'm always looking out for creepy bears pointed at me. I once had a psych patient complain that she thought they were watching her though the vcr slot maybe they were right? In that case I suggested just leaving a half ejected tape in the slot to block it.

[kdavispn]

This website creeped me out. Cameras disguised as smoke alarms or cell phone chargers anyone?

Nanny Cam

I'm always looking out for creepy bears pointed at me. I once had a psych patient complain that she thought they were watching her though the vcr slot maybe they were right? In that case I suggested just leaving a half ejected tape in the slot to block it.

Lol. Too funny, but still I might just start leaving a half ejected tape in my VCR, if I ever buy one.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

The client I work with most has had a video baby monitor (2 cameras and a portable screen) in his room for a few months. It's Mom said she got them because she has problems finding coverage, especially nights, so now she can check on him from other areas in the house. She said the cameras don't record.

I don't have a problem being on camera, as long as I'm not being recorded in the bathroom. If I was working in a hospital, I would be on camera. I've done clinics at retail stores, which have cameras.

If I had strangers coming into my home at all hours, I would want cameras. When I started my tour of Nursing Home Hell, one of the orientation videos included a blub about Granny cams. We were told to act like we were on camera, because we probably were.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I don't have a problem being on camera, as long as I'm not being recorded in the bathroom. If I was working in a hospital, I would be on camera. I've done clinics at retail stores, which have cameras.

I actually don't have a problem with being recorded. It's what is being done with the footage that bothers me. As I've mentioned before if you work in facility lets say a LTC and your recorded your employer (or perhaps a security company) has access to that footage. Now while perhaps your employer might want to fire you etc they are obligated to behave in a legal and ethical manner. Most human resource people also have special knowledge and training regarding what you can or can't do.

Someone recording you in a private home you have no control over what is done with the footage. Whether it could be spliced together to make something look not kosher or simply making fun of you. If you need to defend yourself you do not have access to those tapes. In many cases you may not even know your being recorded.

It's not about how you behave and the solution isn't simply being on your best behavior because you should always be.

[SDALPN]

Esme, your info is wrong. There have been cases in court for private duty nurses on nanny cams. There is one on the internet of a nurse who got caught urinating in a kitchen sink at a patients home. You can see her in court getting convicted in the online videos as well as the nanny cam video. I'm on my phone posting so I can't provide links right now. People like that are the reason the honest ones have to be under a microscope.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Esme, your info is wrong. There have been cases in court for private duty nurses on nanny cams. There is one on the internet of a nurse who got caught urinating in a kitchen sink at a patients home. You can see her in court getting convicted in the online videos as well as the nanny cam video. I'm on my phone posting so I can't provide links right now. People like that are the reason the honest ones have to be under a microscope.

OK......I am not a lawyer. I am not sure which info is wrong because I did state it was legal to video in your home. As far as nursing cases in the home.......That was what I found. I always reference my sources. IThere are many documented LTC/assisted living court cases..........I don't mind being wrong and thank you for the correction.

I agree that parents should be able to protect their children whether they are sick or well......I would video surveillance them and I don't mind being video surveillance as long as it is not in the bathroom.

If I had a sick child and you were in my home I would make it clear you were under surveillance. There are crazy people out there.......just like the employee from a New Hampshire hospital that has infected people with Hep C.....now they believe as a traveler he has infect many people in multiple states. You bet I'd be watching my kid.

YOU're in my house you follow my rules. But if the nurse is not comfortable I have no problem with them saying no......they just would not work for me.