Are you allowed to use personal cell phones at work?

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Our CNO allows to keep our cells phones on us. If they ring we are to step out of the pt room before answering. It doesn't seem to bother the patients. They'll say oh I like that ringtone, go ahead answer it in here. I feel much better with my phone on me because before I did several times my family called for an important reason and I was never called to the phone or didn't hear my page. I tell my family not to call me on my cell unless it is important and I'm sure so does everyone else because I rarely hear anyone's phone ringing. It's a common- sense issue. Just wondering what the policy is in different hospitals?

[webbiedebbie]

Personally, I think it would be very rude to answer a cell phone with the patient right next to me. I would set it on vibrate or shut it off. I can check my phone AFTER I leave the room for any messages.

One hospital where I work have signs to shut off cell phones within the hospital. I work in the middle of the hospital that I can't get a signal anyway, so my phone doesn't even work there.

The other hospital I work at has not addressed the issue of cell phones. Usually, we use them on breaks or at the nurses station. We leave our cell phones in our bags at the nurses station. If I carry it in my pocket, I put it on vibrate to alert me to a call, but I finish what I am doing with the patient and check it AFTER leaving the patient's room.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Our facility prohibits it. And I believe they should. It seems that the threshhold for what constitutes an emergency goes down with the ease with which one can be contacted. (I found this to be true during the brief time I carried a cell phone when working another job.)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

My facility doesn't allow it. When at work - you are at work - no need to talk to a family members...you are getting paid to work! If there is a concern or bonafide emergency (ie life or death situation) than whoever answers the phone takes a message and gives you the message and you call people back.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I carry mine, but family knows it is ONLY to be used in an emergency...and the friend I had that would call me in the middle of a patients room (just to talk) really isn't my friend anymore because I told her in no uncertain terms to not call me at work if it was not a total emergency and she ended up with her knickers in a twist.

My phone is carried for family emergency only and is set to vibrate. I have a brother in GA who is going thru a very rough time, a daughter in Arizona and one in Ohio and my elderly Mom and dad both live in Ohio. Yea..I'm carrying my phone.

The ones that irritate the heck out of me are the ones who get calls just to gab when patient care needs done.

[lpnin03]

I work at a jail and we all carry them. I have it set on vibrate and I never answer it if an inmate is around. If I am in the medical unit I will walk into another room. If I am passing pills to the inmates, I will just let my voice mail pick it up. I have a small child and I work 30 minutes from my home so I want to be able to be reached if there is an emergency.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

we are not allowed to have cell phones in the patient areas period. Not even to carry them around "silent". Too many people were abusing the privilege by carrying on what should have been private conversations in inappropriate settings.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I guess I'm an old fogey - but I stand by my opinion that when you are at work - you work. I too have had elderly parents, a spouse stationed overseas in a war zone and a child with a chronic disease. However, my elderly parents wouldn't have been able to call me anyway - they couldn't remember the number, my husband overseas couldn't call me (no cell phones in the fox holes) and I always employed exceptionally competent sitters with my older son who knew to call 911 when there was an emergency. I'm sorry - I just don't buy personal cell phones at work. Maybe too its because I work in a busy ER and there really is no opportunity to talk on the phone.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Personal cell phones should be kept out of the work area (store it in the breakroom or locker) and turned OFF while on the clock.

[avahsmiles]

I work in a LTC facility parttime (while doing my LPN program) and cell phones are Prohibited. No questions asked.

[flaerman]

HEY,

Here in Central Florida we discourage the use of cell phones by staff and patients as well within the facility, especially in ICU/CVICU (it is forbiddened to even have them turned on) and in the ER when there is a venitlator in use.

As a charge nurse we do use low frequency Nextel Radio/Phones to communicate in-house with RT, Nsg supervisors, dept directors etc and they are the only ones allowed to be used. The use of a cell phone while working to me is not very professional, if my wife(who is completely blind, asthma, migraines etc) needs to call me she will either call me at the desk or send me a message on own cell which I check during breaks, lunch etc. I can't imagine stepping away from bedside pt. care to answer a cell phone and then have a conversation with someone. My staff know my wife and I have not any calls when she does call. Sorry if this is not the answer you were looking but it how we do things and how I feel. flaerman

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Sorry.

Cell phones on the patient care floor is terribly rude.

A "true" emergency varies from person to person. If it is a "true" emergency, the person will stay on hold, or they can call a supervisor to personally approach you, as a "true" emergency probably means that you need to leave the Floor and go home.

Anything less, is generally not a "true" emergency.

When I am at work, my time, thoughts and energy belong to my employer. People managed before cells, and they can certainly do without them.

And certainly a patient should never have to hear any ring.