Bluetooth Headsets

Published

I think one of the most ridiculous sites I have ever seen in a hospital setting is the wearing of bluetooth headsets by nurses and various other staff during working hours. Most of my residents have never heard of these devices and have thought that a nurse or other staff member was speaking to them or talking to themselves because the resident didnt realize that the stupid device that they are wearing on their heads is a phone. I myself on many occasions have wondered what in the world does anyone have to say that they must wear one of these stupid headsets for 24/7!!! I know I wouldn't want a nurse or other medical professional working on me and talking to their callers at the same time!!! any comments on this subject? I hope I"m not the only one who feels this way? Phones should be left in the car or at home during working hours period!

Thanks Pumpkin92356

Specializes in behavioral health.

I agree that nurses should not have bluetooth headsets on while at work. However, I do own one, and I use it soley for the purpose while I am driving. I don't like to talk on the phone while I am driving, but if I must, it will be on a bluetooth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.

Not being tech-savvy, I followed a woman in the grocery store for 6 aisles thinking she was talking to herself and I was totally fascinated. Well then she pushed her hair behind her ear and low and behold she had one. :chuckle

I wonder if she knew how she looked walking around talking into nothing with her phone covered.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in US Army.

SwampCat, that is so true.

Back in the day it was so easy to screen out the crazy ones... "talking you yourself=Crazy!" Now you have to get up closer and make sure they don't have a BlueTooth before you make that assumption..lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I agree that any cell phone other than those associated with work should be used while at work. We have had several people written up for cell phone usage.

As for the EMT, possibly they may use them for communication with the ER? If not, this is definately inappropriate!

I have a Bluetooth that my husband bought me and asked me to use. He is worried about the cancer linked with cell phone. So I use it for his peace of mind, but NEVER use cell phone at all at work!! Also, the phone I have you can use as an MP3 player and listen to music over the Bluetooth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.

bluetooth ranks right up there with the people that can't fill their check out until their groceries are all scanned....:madface:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/ Critical Care.
They scream "look at me, I'm really important". I wouldn't be caught dead with one.

The same was thought of people who bought cell phones when they first came out... I think they will become (almost) as commonplace as the phones themselves.

I have one but I only use it in the car, I feel it is much safer than placing/receiving calls on the regular phone while driving.

As for the initial question, I DON"T think they are appropriate for a work environment

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'd like to know who REALLY gets called that much that you have to have some stupid thing attached to your head. If a nurse had one of these on in my unit and I had a particularly bad day I may rip it off her head and stomp on it. As far as work calls, I may average 5/day. Plus, what if you are talking to someone about a patient in front of another patient IF its a work call? That just sounds like a big mess if these are being used for that purpose. Just use a regular phone, geez!!!!

I left the grocery store pharmacy in 2002, but even then there were several people I never saw not talking on a cell phone. One of them was a woman who was a SAHM and she would come in every single day with her son, who was about 5 years old. One day, she dropped off prescriptions for methylphenidate and Risperdal (Risperdal for a 5-year-old!) and we called the office and told them about her cell phone use. They said they were aware of it, she did it in the office too, but they wrote the prescriptions anyway.

We did fill them but I wasn't happy about it. Maybe the boy did have ADD but a neglectful mother isn't going to help matters any! Why have kids, and be with them all the time, if you aren't going to pay any attention to them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We were always told not to have mobile devices within 30 feet of pacer.Is this not true anymore then?Same with microwaves.

Apparently some research has been done that shows "no effect" on medical equipment by cell phones. (However for professional reasons I think it is a bad idea to have your personal phone on your person during work hours.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Even though I am 'justavolunteer', I couldn't imagine using headphones, bluetooth or anything else while I am on the floor. I have headphones & a walkman that I use on my dinner break. A few times I have come back to the floor right after break & have a nurse ask for help with something. I go to help a nurse without ditching the walkman & that's enough to have people ask what I'm listening to. That right there is enough to convince me that's unprofessional to be using these devices around pts.

I realize that people have childcare issues & other problems outside work. Still, it is simple enough to put phones on vibrate, let the calls go to voicemail & check it outside of pt. rooms.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion