I'm all for cell phone use for emergencies, but regular conversations while pouring meds, doing pt care, talking to the UM or just sitting at the nurses station IMO is down right rude and is getting out of hand at my facility. I have one, but use it when my car breaks down mostly on my way to and from work. My kids know that if they call me during working hours for non life threatening emergencies, there will be hell to pay when I get home. Way back in the jurassic era when I started out in nursing, we could only receive phone calls for emergencies and could only use the facility phone for an emergency to call home. It seems that in the past few years, more and more employees are becoming obsessed with the cell phone. The last straw was when I saw one nurse passing meds and heard her entire conversation on the CP with her outside of marriage boyfriend. I didn't mean to hear it, but she was loud enough, so I couldn't help it. I wonder how many med errors she made. Then the same nurse was talking to the UM in the hallway and her CP rang. She told the UM, "Could you excuse me please?" and he walked away. I was flabergasted. Then there are all the others with their CP's. Is it a power thing? An attention thing? Or just plain old "I have the right to use it" thing. I don't get it. I really think we could do without these CP's on the job. We did in the past, so what's the problem now? Some facilities ban CP usage. I wonder what's up with our facility? I don't know, maybe it's just me.
How about you? Do you find them annoying if they're used at your work?
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
This isn't really an answer to your question, but I thought it was interesting. There is a preschool for all initiative in our state and I represent our agency as the community stakeholders' meetings. If your phone rings during the meeting, you have to donate $5 to the initiative. We had a meeting on Friday and two people had to pony up the cash. It doesn't apply to phones vibrating, of course, so there is still a way for people to reach you in an emergency. At the same meeting, one of the women on my task force was there representing her boss. She kept leaving the room with her cell phone, for ten minutes a time! Then at the end of the meeting, she announces to us that she didn't feel her input was appreciated!!! What input? She was out of the room at least 40 minutes of the 2 hour work session. We just told her we were sorry she felt that way, but waiting till we were finished wasn't the time to tell us she wasn't being heard.
I carried a cell phone with me at all times when i learned that Grandma wasn't doing to well. It now stays in my locker.
I think there are a few that need 'cellphonectomies' at work, though, there's a few that are glued to their phone, then whine later for help when they're behind. Gee, wonder if the PHONE had anything to do with it???
I guess I'm the dinosaur here - what are people doing on the phone at work???? Come on - you're not getting paid to gab you're getting paid to WORK!!
Gosh I must be a dinosaur too and I am only 32. I don't see how nurses would have the time to talk on the phone anyway.
When a clerk or sales person is on the phone and I am standing there I have no problem telling them that unless it is an emergency you need to get off the phone and help me or I will be putting in a call to the manager. I have gotten some looks but I have never not had one end the phone call. You bet if a nurse walked into my room on a cell phone I would make sure she was disciplined. I would insist on it. Rude and dangerous. :angryfire I also hate it when I see someone at the cashier and talking on the phone. The clerk is still a person. Give them your attention.
I have a cell phone addict in my family. I have been talking to my cousin and in the middle of the conversation her phone will ring. She not only takes the call but she will converse for 20 mins! I have also had her take a cell phone call while I was on the hard line with her. I could here her chatting in the background. I now either leave or hang up when she does this.
What irritates me even more are all the people that stand outside of a building with one hand over their unoccupied ear while squishing the life out of the tiniest phone they can afford, screeching "I CAN"T HEAR YOU...YOU"RE BREAKING UP!!!" :angryfire HEAR THIS...GET OFF THE DAMN PHONE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT SOMEONE TALKING TO YOU ON THE PHONE EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR DAY!!!
Another major irritant? Doctors that call on cells, try to give orders, and then get mad at ME because I can't hear them correctly.
here's an interesting little tidbit of information i read in a journal just the other night. a study of healthare workers who work in a hospital setting( doctors and nurses) found that 22% had antibiotic resistant "cooties" of various types on their cell phones!!! how much you wanna bet those are the 22% who use their cell phones while working...hmmmm..... wonder if that would make them think twice about leaving the cp in their locker during work? just some food for thought:p
A number of patients on my unit also have CP's. We even have one that calls the supervisor when he's not happy with the care he recieves. "They didn't bring me my apple juice!" :angryfire Do you believe that???
I've always been told that cell phones aren't allowd in hospitals. We have waiting areas and the cafeteria where you can talk on them. Supposedly they interefere with equipment and the like?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I've always been told that cell phones aren't allowd in hospitals. We have waiting areas and the cafeteria where you can talk on them. Supposedly they interefere with equipment and the like?
I've seen studies where they show that cell phone signals can interfere with IMED pumps -- make them increase the amount of fluid delivered. Probably not a big deal with a TKO IV, but not sure I'd want to risk it with epi, insulin or heparin! Nevertheless, the nurses in my unit (and nurse techs, respiratory therapists, residents, attendings, basically EVERYONE!) whips out their cell at the tinkle of an gratingly obnoxious melody. On the west coast, they'd have kicked you out of the ICU with the phone!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Cells are banned and this is enforced, where I work. I am really not believing this, people are using their cells while working????? That is ridiculous!
There has to be some type of guideline re: phone calls at work. Most institutions have them. We aren't allowed to use cells at work...we have to go out to the courtyard to do that.
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
No cell phones allowed in our unit at work. I have heard them go off in the break room but I have never seen anyone answer it. It seems that most family memebers/ SOs have the work number and if they need to call the unit, they do--its' no big deal. A lot of our staff will make a "good night" call to the kids or spouse when they have a moment but usually it is pretty short and sweet. It just dosen't seem to be and issue where I am. We do not allow patient's family members to have cell phones in the unit or on floors either- they must use their phones in "designated phone areas" of the hospital. Most families are pretty understanding.
LydiaNN
2,756 Posts
This isn't really an answer to your question, but I thought it was interesting. There is a preschool for all initiative in our state and I represent our agency as the community stakeholders' meetings. If your phone rings during the meeting, you have to donate $5 to the initiative. We had a meeting on Friday and two people had to pony up the cash. It doesn't apply to phones vibrating, of course, so there is still a way for people to reach you in an emergency. At the same meeting, one of the women on my task force was there representing her boss. She kept leaving the room with her cell phone, for ten minutes a time! Then at the end of the meeting, she announces to us that she didn't feel her input was appreciated!!! What input? She was out of the room at least 40 minutes of the 2 hour work session. We just told her we were sorry she felt that way, but waiting till we were finished wasn't the time to tell us she wasn't being heard.