Cellphones

[pumpkin92356]

Recently at my facility, cellphone use while working on the floor with the residents have become an issue with me. Our facility's policy states no cellphone use inside of the building. Well, this didnt stop anything everyone and their brother has their cellphone in their pocket and answering it no matter what they could be doing at the time? I personally dont have a cellphone for any other use than an emergency at which I keep it in my glove box of my car. It's just down right ridiculous how many nurses and staff use them while assisting residents etc. I finally had it when a nurse I asked to help me change an incontinent resident answered her cellphone and proceded to chat with the party on the other end !while we were taking care of this patient! I immediately demanded that she call the person later that this took priority! She said okay, but this didnt stop her using the cellphone later on when she was with residents. What do you think?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I hate cell phones and do not have one. Very few of us are that important.

I carry my cell phone every where I go. I'm the DNS and on call 24/7 so I always have to be available, but if I am in a public place, I keep the phone on vibrate and if I have to answer it I walk to a spot where no one will either be bothered by my conversation or be able to overhear something which might be considered a HIPAA violation.

[hippylady7211]

I used to work at a facility that made us carry cellphones on evenings, weekends and holidays to answer the facility phones as they were to cheap to pay for a receptionist. Anyway, I hated it. Would be in with a patient and have to answer the darn phone. OR finally get to go to the bathroom, have been holding it all day and the damn thing goes off midstream!!!!!

[IowaKaren]

I totally agree that cellphones on duty is unprofessional, yet my facility is reluctant to address this issue with a policy, it was reported to me that a lab tech drawing blood stopped to answer her ringing cellphone leaving the needle in the pts arm, while both her hands were on the phone, a co-worker who also teaches nursing told me students interrupt his class all the time with cellphone calls and that I should get use to it and get with the times!!!

Huh?!?!