Not that it would be used for anything but an emergency, but how do you feel about being told that you may not carry your cell phone while working?
Even if it's off, even if it's on vibrate. Even if it's part of your PDA that helps you get your job done.
I kinda feel like I'm back in high school. All the "grownups" -- docs, managers, administrators -- may keep their cell phones. But I, a lowly staff nurse (middle-aged, educated, professional, and presumably with decent morals and good judgment), cannot.
I ALWAYS have my cell phone with me at work. That being said, I never answer it. My family knows if they need me to call the nurses station and they do not abuse that. My cell phone is my PDA, medication reference book, medical calculation and lab correction and reference book and IV compatibility handbook at my fingertips. It is always on vibrate or often turned off (to save the battery) but it is my second most important piece of equipment, after my stethoscope.
most definately, yes, mine is with me always....I am discreet, of course, as are many others.....no employer will tell me I cannot carry one, that is for sure
I am so glad to read this about cell phones, that so many use theirs responsibly and discreetly. Just at lunch or off the unit. No not answering call light,not leaving pt care when you get a call. Not hanging out in utility room . And if you do have to make a call it's really important and short and to the point. That is not the case where I work!
I don't think top VP's know just how hours they are paying staff to talk on the phone. They did know how much time was spent on the Internet (and where) so that privilege was taken away. Oh, we can go to Webb MD
I do know that time changes things and I am glad my family could get me at anytime but they could before cell phones also. Now if they didn't call the desk and ask for me they would have to wait until I thought about even having a cell! I think my husband has called me about 4-5 times at work in the past over 40 years.
We always tried to have "our ducks in a row" before either one of us went to WORK. I know the younger generation doesn't agree with me but in the past I never ever considered conducting family or personal business on the time clock.
Yep, I carry mine too, always on vibrate and I rarely need to use it while working. My 12 yr old daughter is often home alone and knows not to call me if she can help it because I won't answer the phone 99 times out of 100. However, if she needs me she knows she can text me or leave me a VM and I'll check it when I can. So why don't I leave it somewhere? Well I don't have a locker, and if I leave it in the car then I can't check it when time allows. But I probably wouldn't even if I had somewhere to leave it. It gives me a measure of security to know she can get to me if needed, and it would disrupt the floor more to have her calling the desk, rather than leaving me a message.
Tweety, I'm usually right with you on stuff, but I've got to disagree with you on this one. Just because people survived without cell phones years ago doesn't make it better or preferable. They also survived without running water, air conditioners or internet, but those things are here to stay too. :typing
Oh, also, I love this part. Our hospital has signs at every entrance demanding that you turn off your cell phones, then when you get to the floor to work the first thing they do is hand you a cell phone so they can reach you at any given moment. As long as I've got to answer that thing at the bedside of a patient, I'll carry my silent cell phone for emergency purposes!
:uhoh3:We had this issue... admittedly some staff were seen by the family of the patient making a personal call on their phone. So now we have a blanket ban on cel phones in our unit.
BUT!
We received word in our communication book that if anyone (patients, visitors) asked why their cell phones would interfere with equipment and the doctor's cell phone would not, we were to say that they have a special chip in their phone that allows them to be used safely!!
I think I could probably cough up my own lung before saying that to someone with a straight face!
I am suprised at all of the "I have to have it" comments, phone that are PDAs is one thing, but a plain cell phone is a need? Not in my opinion. Family members should have your station number and if an emergency arises at home that is the number to call.
Running a personal business is just that, PERSONAL BUSINESS. While being paid by your employer (in any profession), your time, resources and energy should be focused for the good of those signing your paycheck.
Yes, I bring my phone to work. It gets turned off and put in my bag, to be checked during break(s).
I would carry mine when my turn came as a nurse. For one, my hubby is always on the road so I basically became a single parent over night. I need to be able to be contacted at all times concerning my kids. That would be my only reason for doing it. Not to sit and cackle with friends while with a patient...
We have one rule regarding cell phones at work.... leave it in your locker or in your car. If I catch the staff with it on their person, it will be taken away until the end of the shift. .
This one is easy for me. I don't carry a cell phone, so I don't carry one at work. Yes, I do survive without a cell phone.
Anyway, I agree with Tweety.
My first job was on a telemetry unit, so they were not allowed any way.
Now I work on a skilled unit in an ECF and boy of boy, have I seen some incredibly unprofessional behavior-- chatting away while preparing meds at the cart, blithely talking away while call lights are going off, text messaging while pretending to chart, etc., etc., etc.
Oh, yes, forgot to add-- there is one nurse who passes meds while chatting on the phone-- going from room to room.
I just don't think they have a place. Yes, yes, you only use them for emergencies-- but who is defining "emergencies"?
What I have seen with cellphones at the workplace is that it is out of hand and a distraction from patient care. You can not compare a staff nurse with a cell phone to that of an administrator with a cell phone. The nature of each job is completely different. At what point did society become so dependent on cell phones that a nurse at the bedside can not care for their patients without a cellphone on his or her hip? Let's face it if there really was an emergency while you were at work do you really think that your family would not be able to get a hold of you? All that is is an excuse, and a lame one at that. If you want to leave the floor and take a break and use your phone that is fine, but if that is what you have been doing chances are we wouldn't be having this conversation. Why don't we all hang up our cellphones and for once make our patients the priority while we are at work.
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Tweety, BSN, RN
36,301 Posts
nuff said