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 think that's the key...if you know your employer's position before you take the job, then what's the problem? You either accept the job and all the rules or you find a different one. Policies change...for example changing from being able to wear scrubs of any kind to only a certain color...if you don't like the new/current policy, find a new job. I've never worked a job where my boss would be happy with anyone having a cell phone on them 100% of the time. I'm surprised many of you have this luxury. Personally I think its perfectly acceptable to expect your family/friends, etc to call you at a main work number (or say on the spectralink phones many of us carry around) in case of emergency. If your messages aren't passed on, or you are not notified you have someone waiting on hold, then that's the issue you take up with management.
I can *almost* understand this. I would have no problem with my husband and son calling the main number and getting their calls transferred to me or whatnot, if that was how the facility worked when I signed on and I agreed to it. People call my respiratory therapists (I'm currently a secretary in RT while in school) and I transfer the calls, no biggie. But screening calls to see what is "deemed" important? or taking personal property away like we're children? Thats just too much for me. Its not rules that I have issue with (although I really love my cell I would put it up if it was necessary and just check it on my breaks - although that being said, it would make me WAY more likely to insist on getting my mandatory yet never given 15 minute breaks than if I had a bit more flexibility) Its the "taking away your toys" mentality that this supervisor shows. I guarantee that this mentality is not just about cell phones but across the board in how employees are treated, and as long as we treat our employees like children, we cannot expect them to act like anything else, can we?
When I first started working I was in orientation and had a call come in on my cell. It was on vibrate, and I waited until the current speaker was done (about 3 min) and then quietly slipped out to the hallway to call my husband back. He had dropped my kids off at daycare and they wanted some paperwork (their shot records) and would not let them stay without it, so he had to drive back home to get it (1/2 hr each way) and was frantically searching our house for it. If he did not find it, he would not have been able to go to work. Now... no child was sick or injured in this scenario, but a 2 minute conversation with me pointed him in the right direction and he was able to drop the girls off and go on with his day. Since I used my cell phone, I was not interrupting the class by having a message brought to me, and was able to deal with the issue and get back to business fairly quickly. It may not have been an emergency for MY boss, but it certainly was for my husband's boss, and for my husband, and it would have been ludicrous for me to refuse to talk to him and fix this major issue, just because I was at work. THAT is the kind of thing that I need to keep my phone for. I don't chat on my phone at work, but I also run my household, and if there is a problem that I can fix in a 2 minute phone call, then I am going to do it.
When I first started working I was in orientation and had a call come in on my cell. It was on vibrate, and I waited until the current speaker was done (about 3 min) and then quietly slipped out to the hallway to call my husband back. He had dropped my kids off at daycare and they wanted some paperwork (their shot records) and would not let them stay without it, so he had to drive back home to get it (1/2 hr each way) and was frantically searching our house for it. If he did not find it, he would not have been able to go to work. Now... no child was sick or injured in this scenario, but a 2 minute conversation with me pointed him in the right direction and he was able to drop the girls off and go on with his day. Since I used my cell phone, I was not interrupting the class by having a message brought to me, and was able to deal with the issue and get back to business fairly quickly. It may not have been an emergency for MY boss, but it certainly was for my husband's boss, and for my husband, and it would have been ludicrous for me to refuse to talk to him and fix this major issue, just because I was at work. THAT is the kind of thing that I need to keep my phone for. I don't chat on my phone at work, but I also run my household, and if there is a problem that I can fix in a 2 minute phone call, then I am going to do it.
Your classroom situation is a bit unique. Let's move the scenario to work on the floor.
Your husband calls the desk, and the secretary either takes the message or catches you between rooms, you pick up phone tell him where the documents were or return the call. What is the difference?
Phones on vibrate are just as distracting as the latest cool ringtone (IMO) and infact maybe more distracting because the phone carrying person evidently is trying to stay "under the radar" knowing that any ringtone would be a distraction.
Now, it's been a long time since we've had these issues (my daughter is 21), and when my daughter was in the tweener stage and a latchkey kid she did call my wife when she got home from school. That's understandable and not excessive, but why can't she call your cell and leave a VM, or call the desk and leave a message? I'd imagine the content of the conversation is to the effect of,"I'm home, had a good/bad day. See you at 8. Love ya" She gets home within the same 15 minute window every day, you know the call is coming schedule your break for that time.
I agree that taking a phone seems childish, but if we refuse to police ourselves, showing the discipline, professionalism, and dedication that we all brag about why is it an issue? And by the way, it's not only in healthcare, I worked for a Railroad contractor and we had this problem, I have supervisor/manager/business owner friends working in the defense industry, real estate, motorcycle & auto repair, and janitorial services that complain of the same abuses. Yes, there are some exceptions that can be made, the poster with the husband on a transplant list is just one good example, other case by case situations exist but, they should be exceptions and not a blanket policy.
The bottom line is it cuts down on production, distracts the worker and the customer, and portrays the worker as being less than focused on the task at hand.
You really think that vibrate is that distracting? I often don't even realize its vibrating (although if it was on a hard surface then yeah I would agree...the clatter is a ringtone in itself). The problem with calling the desk is that messages simply do not always get through, or they are "screened" like the PP's suggestion that they are asking people if its "an emergency" and then deciding whether or not to tell us that they called. I guess the reason that I want a cell phone is because I don't want someone else deciding for me if its important enough to tell me.
If my phone on vibrate was being a distraction for patients I would turn the ringer off completely and just check it between tasks every so often. I have no problem with that what so ever. Then, if someone wanted to get me faster (i.e. a "true" emergency) they could always call my work number and someone would find me.
As you said though, I don't think its unreasonable for my kid to check in with me when he gets home from school or if he needs something, and I can call him back on my break.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, End of Life, Pain.
For whatever reason, we don't have a problem with staff at this facility using their cell phones. In fact no-one even carries one - maybe it's because I have the good fortune to work with a group of professionals who don't see the necessity for holding social conversations at work.
When my mother worked in the hospital she didn't have a cell phone in her pocket because they weren't invented yet. We all survived just fine. That's what regular phones are for, in case of an emergency. Problem is now a days what is an emergency to a child is when their ipod battery goes dead, etc...
Specializes in MICU, ER, SICU, Home Health, Corrections.
I now keep my cell [and my swiss army knife, and my PDA, and my scissors] in my van...
And for those times I forget to leave it there, either the metal detector reminds me, or I find it as I'm dumping my pockets in the x-ray tray, and I get to carry it back out.
Must be nice to say 'to heck with the rules, I'll do as I please.'
I always bring my cell phone to work and put it on vibrate. I have had a few family emergencies occur while I was at work and I was really glad to have my cell phone with me. I always leave my phone on vibrate while I am at work and if I have a call I will let it go to voice mail. I will excuse myself when I have the chance and go into a private area (usually outside of the building or into a break room) and then check my message and only return the call if its important or an emergency. I won't text at work (unless I'm on a break) and will never bring out my phone near clients/patients/customers or coworkers. Most of the time anyone I have worked for doesn't even know I bring a phone to work because I never really take it out of my pocket. I think PDAs at work should be allowed if its needed for your job but I would avoid showing it to a patient because some might not understand what your using it for and just assume you are goofing off or something.
I never used to carry mine but now i do. They are supposedly not allowed in the OR but every surgeon seems to take theirs in with them, expect me to be their personal secretary (management as per usual do nothing about it) answer their calls and take messages so if they get to do it, i'm doing it. I take mine in just in case my family need to call me, so I can call them and let them know if i have to work late. I never text people or ring people unless it's urgent and it's always on silent.
I have to vent here for a moment....I come to work and see people standing in the halls talking to them selves!!!!! They are not, they are on thier ear-pods talking to others. Some are staff, some are visitors. But I am reminded of institutions for the insane LOL. Where they all stand around and talk to themselves.These are not conversations about someone needing something important, it is just because we can. When they call and say "what are you doing?" That means they should not be calling. If they knew you better...they would know you were at work! Kids? I will assume you left them with someone reliable. One last gripe!!!!!! Your debtors have your work number...but not your cell number? I get tired of fielding you outside calls while you get your calls on your cell.
I now keep my cell [and my swiss army knife, and my PDA, and my scissors] in my van...
And for those times I forget to leave it there, either the metal detector reminds me, or I find it as I'm dumping my pockets in the x-ray tray, and I get to carry it back out.
Must be nice to say 'to heck with the rules, I'll do as I please.'
rb
:rolleyes:Slightly off topic, but now I AM feeling older than dirt...the metal detector??? I worked in a big city VA, Denver, and walked right through the main door and up to my floor, any time day or night (I worked graveyards), no metal detector (and no cell phone either)!.
My pockets were stuffed already, have no idea what pocket I'd have available to carry my cell phone in. And what about getting it wet, or dirty or germy? Do you keep them in a zip lock or disposable cover?
This is all new to me, just really curious. From reading everyone's posts I can see both sides of the issue and many in between, where there might be cause for exceptions to the rules. There has been a tremendous technological revolution and I, for one, am ever so grateful to be happily retired.
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missjennmb
932 Posts
I can *almost* understand this. I would have no problem with my husband and son calling the main number and getting their calls transferred to me or whatnot, if that was how the facility worked when I signed on and I agreed to it. People call my respiratory therapists (I'm currently a secretary in RT while in school) and I transfer the calls, no biggie. But screening calls to see what is "deemed" important? or taking personal property away like we're children? Thats just too much for me. Its not rules that I have issue with (although I really love my cell I would put it up if it was necessary and just check it on my breaks - although that being said, it would make me WAY more likely to insist on getting my mandatory yet never given 15 minute breaks than if I had a bit more flexibility) Its the "taking away your toys" mentality that this supervisor shows. I guarantee that this mentality is not just about cell phones but across the board in how employees are treated, and as long as we treat our employees like children, we cannot expect them to act like anything else, can we?