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 am just a student, but this is a very touchy subject for me. When I do go to work I will be leaving my then 15 year old home alone. I want to be within seconds of him reaching me if need be. I hope we never have a real emergency, but if we do I want to be there. I also would like to have the ability to have him text "mom I am home" etc, and then I can simply look at my phone at my first chance, and boom I see he is safe, and I feel better and can go about my day. For those of us who are the only or primary caregiver our kids alone for 12 hours we need our cell phones. :sasq:
Wow, you can tell this is a touchy subject. I carry m cell phone with me always at work, albeit on vibrate. Reason being it keeps me from having to carry more stuff. While I don't use it as a PDA, I do use it as a calculator, and, especially in working in peds, there's so many times throughout the shift I need a calculator, and my phone, is honestly smaller than alot of the pocket calculators.
My parents got a cell phone around the time I entered my teens. It was rarely used. I finally got a cell phone around the age of 20. I can't help but think that cellphones make people rude.
I'm sorry, but I survived by calling my parents at work if there was an emergency. I was also taught how to deal with emergencies and taught what an emergency is... I can count on one finger the amount of times I've called my mother at work.
When I get to work my cell phone gets turned off and stuck in my purse. Occassionally if I'm on break I'll turn it on and check for messages, but everyone who'd need to get ahold of me in case of an emergency has my work number. They know only to call if someone is dead or dying.
I have teen-agers that drive and if they need to get me, i want them to be able to. Of course it is on vibrate and i dont open it in a patient room, but if I get a txt message from one of my kids, I want to be able to take the 5 seconds to respond to it if need be.
I am an adult and feel I can handle the responsibility of proper cell phone usage.
Fortunately the hospital where I work has not made any restrictions re: cellphones. All the docs carry them & they are worse than nursing staff for using them indiscriminately- I've even seen docs take calls while seeing patients- most of the time it's the wife asking to bring home diapers or some other 'urgent' call. I like the option of having calls come directly to me rather than being paged for personal calls. I can get a text & look at it & reply at my convenience rather than interrupt patient care. So far everyone in my dept. is very discreet & professional w/cellphone usage & the subject has never come up. Isn't it bad enough that we have days w/no lunches or bathroom breaks w/out taking our cellphones away?!!
Cellphone usage has never come up at my workplace. Everyone has them though, and as a previous poster said, so do the doctors, and they are the ones using them for calls from wives & kids- one wife called to let their 3 yr old sing a song to daddy at a rather inopportune time; still another wife sends pictures of their child-- PULEEZE. Personally, I would prefer to see discreet & responsible cellphone usage rather than paging someone to the desk & then hearing that person carry on w/a teenager about curfews, etc. in front of patients & staff!! With my cellphone on vibrate I can quietly return calls that I deem as important & at my convenience on breaks & out of earshot of others. If they are to be restricted, then NO ONE gets to carry them. I have a much bigger beef w/people using them while DRIVING.
So in other words if your co workers would put their phones on vibrate or silent you would be okay. And as far as you telling the aide that was helping you that u would report her. I'm sure u could of told her that you all were in the middle of tending to a patient and answering her cell phone was or would be inapropriate. Instead of making a threat. And as far as playing rap music on there cell phones it would be better said to not hear or play anything instead of singling rap music out some might take that offensive. Any how hope you have better work day maybe u can call a meeting about your situation.
This is another problem with cell phones and texting "U" do not learn to write and spell.
(Sorry, I just had to say it,just another pet peeve)
I carry mine with my phone turned off and my wifi on, it is a PDA phone and I have my drug guide on it. I am always afraid people will think I am text messaging or something (like some of the nurses etc. that are the reason these stupid rules are created to begin with). It takes only a few to ruin it for everyone.
I think it is kind of funny because other units have these big clunky spectralink phones they carry with them that connect to the call light system etc. I need to get a "Zack Morris cell phone" the size of a brick and then people will think it must be official business.lol. The phone has to look inconvenient and bulky with a bright yellow belt clip..
All in all, it should be across the board either no cell phones for all (Minor Deities included) or they are permitted with professional standards upheld. When institutions start picking and choosing who can do certain things, it just further illustrates the caste system that exists within the hospital setting.
Well I'm sorry you feel that way I've graduated with honors and I love reading and spelling but I feel if I want to shorten you into u there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I some people have these problems and I'm sorry you may have to deal with your pet peeve of spelling for the rest of your life but any way have a great day.
One night, I needed help pulling a patient up in bed. I asked a coworker (nurse) to help me because no aide was in sight. She had her cellphone glued to her ear, took it with her into the room and held it between her shoulder and her chin while grabbing that drawsheet and pulling up that patient. I was shocked. I think the rule was intended to keep people like that from being disrespectful to the patients and staying on the phone rather than doing their job. I keep my phone in my pocket on low volume because I cant feel the vibration. When/if my daughter calls me from home, I go into the conference room or an empty patient room to see what she needs. I dont use it to socialize or text, but I will not lose my only link to my daughter if she needs me.
I have a 15 year old with epilepsy, so I understand the desire to have immediate contact if necessary. However, I think the kids whose parents are immediately available for every little thing that happens throughout the day lose a LOT of the independence previous generations took for granted, and I think it stunts their maturing process. If there is a true emergency, my kids know how to call 911, and they can leave messages on my phone (which is OFF when I am working). I will call them when I check my phone, which I do a couple of times through the day.
i was just about to post something similiar to yours.
that, 20 yrs ago, this wasn't even an issue.
and yes, we survived.
i see nurses continually checking for messages, even if they're not talking.
they're distracting and oh so unprofessional.
count me as another anti-cell phone user.
leslie
I do have to wonder how all of our children ever survived to adulthood without the electronic umbilical cord! I actually think that sometimes things got handled better when coworkers answered the call on the unit phone: "No, your mother can't come to the phone right this minute, but you'd better stay right there and wait for her call - you're in big trouble son"!
Ever notice how it's never "me" using the cell phone inappropriately at work? It's always "them". Considering how much inappropriate use I see there must be a lot of "them" out there.
I got a cell phone when I started working as a travel nurse. At work it is off and in my bag (Or in the car plugged into the charger if I forgot it). I sort of miss the days before cell phones. When I was raising teenagers that 45 minute commute where no one could reach me was the only peaceful time I had.
leslie :-D
11,191 Posts
i have no problem w/docs having cells.
they do need to be available for urgent phone calls.
leslie