Do people really need a bloody mobile at work?

[milenko]

Okay So I have been an Enrolled nurse for 3 yrs now and I work only in aged care. I personally don't have a cell phone because at the end of the day I'm either at work or at home so people always know where to reach me and if i for some reason don't answer the phone it means that I am taking a time out for me !!!

Now I am only 36 so I cant really say that I am old fashioned but in the place I work I knocked on a residents door that was closed, I knew 2 staff were in the room as they had informed me that there was something they wanted me to observe. So like I said I knocked and entered the room to find them giving this resident a bed wash whilst one of the girls was on her mobile phone talking.

I quickly asked her to leave the room, I assisted with helping the other girl finish the bed wash and then asked the other girl to come around to my office. I basically gave her the option to either put her phone away and reminded her that she wasn't supposed to have it on her person anyway. She tried to justify this which I stopped her asap and basically said either put your phone away or go home for the rest of the day.

She chose to go home and was very ****** off at me, some of the other staff were shocked at my decision but I thought that it is utter bull *****. If there is a need for a family member to get in contact with us while at work i always thought that people would ring the front office and then either a message would be taken and if it is really urgent then that person could be taken off the floor and take the call in private. Is that un-reasonable.

It's getting out of hand and I hope that most places begin to clamp down on it. So much for direct 1 on 1 patient care.

[yetanotheramanda]

I love my cell phone. BUT it stays in my locker TURNED OFF while I am at work. It is absolutely inappropriate for someone to be using their cell in a patients room. You acted correctly.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I have to say I agree - clamp down.

Unfortunately, folks who misuse their cell phones make it bad for the rest of us.

I have to keep my cell phone with me as I'm a hospice nurse and see patients in their homes but must be available at all times for my other patients.

But in the hospital in LTC? No. There are areas where nurses do have cells but they are for the hospital staff to reach them or patients to reach them. Not outside calls.

I think your options were fine - if it is against the rules to use a cell phone at work and you gave her the option to simply put it away and go back to work or leave . . SHE chose to leave.

I'd stand my ground if I were you.

steph

[cardiacmadeline, RN]

I am glad to see someone standing up to improper cell phone use! Good for you!

[MedSurgeMess]

It's about time someone took a stand. Maybe things will clamp down. I know it wouldn't break my heart too awful bad......

[FowLaf24/7]

I am behind you on this one. People need to realize it is a phone. No one would leave the floor to make a phone call without at least asking for permission. A cell phone is a phone- one should not be on the phone while at work. A lot of hospitals have implemented the policy of "No Cell Phones." The reaction to this was mixed. A lot of people felt belittled by such a policy. Now if they can get rid of those short distance radios that the nurses use for instant paging...

[RNdude77]

Wow, i think you were actually gracious with this employee. Were i work this is a big no no. At the time of your hire, they actually make you sign a form that you will never bring a cell phone to the floor, later on to a room during cares.

I think it was not unreasonable to send her home, even permanently. At my work place, this is grounds for instant termination. Everybody is clear about that, the only time one can use their cell is on their break, in the break room or outside the facility.

Everyone is supposed to leave their cell in their locker and be ready to work without interruption, if one needs to call their spouse or partner, there is always a phone in the break room.

Perhaps going through your company's cell-phone policy with this employee would be helpful. You did the right thing and should have even enforced stiffer consequences on this particular person:yeah:

[Melt648]

I absolutely agree with your decision.

It makes you wonder how the patient feels when they're being ignored....rather than being treated like a person especially while getting the intimate care of a bath

[litchi]

I can't imagine taking a personal call on a cell phone in a patient's room while they were receiving a bed bath. That's extremely disrespectful. It'd be one thing if it were truly an emergency, but still..excuse yourself from the room and go somewhere private it that's the case!

I'm totally with you on this one.

[PaperPencil]

Could you imagine someone giving you a bath while on the phone? As someone who has been very ill and had to rely on others... this would be even more humiliating!

[questionsforall]

She was definetly wrong. This situation makes me mad. I am sorry, but nursing is more that just a job. Nurses are professionals and should act like such and not be on the cell phone at work.

[rubystar]

I'm amazed that she didn't just put the phone away as requested and went home instead. I hate it when people can't figure out how to use their phone appropriately.