Do you text your patients?

[automotiveRN67]

As the title states. It is difficult to understand rules, regulations, and the impact of modern technology. I am wondering how many NP's text their patients, and what they think is appropriate, vs when to use the phone.

[IsabelK]

Simple answer: NO! If they need to reach me, there are phone numbers to use.

[rnsrgr8t]

I do not give my personal cell phone to my patients. If for some reason I would have to call them from my cell, I would block my caller ID so they did not get the number. I do not give out my work email to them either. We have a patient portal that our patients can email us through (and it automatically populates in their chart) which I LOVE (and the patients do as well). Every encounter I have with a patient (phone/email etc) always gets transcribed into the chart documenting the discussion. That being said, my patients really would have no reason to contact me on my cell as we have an on call team and direct # for them to call after hours etc.

The texting thing makes me nervous about HIPPA etc. I would be more open to it if we had the service @trauma was talking about.

[synaptic]

i probably wouldn't. a few nurses at the hospital have mine and don't really abuse it but they continue medical questions always come strolling in and again if we give out any information and something happens (rare but it can), in this sue happy nation we live in it can always be used against us.

I know it sounds as I provided a self centered response but top quality medical care usually doesn't occur during texting.

[Jules A, MSN]

i probably wouldn't. a few nurses at the hospital have mine and don't really abuse it but they continue medical questions always come strolling in and again if we give out any information and something happens (rare but it can), in this sue happy nation we live in it can always be used against us.

I know it sounds as I provided a self centered response but top quality medical care usually doesn't occur during texting.

I get texts from my RNs all the time. We limit the identifiers of course but I find it extremely helpful for the non urgent notifications. I dislike talking on the phone and hate voicemails.

[synaptic]

oh i meant for like issues of their own. not on patients. makes it easier caring for patients though. plus the less i hear my beeper going off the more i enjoy my night. if you don't believe in pavlovs (spelling) dog then you will once you hear a beeper go off 50 times per night lol

[Jules A, MSN]

oh i meant for like issues of their own. not on patients. makes it easier caring for patients though. plus the less i hear my beeper going off the more i enjoy my night. if you don't believe in pavlovs (spelling) dog then you will once you hear a beeper go off 50 times per night lol

I don't carry a beeper, its all via cell for on call calls but the neurologic zap I get from hearing that damn phone ring is horrible, lol. By the end of my 4 days on call I'm blotto. People who haven't ever been on call can't begin to imagine how disruptive it.

I tend to be in a hypo manic state the whole time because I have to remain mentally sharp in the face of minimal sleep and constant interruptions. Being able to quickly come up with an intelligent, safe solution for a problem at 3am can be challenging, at least for me anyway. :)

[coast2coast]

Never. I have also stopped giving out my direct extension at work and am now directing patients to the receptionist or nursing line.

99% of my calls and messages could/should be handled by someone else. I found that by my being involved they generally took much longer to resolve and wasted a great deal of time.

You REALLY, SINCERELY, URGENTLY need to speak to me and only me? You know where I work every day ... If it's not worth making an appointment to you, why on earth should I give you my time off the clock?

[synaptic]

yeah its rough. taking call is so distracting. but I'm in house during that time which helps some. taking care from home would be irritating to say the lease but unfortunately needed in our fields.

[RNBSN11]

I do not give my cell number to patients.

[Libby1987]

Every patient has my cell, not abused in 8 years. Saves me time and I have something to refer back to when I document the information.

They're going to call one way or another. Having my number and knowing they can text or call during waking hours no doubts reduces their anxiety and calls. Getting the messages directly, heard and read when I'm able, saves me time to the message runaround and having to call patient for clarification, sticking me in the phone when I'm pressed for time.

[Jules A, MSN]

Every patient has my cell, not abused in 8 years. Saves me time and I have something to refer back to when I document the information.

They're going to call one way or another. Having my number and knowing they can text or call during waking hours no doubts reduces their anxiety and calls. Getting the messages directly, heard and read when I'm able, saves me time to the message runaround and having to call patient for clarification, sticking me in the phone when I'm pressed for time.

Although I'd love this as a patient I agree with coast2coast so with very rare exceptions all my calls are screened through my secretaries or nurses. It might be different in psych especially with the large number of anxiety disorders but there is no way I have time to attempt to sort through the handholding calls.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

Never. I am a firm believer in boundaries, and would never give my personal contact info to a patient. A provider is always available on call through the office number, and the answering service will contact whoever is on call if there is an emergency. I always *67 before calling a patient back as I do not want them to have my home or cell number. I forgot to do that once and that patient continued to call me on my home phone until we had a little chat.