Do you think it's right for nurses that are going to school do their homework at work

[tobesmartt]

there is nothing wrong in educating yourself. however , there are several nurses on my unit that are going to school and working. they bring their work assignment to work. type of their reports at work,do homework at work during working hours. not on their breaks. what do you think about this.?

[LaxNP, DNP]

I always did it and still do. My company is flipping the education bill, so technically its job related.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

If their work is caught up, and the pts are receiving all the care that they need, especially on night shift, there is no problem.

Quite frankly, I think that it is more appropriate than texting friends, playing games and facebook...what I see people doing at times, when caught up. At least one can see a benefit to the unit from the education.

I have done CEUs on downtime at work.

[caliotter3]

I don't see how this is any different from the nurse who sleeps for seven out of eight hours while being paid, except at least it is for something useful.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Ilde hands....LOL

I'd rather see someone doing something like the homework than skimming thru magazines or surfing the net or gossiping.

If there is free time, pt needs are met.....why not??? Now...if your facility has a p and p against using the computers for this, then this is a different story.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

My situtation might be different as a school nurse, but I fully intend to use my downtime at work for study once I start my grad program. If everything is caught up and there are no patients needing anything, what is the harm. Now, if I was on the floor and I was having "one of those shifts" and a co-worker was typing his/her paper for school, I might be a little miffed. But if the other nurses are holding their own, I do not see the harm in it. Not really any different than doing some CEUs at work during downtime. It's all relevant.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I don't see how this is any different from the nurse who sleeps for seven out of eight hours while being paid, except at least it is for something useful.

And is this common?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

And is this common?

The practice might be more prevalent in certain healthcare settings, such as private duty (night shift) and group homes (again, during the midnight shift).

[mentalhealthRN]

To the poster who thinks the OP should mind their own business.......if the OP and others are picking up the slack while another sits and does homework then yeah it is her business. If the person is getting their work done and others are not having to cover for her then yeah I understand the idea of --If I have down time why do you care if I play solitaire or do homework. --So I think it depends on if the others on the unit, including the patients, are suffering for it.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I don't see how this is any different from the nurse who sleeps for seven out of eight hours while being paid, except at least it is for something useful.

What kind of job allows this?

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Doesn't bother me because I was one of those people while doing my RN-BSN. Like others have said if you are helping out and your work is done than what is the big deal? I worked night shift and at 0200 there is nothing to do. Should I be standing in the hallway watching my patient sleep? How is it any different than standing around talking with other nurses? At least you are still be productive by doing some school work that is directly related to your job.

[nursynurseRN]

If thier work is all done and they don't ingore call bells or phone calls becasue they are working on thier homework it should be ok. It is the same as reading a magazine or chatting with coworkers about non work stuff in my opinion. Instead they are choosing to use thier time wisely and do homework. I know many people may not agreee with this but people do much worse things at work like long personal phone calls, extra long breaks, and surf the net.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I have no problem with doing homework at work. However, to play devils advocate, there are ALWAYS things to do at work, when your work is done.

Stock linen

Empty trash

Clean and straighten pt rooms

Stock carts

Sit with confused pts

Help a co-worker

Most of the above are not in my job description, but the hospital pays me to work while I'm at work.

I have seen co-workers doing their homework when the trash can beside them is overflowing in the floor. Is that their job? Nope. Housekeeping. But if I were the boss I might not like the visual.