Is this legal?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work in a University State Hospital in the ICU. I came into work tonight and was handed what looked like a name badge but it just had a number on it. I was informed that it was a nurse tracking device, and will show the person watching the monitors where each and every nurse it at all times, how long we spend in each room and how long we spend in the bathroom. On a monitor next to the EKG monitors, the screen shows each person's initials as they move about the unit, and each time you enter a room a little light goes on outside the door triggered by an infra-red beam. I was told it was introduced to "cut down on noise" so people don't have to yell to find co-workers. I don't believe this and think it's goig to be used against us and some point. I was not informed this was going to be introduced and feel I have no choice but to wear it. Surely this infringes my rights? :angryfire

I work in two different facilities--one that has that system and one that doesn't. You get used to them and they're nice, actually. A family member want to talk to their mom's nurse? Look on the screen, locate her, call into the room and let her know she's got a phone call. Ours also has an emmergency button that you can use to get help, it tells everyone what room you're in. At my other place of work, you end up peering into rooms and listening in the hallways for voices if you need someone specific. And god forbid, if you have an unhappy famiily that doesn't think mom had enough time spent with her, it can be pulled up (by someone in the company) and shown how many different people spent how much time and when in that specific room. And actually, ours doesn't specifically show anyone in the bathroom, it shows your out of range to be contacted.

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(Can't even imagine how this will affect smokers...)

:smokin: :lol2: Good point...i would probably be out of a job. I do not take my full lunch break. So, I usually go outside for maybe 10 minutes about 4 times a night...that is working 12 hours.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'd love for people to be able to find me and not use the call lights yelling for me in all my rooms, or running up and down the halls screaming my name.

But I'd be danged if I'd wear it in the bathroom. I would refuse that part.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I think it would be a nice system to have, indeed just to be able to track people down when you need them. Does the monitor system have some sort of recording device on it so that managers and other higher ups can go back and see how long someone spent in the break room at one time? If not, I personally couldn't see how the system could be used to get a nurse in trouble in any way. I mean, I guess if you work days and you sneak off to the smoking room for a whole hour and your manager wants to find out where you are and he/she looks on the monitor and sees that Voila! You are in the smoking room!

Now I work nights, but when we take breaks or go off the floor for any reason, we are all pretty good about letting someone know where we are going. Anyway, unless there's a recorder on the thing, I don't think I understand how someone could get in trouble when the system is in use.

Now, the bathrooms are another matter. I kinda do think the bathrooms should be off limits. That's an invasion of privacy. I often do not want my coworkers to know that I'm in the bathroom for twenty minutes at a time... because I'm having a #2!! :rolleyes:

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It is legal and in common use is many hospitals all over the US. I don't have an issue with it. Of course, it was deemed that the tracker was unneeded in the ED- so I never have actually had to wear one, so I suppose my not a problem statement is a bit false... Most of the floor nurses wear it pinned to the back of their uniform top. and of course in the ED securiyt already has monitors on most parts- so most of everything is already recorded on tape anyway.

We make our ED docs carry a telephone and call them whilst they are in the bathroom/cafeteria/etc. None of them have threatened to quit over being accessible and available during the shift. SOmetimes they do complain when they have just gone to the caf and I call to tell them Mr. Jones is crumping down....

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

we have a similiar one called hilrom, it doesn't detect us in the bathroom or off the unit only if we are near a hilrom box. It is just easier to find someone to help you but if they are off the floor at lunch or in the bathroom it doesn't show up. It is just a pain but not a big deal well not to me anyway.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
I work in two different facilities--one that has that system and one that doesn't. You get used to them and they're nice actually. A family member want to talk to their mom's nurse? Look on the screen, locate her, call into the room and let her know she's got a phone call. Ours also has an emmergency button that you can use to get help, it tells everyone what room you're in. At my other place of work, you end up peering into rooms and listening in the hallways for voices if you need someone specific. And god forbid, if you have an unhappy famiily that [b']doesn't think mom had enough time spent with her, it can be pulled up [/b](by someone in the company) and shown how many different people spent how much time and when in that specific room. And actually, ours doesn't specifically show anyone in the bathroom, it shows your out of range to be contacted.

I have an idea for this; when you go to the bathroom for twenty minutes for, hmm, maybe number two LOL, take it off and leave it there. That way it looks like you spent that time there.

J/K. Seriously, I think walkie talkies are better or even pagers. I wouldn't have a problem wearing the device though, cuz like one poster said, it will show how busy you are.

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

I wore one on the floor, and it actually saved my butt once, when a crazy patient claimed to the house manager that I hadn't been in her room once all night, where actually I spent about half the shift with her in her room. On the other hand, in the ICU where I now work, the RNs flatly REFUSED to wear the things, which I can understand, and it was kind of a relief to know that my every move wasn't potentially being scrutinized.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

I'll predict that, as technology becomes cheaper, smaller and more reliable, more and more tracking will result.

And, at times and in certain instances, it'll be used for performance, discipline, etc, purposes.

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

I find it very creepy too. They are not in place at my facility in PA; I'd be very uncomfortable with it. And I rarely take breaks or even a full lunch period most days--I don't have a problem with anyone knowing how much time I spend anywhere in my facility but it really does creep me out. It really does feel like it's something that's going to come back and bite you in the butt!

I'll wear one when administration wears one too. This is one of those issues that really gripes me about nursing. Professionals?! We certainly not treated like it.

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Don't know if it's legal, but sounds very "Big Brother" to me. I have never experienced that, although most hopsitals have cameras for security. I find it very creepy that you have to wear this-- what's next-- implanting computer chips in our brains?? Stepford Nurses?? Robots?? I too have a problem w/being micromanaged, and being treated like a preschooler!! I would not work for a place like that, in fact in 28 yrs of nursing I've never had to!! I agree administration should wear one too-- I'm willing to bet they get a lunch & breaks every day & that they take longer lunches, come in later & leave earlier than the staff!!

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Don't know if it's legal, but sounds very "Big Brother" to me. I have never experienced that, although most hopsitals have cameras for security. I find it very creepy that you have to wear this-- what's next-- implanting computer chips in our brains?? Stepford Nurses?? Robots?? I too have a problem w/being micromanaged, and being treated like a preschooler!! I would not work for a place like that, in fact in 28 yrs of nursing I've never had to!! I agree administration should wear one too-- I'm willing to bet they get a lunch & breaks every day & that they take longer lunches, come in later & leave earlier than the staff!!

Well, look at Pyxis. Pharmacy can tell you exactly what screens you pull up and how long you were looking at each of the screens.

I suspect we get used to a great deal of this and don't think about it as much anymore. There are all kinds of "similar" issues. Photo radar, security cameras, robots from Lab and Pharmacy, etc.

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