Should nurses be able to listen to music at work?

[RockinNurse2018]

On numerous occasions, I've observed nurses playing music from their computers. Some of them are managers, which doesn't necessarily concern me since they aren't directly caring for patients. However, the other night, I noticed an ICU nurse playing music. The patient they were monitoring was obviously severely ill...on ECMO, CRRT, ventilator, many drips, tube feedings, etc. This did not seem safe to me, as music can be a distraction and with very critical patients, you need to be on top of all things at all times. What are your thoughts?

[Hygiene Queen]

Once I was humming while passing meds from the med room, and a patient started singing Yellow Submarine. I called out to the other patients waiting in line, "All together now!" Another patient responded, "All together now!" and I led a choir of patients singing the chorus of Yellow Submarine

I once led my unit with "Superstar" by The Carpenters. Those scanners on the COW look too much like a mic. I may or may not have made an ass of myself on an almost daily basis.

[Davey Do]

I once led my unit with "Superstar" by The Carpenters. Those scanners on the COW look too much like a mic. I may or may not have made an ass of myself on an almost daily basis.

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[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I once had a co-worker absentmindedly humming "Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead" as we were cleaning up a patient that had just passed. This was something she hummed quite often, but the timing was hilarious.

[Kitiger, RN]

I love music. The problem is that I tune in to it. I really tune in, humming along, thinking about which instruments would accompany, where I was when I first learned that song, how I like the alto part better than the tenor, etc..

It truly is distracting to me, and I have enough trouble concentrating. I really don't want to have to deal with the music distraction, too.

[Agatha12]

Generally I do not like playing music at work but if it is very quiet and relaxing then I can accept. However I find absolutely unacceptable when staff plays very loud gospel music and shouts Jesus. I tried to react but nurses played racist and religious intolerance game and manager did not do anything.

[NYnurse17]

I agree that soft, ambient music can be okay, sometimes even beneficial. Anything else seems odd inside the patient room without their request.

[nursebey, LPN, LVN]

Many people work better and focus better with music. My daughter is one. Shes a math persons and something about the measures help her focus. My son needs compplete silence to study. Ive played music for my patients over the years in different postions and many of them and their families found it comforting. I always try to play something thats jsut intrumental so no one can say anything about lyrics. I know ICU is very different though, but I wonder if the patient might still enjoy? It seems to work wondrs for my demetia patients and sometimes they would remember little clips of things, like the music jogged their memory. It also seemed to calm my patients on the detox units when i was an opiod treatment nurse.

[janaya4444]

I don't see a problem with a nurse listening to music as long as it is in good taste and not offensive. Elevator music or easy listening at a low volume would be ideal.

[Froggybelly]

I would say that nurses should not play personal music in most bedside roles where an environment of quiet is expected for facilitating the healing process. Some places, some form of music is reasonable, such as in a waiting room or operating room. I usually play jazz or classical in moderate sedation situations. If the patient wants music, that's their choice, but it's not something I would force on my patients.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

If it doesn't bother the patients, you're not wearing headphones to tune out everybody else, and it's not distracting your concentration, sure, go ahead.

I agree with this. To me, headphones would be the no-no in regards to music.