What do you think about cell phone use?

[RNontheroad]

I know that most hospitals have restricted areas where visitors can use thier cell phone. When the family asks why they cant use it in certain areas, the usual response is "it may interfer with some of the equipment." There are even signs posted at most facilities.

I personally have never seen this happen. Has anyone else?

I find this to be a really difficult rule to enforce, partly because I don't really have what I feel is a satisfactory answer for the families. Second of all, every doc that walks thru the door has a cell phone on there belt and use them at the desk and sometimes in the patients room as well.

How does everyone else handle this?

[CHATSDALE]

i have never seen it interfere with equipment, i have seen it frequently interfere with the work that needs to be done.

when you tell them to get off the phone and take care of a patient they come off with some absolutely 'good' excuse..MY CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW THEY CAN CALL BE AT ANY TIME'

i don't knwe why some people apply for a job when they don't want to do the work

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

My Mom just had a pacemaker inserted this week and they told her not to use a cellphone on the side she had the pacer placed in. We don't have any cell phone bans at my facility and I have never had any issues with equipment malfunctioning. Personally my cell phone is turned off unless I need to make a call or am expecting one (which is rare). I'd rather be less available!

[NicoleERRN, RN]

I just tell everyone who asks to use thier cell phone " You won't get any signal in here, if you go outside it will work much better" usually 9-10 times that works!!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I was in ICU a while back and all the nurses and staff carried at least 2 cell phnes. I had monitors up the ying-yang and nary a blip was out of place. I wonder how old the studies on this were?

[sister--*]

When our new telemetry units and IV pumps came in the cell phone ban was lifted.