Why in 2017 do people still believe that if you are at a computer you are goofing off

[DesiDani]

I was reading an article on how nurses were too busy to comfort patients in GB. Many of the comments claimed that nurses weren't busy and that they were lazy. They spent their time at the nurse station talking about their night out or on Facebook.

What these uninformed people failed to realize is that if they are stopping to chat is that they likely fore gone their break off the unit to care for you or your loved ones.

[JKL33]

It's probably a combination of the facts that:

- some people do goof around online while on the clock (and not on break)

- the complainers themselves use electronics mostly for entertainment so when they see someone using electronics, entertainment is their first assumption

- sometimes staff members do take their break time (which are not real breaks!!) in patient care areas

- management doesn't help this issue by refusing to explain/acknowledge that MUCH of what we are asked to do is now on the computer, and that charting requirements have exploded, so yes, patients are likely to see us on the computer a good deal of the time

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

That drives me nuts. Same as when I lose internet at home. I am not mad because I can't be on FB, I am an online grad student AND I have 2 children with continuous glucose monitors that need wifi to transmit info to my husband and I when we aren't home .

This is why I try to chart in the room as much as I can. I may chart on another pt and chat with the pt, but they don't know that.

[chocoholic1]

I think the general public doesn't understand the amount of documenting that has to be done.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Sometimes people really are on Facebook and you can clearly see that. Not always. But sometimes. I've been guilty of this.

[cleback]

Also, charting, although necessary to do, doesn't necessarily need to be done right that instant. So while grandma is waiting for a warm blanket, the family is expecting you to leave the computer work until later.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I have worked in LTC. One night I had a resident tell me to get off the computer and do such and such. Having known this resident before working there, I know she thought I was goofing off on the computer where I was really charting. There was no time for goofing off on the computer at this facility, even at night. They had things set up so you were charting much of the night. All she needed to do was to ask me if I could help her with whatever it was she needed help with instead of ordering me off of the computer.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

This is why I dislike having to chart in patient's rooms. In my ICU, the rooms all have a computer at bedside. The patients constantly want to talk, ask for stuff, etc., and that makes it difficult. Plus if they are asleep, it wakes them up.

[gcupid]

Also, charting, although necessary to do, doesn't necessarily need to be done right that instant. So while grandma is waiting for a warm blanket, the family is expecting you to leave the computer work until later.

As many interruptions as a nurse can get. Some of us will be clocking out 2 hours or more pass our shift if we stopped instantly to go reach a warm blanket or perform whatever task desired right away for the patients, family & friends, docs, and every other discipline that dumps on us or just requires our attention.

Please have several seats.

[chris21sn, BSN, RN]

I think the general public doesn't understand the amount of documenting that has to be done.

I think the general public doesn't understand the the work that nurses have to do. The fact that many of these people are naive is really the downfall here. It does annoy me when patients and families just assume we are goofing off when we are on our computers. In fact, I have never had a time in my 9 months of work to dedicate an hour to eating. I usually forego eating or sometimes eat at the same time during chatting. It stinks