I asked the tech to take 5-10 minutes of her time to walk my very sweet patient when she got him out of the bathroom. I go in his room a half hour later and he tells me she didn't even offer to walk with him. Mind you this is a frail 89-year-old who isn't going to be able to walk very far so it would only take a few minutes. So, even though I'm behind as all get out, I walk with him. No less than 15 minutes later I walk past the nurses station and this tech is on Facebook--I wanted to wring her neck.
Don't get me wrong I work with many wonderful techs but I could do without this one--burns me up--she had only been on the clock 2 whole hours so I was very glad that she already had time to check Facebook!
Now that I got that off my chest I can go to bed without stewing about it. Goodnight folks.
I don't think the sites should be blocked, but the Aide should have been written up.
We have access to FB on our computers, but I do not get on it at work. I don't want my job 'minding my business' by being able to see my stuff. (Yes, I do have coworkers on my FB, so I don't have anything to hide....)
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
one hospital i worked for only allowed particular clinical staff and business people could access the internet. those who had access had to log on and provide an access code to get on the internet. the internet sites we visited were tracked and monitored. sites like facebook, ebay, and other social places were blocked. we, nurses, had no trouble getting work done because of these restrictions and the thought of being monitored was a deterrent to surf sites not related to our jobs. maybe other places can adopt the same technology and policies? on the other hand, there was still a problem with aids, nurses, and others who had access to their pdas and cell phones, which they used to access the internet, text message friends, etc.
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
There should be no internet available unless a position calls for research to avoid situations like these.
As for "stewing", I wouldn't waste my time. The appropriate thing would be to let her know that you need her assistance and that FB is for at home time. If she gives you attitutude, let her know that you will have to discuss it with your higher-ups.
There should be no internet available unless a position calls for research to avoid situations like these.
As for "stewing", I wouldn't waste my time. The appropriate thing would be to let her know that you need her assistance and that FB is for at home time. If she gives you attitutude, let her know that you will have to discuss it with your higher-ups.
For someone like this, I don't play.
Jo, I'm with you on this, but unfortunately, many times management doesn't care. Where I work, they do, but at other local places, many just let it roll......I just keep thinking with current economic downturn things will change and possibly common sense and work ethic will come back into the picture. Here's to wishful thinking......:beer:
Facebook was blocked for about 4 weeks. after 3 ICU nurses took a picture of HUGE bloot clot(2 nurses were holding it, about 3 ft long)....and posted it to FB.
the 2 nurses holding it were disciplined, the 1 who took the pic and posted it got fired. It was very clear where the pic was taken. nametags and info very visible.
then it came back.
It's ridicuolous. I admit I use the internet after my charting, updates, checks, and patients are all taken care of. I round first on every patient I have, and make sure everyone is good. Then I might check news, or msn.com, something general. Not something personal....it might come back on ya.
cracks me up when I know a tech has been missing in action for an hour....they're not giving a bath, they're posting updates on FB......
You wonder how some people get/stay licensed. If there's something of clinical interest/significance, I can see posting it to appropriate sites, which don't include FB or other social media. And for God's sake, make sure there are no identifying details-- 5 minutes on Photoshop can take care of that. :angryfire
It's a tougher proposition to ban internet surfing as so many have smartphones, PDAs etc. Nannies are often outwitted by their charges.
The real answer is to hire good people, supervise them well, and retain them, letting the lower performers go periodically.
Effective supervision does entail sometimes playing the heavy, or Santa Claus, showing up at 0200 unannounced for instance to see who's being naughty or nice.
Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.
Thanks for all the thoughts everybody. I'm a float nurse so I wasn't comfortable confronting her. I need people to cooperate with me and help me since I don't know everything about every unit I work on--if I regularly worked the same unit with this person over and over I would have said something to her. I may still say something to management. Shortly after that incident I needed to call a physician but none of the computers at the desk (where the phones are) were available--2 were actually being used for work--but the other two were being used by this same tech and a nurse to surf the internet.
I can honestly say I've spent time on allnurses at 3:00 a.m. on a slow night shift but this was all occurring around 9 to 10 pm so none of these people had been on shift more than a few hours. Very frustrating.
To Locolorenzo--are you kidding me?!?! I cannot believe people posted a picture of a blood clot on FB--insane--shows some really poor judgment.
Hmm... am I the only one who thinks the time my employer pays me to work is for... WORK? Am I wrong, or a fool, to think that my employer pays me to play on the Internet? We all know that that there is ALWAYS something that could be done - is helping a coworker such a strange concept? Or spending time with your patients, who might want to talk to someone? Even doing some research on your pt's disease process would be fine. But FB? You've got to be kidding me.
But maybe a work ethic does not exist anymore... (or some people just never had one)
There should be no internet available unless a position calls for research to avoid situations like these...
The only problem with your suggestion is that, in my institution, a lot of our activity is web based (from looking up drugs at an approved subscription service like Uptodate.com, to assigning transport jobs for patient movement, not to mention daily department email, etc). So the internet has become an essential part of how our particular hospital communicates and does business.
Like I had stated before, it really isn't the internet itself, but rather what people use it for. Like the telephone, some choose to use it for personal business (while on the employers dime) that it becomes counterproductive or disruptive.
sites like that should be blocked. there should be an acceptable use policy, listing sites that are appropriate. Surfing the web on your employees time is time abuse and theft of services. there is always something to do in a hospital or nursing home.
I only use the internet on my breaks. Even then I don't usually post anything. I will look at my facebook at home and see posts from people who work the shift after me have posted while at work, maybe they are on break but I kind of doubt it.
There is no way I would have time to spend on personal use during my shift. Often times all meds are passed but careplans aren't up to date. Just because I am done with my work doesn't mean a co-worker doesn't need help with something or the med room needs to be restocked.
(or some people just never had one)
Fun2, BSN, RN
5,586 Posts
I don't think the sites should be blocked, but the Aide should have been written up.
We have access to FB on our computers, but I do not get on it at work. I don't want my job 'minding my business' by being able to see my stuff. (Yes, I do have coworkers on my FB, so I don't have anything to hide....)